A Guide to Hiring Women

[attilauk]

Subject: 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! :D

 

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.

 

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.

[Supragal]

That's amusing. I like the bit about regular breaks

[shaf]

lol, im gonna pass this round the office and see how many slaps i collect today

[Doug]

Hmm, why did we ever stop using this criteria?

[Jake]

I was ready to call BS on this but I checked with Snopes and it's genuine

 

http://www.snopes.com/language/document/transpor.htm