The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of
Transportation Magazine. This was a serious article written for male
supervisors of women in the work force during World War II.
Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees:
There's 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 from Western Properties:
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 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'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 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'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 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 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.
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