A little laugh after the rant

[Guest guest]

Female efficiency

 

1943 Guide to Hiring Women   

 

The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of

Transportation Magazine. This was serious and written for male supervisors of

 

women in the work force during World War II - a mere  60  years

ago! Obviously, the intent was not to be “funny,†but by today’s

standards,

this

is hilarious! 

 

***************************************************************** 

 

Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women

Employees: 

 

There is no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women

for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that

point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women

available and how to use them to the best advantage.  Here are eleven helpful

tips

on the subject: 

 

1.  Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of

responsibility than their unmarried sisters. They are less likely to be

flirtatious.

They need the work, or they would not be doing it. They  still have the pep and

interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently. 

 

2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside

the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the

public have a hard time adapting themselves and are  inclined to be

cantankerous and fussy. It is always well to impress upon older women, the

importance

of friendliness and courtesy. 

 

3. General experience indicates that “husky†girls - those who are just  a

little on the heavy side - are more even tempered and efficient than their

underweight sisters. 

 

4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical

examination - one covering female conditions. This step not only  protects the

property against the possibilities of lawsuit, but reveals whether the

employee-to-be

has any female weaknesses which would make  her mentally or physically unfit

for the job. 

 

5. Stress at the outset, the importance of time; the fact that a minute  or

two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until  this point

is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up. 

 

6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so  that

they will keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few

minutes. Numerous properties say that women make  excellent workers when they

have their jobs cut out for them, but that  they lack initiative in finding

work themselves. 

  

7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another

at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less  nervous and

happier with change. 

 

8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day.  You

have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more

confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied,  apply fresh

lipstick

and wash her hands several times a day. 

 

 

9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women  are

often sensitive; they cannot shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never

ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her  efficiency. 

 

10.Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even

though a girl’s husband or father may swear vociferously, she will grow to

dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this. 

 

11. Get enough size variety in operator’s uniforms so that each girl can have

a proper

fit. This point cannot be stressed too much in keeping women happy.

 

Cheers!

Kathleen Petrides

The Woobey Queen

http://www.woobeyworld.com