FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 35, 24 January 1912, Page 2

FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

“AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS.”

“The five days a week lias worked splendidly in our establishment. Looking from every point of view it is a groat ' improvement on a six days working week. Our employees arc so pleased with it that they have requested us to extend the provisions of the change to our works at Newcastle. We would not go hack to the old order .of things under any consideration.” Thus spoke Mr E. Arnott, one of the managing directors of Messrs William Arnott, the well-known biscuit manufacturers, when discussing with a Sydney “Sun” representative the proposal to abolish all work on the Saturday morning and have a clear break from Friday until Monday. ,

“You see, it is this way. In former times the employees came in on Saturday morning, and before they became properly warmed up to their work they were beginning to think it was time to knock off. Comparatively speaking, we did not got half a day’s work out of them, or, in other words, they were not able to do as much on Saturday morning as they would, say, on Wednesday.

“We have over 500 female employees in the business, and I have not heard one complaint from them respecting the new order of things. On the contrary, there l has been nothing but the keenest satisfaction, and wo are getting better results than ever. When you are able to please not only one member of the fair Sex, but 500, one can surely claim to have accomplished something. The girls now have the whole of aSturday free to themselves, and arc able to do any domestic work, or, if they feel so inclined, they can do their shopping under much more pleasant conditions. Then looking at it from a health standpoint, I fancy they find that the complete cessation from ordinary work for two whole days is very beneficial.

“The male members of the staff are feeling the benefits also, for after taking things easy for a couple of days they are wonderfully revived when they commence again. .I do not know of any instances, where the men abuse the time off by excesses of any kind. The spell from work is used for rational recreation purposes, and the . handy man about the house has many opportunities for effecting ’improvements which ho would not otherwise have.

“Yes, the various heads of departments appreciate the changed conditions also. One has to keep up such a high rate of speed these strenuous days that the complete break is very welcome. In fact, one might say it is absolutely necesslary if the best results of years of l effort are to be maintained. li’ 1 t I (I 1:1 . I I.

“No, there has not been the slightest difficulty in making up the lost time. The hands simply work a little longer for five days each week, and they do not seem to notice, the difference. Certainly it is not anything that would ■ cause 'them to-'forego "the benefits of the Saturday morning off and revert to the aid methods... “As I said'before, wo have nothing but praise for the system, and. .have found it an unqualified success.”