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1943 Guide to Hiring Women
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 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 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.
Submitted by Bev’s Country Cottage