The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-12-04
HAL
BOYLE
SAYS

NE w 1OhN hF-4AA AAIOGL Anvil
can business offices there comes
pause in the days occupation
that is known as ''the coffee hour. "
In fact there usually are two
pauses-one in the morning, the
other in the afternoon.
II has grown so inSidiously that
it is now a generally accepted fact
of office life, and is taken as a
normal working condition. Most
employers now put up with it.
They have come to realize that
grownups, like children, have to
have a periodic recess to let off
their pentup nervous energy.
That has taken a lot of fun out
of what used to be thrilling ad-
venture. Fifteen to Is years ago
the following ominous notice was
common sight on company bull
letin boards:
"It has come to the manage
ment's attention that a number of
employees are leaving their desk
during their hours of employment
to get coffee. This will not be
tolerated and must cease at once. |"
That, of course, was a flat dare
and a challenge. An employe would
spend an hour every morning figur-
ing a new way to sneak down the
back stairs, gulp quick cup of cof-
fee and get back before he was
missed. He felt like a naughty
child disobeying his parents, and
always wondered fearfully:
eff I bump into the boss, will
he fire me?"
Oh, the coffee hour was a fine
thing in those days. If you met
another employee doing the same
thing, you both had a secret to
share: you were putting something
over on the boss. Everyone on the
payroll became linked in a partner
ship of conspiracy. You al were
getting away with something for
hidden.
Gradually the practice became
so widespread that most manage
mentS came to realize the rule
against it was as unenforceable as
the Prohibition Law. So they quit
putting up the notices.
Many went even further. Follow
ing the British custom, they start
ed trundling little coffee and soft
drink carts about twice a day so
that the employees could have an
interlude of gossip and refreshment
at their desk. This is now common
place in many firms, and this COM
promise gives the employer one
big advantage: he at least knows
where the employees are.
Today the coffee hour is an &C
copied institution. 1t has infected
the bosses themselves. They de-
cided, "Wen, l might as well, too.
/ could use a little snack myself. Z"
So what happens? You are sit
ting there enjoying cup of steam
ing brew, contentedly aware that
you are having it on company
time, when the boss himself sits
down on the next stool.
SLOWS everything" ne says
cheerfully, ordering himself a cup.
by the way, how are YOU coming
along with that Jones natter"
For the next Is minutes you both
null the Jones matter over and
finally reach a decision. When you
60 back to your desk you feel
vaguely cheated, and don't know
why.
The reason is simple. You haven't
pulled one over the bosS's eyes at
all. He has pulled one on you. Far
from letting you escape from your
job, the boss has got more real
action from you in Is minutes at
the coffee counter than he could
in three hours upstairs.
Of course, that's why he is the
boss-becauSe he knows how to get
the most out of you. And today he
thinks the coffee hour is a fine
way to get more work done, and
only wonders why he didn't think
up the idea himself.