BUSINESS GIRLS’ MISTAKES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1604, 29 August 1916, Page 4

BUSINESS GIRLS’ MISTAKES.

A well-known London business man recently let fall some rather caustic criticism of the modern business girl. Said he: — “On the whole I welcome the girl clerk in my offices, with this reservation: that when she is good she is very, very good, but when she is bad, she is —well!

“I have often noticed that many of my little typists rather presume on their sex, and expect preferential treatment over them. Only the other day a little mist of eighteen practically demanded an afternoon cup of tea, and I had to point out that if she had tea I should have to provide it for the t wenty men clerks as well. I do not see why, if girls propose to compete with men, they should expect the (rials of office life to be softened for them. Civility and conisderation they have a right to, but the fact seems to have escaped the notice of many girls that a busy mercantile office is not a drawing-room. To them I would say:—

“Don’t expect your employer to hold the door open for you every time he passes you. He is probably an extremely courteous man, but he really hasn’t time for little attentions of this sort.

“Don’t regard the office boy as being there solely to wait on you. “Don’t allow the young men clerks to dally round you, and assist you with your work, while neglecting their own. If they attempt to do so, let them see that they are not required.

“Don’t discuss office affairs outside the office, and don’t discuss theatres and dances inside the office.

“Don’t come to the office in clothes that belong to the boudoir or the park. Office dress should be at once attractive, neat arid serviceable; free from all fluff and feathers and jewellery. “Mind you, when you get a really intelligent woman of about thirty you get a much better assistant than a man of the same age; and my criticisms are directed rather to the young miss who is starting office work and is inclined to take her work either with too deadly earnestness or with a too casual flippancy. As a matter of fact, my own chief clerk, in an establishment employing over 200, is a middle-aged woman, who came to me many years ago from a typewriting office as secretary. Since then I have left the entire control of my office in her hands, and I would not part with her for any money. She is much more reliable, has a much clearer head, and gives me much more conscientious service than any man clerk I have ever employed.”