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1943 Job Standards and Rules for 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 57 years ago+ACE- Obviously, the intent
was not to be funny, but by today's standards, this is hilarious+ACE-......
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+ADs- 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 reasonable 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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