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« Scamming job seekers out of money | Main | December 2005 issue of Personnel Psychology »
"Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees"
On November 10, 2005 by Jamie Madigan
Let's just call this Snopes.com week here on Selection Matters, because they've apparently decided to make it SelectionMatters.com week there. Point: the latest article on "Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees" published in a 1943 trade publication magazine. And apparently, it's true. Well, that is to say the article in question is not a hoax. The recommendations, as you might expect, are so absurd they're almost cute. Here's some of my favorites:
That's a win for husky women everywhere. So ...yay?3. While there are exceptions, of course, to this rule, general experience indicates that "husky" girls — those who are just a little on the heavy side — are likely to be more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.
Okay, this is just ...what? I've taken 10th grade biology and even had my parents sign that permission slip for the sex ed class, but I'm still not sure what they're talking about here.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 which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job. Transit companies that follow this practice report a surprising number of women turned down for nervous disorders.
This one just kind of makes me chuckle not only for the notion that women need to be "broken in," but my wife when she sets her mind to it is one of the most fastidious schedule-followers I've ever known.5. In breaking in women who haven't previously done outside work, 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.
Apparently women in 1943 would just stand there slack jawed and agape once their assigned duties were performed.6. Give the female employee in garage or office a definite day-long schedule of duties so that she'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.
Well, at least they were prescient about one thing. Just models of women's lib, aren't they?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.
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