Tips on How to Handle Women Employees

[sleepyhead]

This was sent to me today by a female colleague. I have no idea if it is myth or true, I just found it funny (in the ridiculous sense).

The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine. This was quite serious at its time and written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II - a mere 64 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.

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 also reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses that 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 daylong 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.

[SiM]

Originally Posted by sleepyhead

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.

[nichomach]

Outstanding - that's gone straight to the wife...

[MadduckUK]

all sounds like good, solid advice considering when it was made.

[EvilMunky]

Still applies now!

[tiggerai]

Bloody awesome!!

[Marcos]

Originally Posted by MadduckUK

all sounds like good, solid advice considering when it was made.

agreed, ive met girls who, although intelligent and independent, still like to be treated in an old fashioned manner.

Not a fan of the more recent blokey girl attitudes of modern day girls, they lose femininity

[Bluecube]

Definitely still applies today!

[pollaxe]

Originally Posted by Marcos

Not a fan of the more recent blokey girl attitudes of modern day girls, they lose femininity

+1

I hate being out and seeing drunken, cackling women effing and jeffing and behaving generally like dockers. I don't like seeing other blokes like that but women? No thanks.

[pedals off on penny-farthing, smoking a cheroot.]

[tiggerai]

Originally Posted by Marcos

agreed, ive met girls who, although intelligent and independent, still like to be treated in an old fashioned manner.

++


but I won't let on easily!

[shadowmaster]

Lol, great advice

[pollaxe]

I will always hold a door open and give up my seat on a crowded bus or train for a woman. I've never yet had anyone sneer "Sexist pig!"* at me, thankfully as I just regard it as good manners not condescension. I hold doors for everyone come to think of it.




*I would be forced to kill them and eat them if they did, of course.

[M0nkeyb0Y]

seriously, this could be out of my company's handbook (and 'old boy's' City firm), but it'd be mostly ignored anyway!

[mediaboy]

[RVB]
"Do you remember when we used to solve problems with violence? Ah.. the good old days.
[/RVB]

Although I doubt many of you have seen RVB (Stick Red Versus Blue into google... there's about 4-10 hours watching time of them...) it certainly isn't the correct manner to deal with women.

This is going on my (female) form tutor's desk tommorrow... she'll probably not find it so amusing..... But I found it hillarious

[Whiternoise]

Good news fellas, this 'uns real!

snopes.com: 1943 Guide to Hiring Women

[JK Ferret]

I think this applies more to the guys at our place than the females! (especially the bit about 'language')