The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-08-05
FIVE-DAY WEEK
In Labor Department Look
ed On as Good Example

Cu Olt QO 0OVA AAAWAAAFA
Washington, D. C. (ILNS)--For
the first time in history a govern
ment department under a cabinet
member goes on the five-day week..
Effective for the balance of the
fiscal year the United States Labor
Department will operate five days a
week Observers expect the practice
will later be made permanent, if cor
rective legislation can be had adjust
ing vacations and certain other mat
ters.
The action of Secretary of Labor
w. N. Doak in ordering the five-day
week into effect is in line with the
position taken by the American Fed
Grafton of Labor.
Official Order Tells Employees
of Plan
Secretary Doak has declared the
example of his department would be
good one for all industry to follow.
Announcing the change to the five
day week, Secretary Doak said:
Having in mind the appropriations
made available for the present fiscal
year, the nature of the work of the
department, and all other factors, the
departmental staff after a most care
full and painstaking survey reached
the unanimous conclusion that the de-
partment of labor best could meet
the reduction of the salaries Of the
employees required by congress
through decreasing the hours Of serv-
ice one addition one-half day each
week. Therefore, the following in
structions to the employees of the de-
partment were issued today:
"In accordance with the provisions
of paragraph (b), section 101, of Pub
lie No. 219, all of the officers and en-
ployes of the department of labor in
the District of Columbia will be fur
loughed on Saturday Of each week for
48 weeks, beginning with Saturday,
July 80.
Service Where Possible
Applies to Field
"This method of carrying into ef-
feet the provisions of this act will be
applied to field service so far as prac-
ticable, but shall not apply to officers
or employees while under travel
status
The department of labor is the
only federal department that has
thus far announced the five-day week,
but the Federal Farm Board has
adopted the plan for employees who
have not been indefinitely furloughed.
A modified five-day week has also
been put into effect by the national
advisory committee on aeronautics.
Thomas E. Campbell, chairman of
the civil service commission, stated
orally that the commission has not
yet decided on a five-day week for it's
personnel but that he personally re-
garded the action of the labor de-
partment, the farm board and the
aeronautics committee as a con-
. constructive move, "a step in the
right direction"
Plan Viewed as Good Example
for Industry
A five-day week in government
agencies, Mr.. Campbell declared,
Should set good example for in
dustry. We have reached a critical
stage in the history Of the country, in
which attention must be given the in
| terests of workers outside as we'll as
within the government employ.
81 have always favored a shorter
week and working day, and the move
ment for reduced working time has
been making progress in the last few
year Of course, no interference
should be setup with necessary con-
tinuing activity, but l regard a 30
hour working w eek as none too long.
81 have seen the effects of the re-
duction from the IL and 14-hour day
to the 10 and to the s, and of the half
holiday. All of these changes were
accompanied by increased produc-
ton"