1943 Guide To Hiring Women

Wanna see how far we've come when it comes to women in the workplace? My friend Kate
just forwarded around a clipping from a 2007 issue of Savvy & Sage
Magazine (which doesn't have a working website with articles, or I
would link to it) in which they reprinted a 1943 Article on how to hire
women that ran in Transportation Magazine.

For your reading pleasure, with no commentary from me because there's really nothing to add. Priceless.

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 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 point 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
examination – one covering female conditions. This step not only
protects the property against the possibility of a 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, that a minute or two
lost here or there make 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 the 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 was 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.

11. Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl
can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping
women happy.