Labor maintenance : a practical handbook of employees' service work

Front matter

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Copyright i\°_

COPXKIGHT DEPOSm

Preface

There has long been a need for a book which points the way to better methods in what was once known as "welfare work" and to make clear the principles which must underlie sound service work with employees. The need for a practical handbook has also been evident ; and with these needs in view the author has prepared the present volume.

The aim throughout has been to give as many practical examples of successful work as possible, so that employers, employment executives, and service workers would have at hand the experience of other concerns combined with information and discussion as to the best practice. Like other new developments in industry, employees' service work will have to go through the stages of experimentation; but there is no need for costly mistakes due to a wrong conception of the purpose of such work, and it is in the hope that this book may be of assistance in avoiding pitfalls that it is offered to industrial executives and others interested in the subject.

The author wishes to make grateful acknowledgment here of the generous assistance given him in the preparation of this volume by Mrs. Edith Reider Barron, formerly of the International Harvester Company, Meyer Bloomfield, J. W. L. Hale, formerly in charge of apprenticeship work of the Pennsylvania Railroad and recently with the Chester Shipbuilding Company, who assisted in preparing Chapter V; to Frederick J. Allen, author of "The Shoe Industry" and other contributions to industrial literature, and who gave material help in the preparation of some of the chapters; to Albert vi PREFACE

Pick and Company, for data on employees' lunchrooms and cafeterias ; and to executives and officials of various companies who have co-operated with the author in making the information in this book available to readers.

Daniel Bloomfield.

Boston, Massachusetts, September I, 1920.

Contents

Chapter Page I Need for Service Work 3

New Interpretation of an Old Problem Wastes Owing to Labor Turnover Conditions in Metal Plants Magnus Alexander's Investigation Some Street Railway Figures Detroit Conditions Transportation Shipbuilding Cloak and Suit Trade Conditions in Milwaukee Factors in the Cost of Labor Turnover Subject Under General Study- Plant Maintenance and Labor Stability Co-operation of Worker and Management Necessary

II Service Work — The Right Foundation 14