Evening star., 1925-09-07
COSTLY VACATION
PERIOD NOW OVER
Greatly Increased Efficiency
Noted-More Employees
Paid During Time Off.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
pecial Dispatch to The star.

SptNidI bispdlcu 10 Inc Staf
NEW YORK. September THE
vacation season which ended officially
today will save over S10O.000.000 to
American industry. Vacations cost
employers more. in cash outlay, than
ever before, but the ma jority of the
men who sign the pay checks already
feel that the expenditure has been one
of the best investments they have
ever made.
The gain has not been confined 10
physical efficiency and mental alert
ness due to rest or change OF environ
ment alone. 1t is a notable fact.
however, that one executive was vir-
tually kidnapped by his associates
whose interests and capital he safe
guarded and represented and forced
10 rest from strain. The results
rather are apparent in increased per-
sonnel efficiency, in morale and in the
ambition Of workers.
Work Hard for Vacations.
Employers found out that workers
under the impulse of the vacation re
ward to themselves and their fellows
were capable OF performing tasks
hitherto regarded as outside the range
of ordinary accomplishment. Workers
found through additional opportunity,
that they were capable OF filling posi-
tions which they had been content to
leave to a favored few.
The season served TO prove conclu-
slvely in many plants the old maxim
that no man is indispensable. Exec
utives have ceased 10 worry about pro-
cedure IF >mething should happen to
Jones" They have found substitutes
for Jones. Workers have discovered
they can do Jones work and are in
line for his job if he fails to deliver or
is forced TO retire.
Wage Schedules Unchanged
The developments enumerated above
have not cut down the number of
workers and have not decreased wage
schedules. They have increased eff
cheney and production, widened the
scope of operations of scores of plants
and heightened ability to meet conpe-
tition The majority of emplo. ers say
that none has been hurt except those
unable or unwilling 10 deliver the
goods"
Far sighted labor leaders have been
pleased not only because the right to
vacations with pay has been widely
extended to wage-earnerS as well as
TO high salaried classes but because
il has improved efficiency or manage
ment, which the late Samuel Gompers
always contended was as much the
right of the wage-earner as Of the in.
yestor.
Labor Turnover Reduced
These vacations with pay to day
workers have cut labor turnover in at
least 80 industrial concerns which
tried the experiment this year and
have added materially to habits of
thrift and saving.
Some concerns failed to secure the
Some tried the experiment of closing
one day a week during June, July
and August without deduction in pay.
These failed to determine which work
ers were efficient and which were not
and provided no understudies for posi-
tions higher in the scale.
1t is notable, however. that most of
these complete closings were in in
dustries not at a peak of prosperity
and consequently those in which a |
cut in production was welcomed /
rather than feared. +-t.t
Liberal Policy Pays.
Managers Of some of the large de- !
partment stores say they receive re- /
turns from workers at the rush holi- |
day season in direct ratio with the |
liberality with which the latter have |
been treated in the matter of vaca- |
tions during the duller periods. |
During the summer many business |
concerns have called in heads of |
agencies. distributors and statesmen |
for what are officially known as |
sales conventions and every effort |
has been made at such gatherings to |
make them periods of entertainment |
and vacation as well as of conference /
and discussion.
In speaking of the advantages of |
this policy. Andrew J. Butler, presi- |
dent of the McDougal Butler Co, |
I2int manufacturers of Buffalo, said !
to6Sy: mo management arbitrarily |
interrupts the sales of its Commodi- I
ties by SSinginE in its statesmen unless !
it is necessGs'y. But every business |
big enough to require widespread /
agencies finds it absolutely essential !
once in a. while to get into personal |
touch with its representatives, keep |
up a personal acquaintance and |
friendship and refresh that indis- |
pensible sense of unity which the |
French call esprit de corps"
nE