St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-08-24
The New Employee
By Ethel NJ. Williams


which he goes about his job will be
watched carefully by supervisors.
Every employee charged with the
responsibility of supervision is alert
to the work of a new employee.
Sometimes it is the individual per-
Torrance of the new worker, COM
bined with that of the other per-
sonnet on which the departments
record of production may depend.
A healthy approach to ones new
job characterized by open-minded-
ness and a willingness to take in
ideas, often clears the way for
future development and individual
progress. It is recognized, of
course, that all jobs do not offer
the same challenge to each worker.
However, lack of immediate attrac-
tiveness in ones assignment should
not hinder a person from trying to
enjoy his work and from using his
greatest effort to fit himself into
his new environment.
Good Relations Essential
The present day organization of
business and industry makes in
creasing demands on the social
qualities of each worker. Employ
ees must work together in harmony
and mutual cooperation; therefore,
one of the first efforts put forth by
the new worker should be-to meet
his or her fellow associates with
ease. The Importance of considera-
ton for the work-pleasure and con-
venience of fellow employees in
creases with the more highly organ
lied present day business and in
dustry. Thus it becomes the re-
sponsibility of each worker to CO.
operate with other employees and
thereby make his contribution to
the success of the working group.
Ones contribution to the group
begins with the individual himself.
Is he cheerful and optimistic?
Nothing starts day quite as badly
for ones fellow workers as "sad
Sal" or "sad Sam" with a hope
less outlook on life. On the other
hand, a self-confdent worker with
a sense of humor can lift an over
cast atmosphere so that the warmth
of friendless permeates the entire
working group.
Gripes Are Out
The "GI Joe" developed a rather
interesting attitude known in army
parlance as "gripe" which Webster
defines as "spasmodic pain" On
almost any job there are occasions
for "spasmodic pain" Conflicts
resulting from restrictions, wages,
hours, and divergence of interest
and opinions, are apt to elicit
"gripes" from the worker. The ex-
troverted employee whose interest
is conferred in external objects and
actions, is usually an arch offender.
His gripes are generally of super
fetal nature, but even though he
works like a hsrd-fghting soldier,
the gripping employee will sooner
or later degenerate into a depart
ment nuisance whose value as
worker is questionable.
A new employee is frequently as
signed to work on a job which does
not lend itself to self-evaluation by
the worker. Often his work is so
complicated with that of other en-
ployees that his judgment and
opinions in relation to his job and
his fellow workers are quite in
accurate. The best advice to new
employee is ready acceptance of
all rules and supervision, at least
until he knows his particular job
we'll. Later, conditions will usually
permit him to inquire intelligently
into the reason behind policies and
practices. When the worker has
arrived at a point in his orienta-
ton so that he knows the job we'll
enough to be able to see both sides
of the question and evaluate each
accurately, the cause for a "gripe"
will, in all probability, not exist.
However, if he has a bona fide
grievance, he can usually find labor