Oh my goddess....


> 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 workforce during World War II - a mere 58 years ago!
> >
> > Obviously, the intent was not to be "funny," but by today's
> standards, this
> > is hilarious! For those of you with efficiency issues, pay
> attention to #8.
> > *********************
> >
> > Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women
Employees:
> > =======================================
> > There's 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 from Western
> Properties:
> >
> > 1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a
sense of
> > responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they're less
likely
> to be
> > flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn't 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's 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'll 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 can't 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'll
> grow
> to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of
this.
>