FACTORY DOCTORS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1938, Page 5

FACTORY DOCTORS

NEW PROFESSION WELCOMED BY INDUSTRY. PREVENTION OF WORRY AT WORK. British industry is welcoming the new profession of office and factory doctor. Thousands of pounds are being saved for employers by these men and women "doctors,” who by their ability to solve life's human problems can turn a discontented body of workers into a happy and efficient staff. No job in the world calls for greater tact, and the men and women, who are qualifying for these posts are earning big salaries. More and more big firms are employing them and saving money.

One of the "doctors” whom a reporter spoke to looks after the welleither in office or factory. And from his experience he has come to the conclusion that:

Young men who marry too early in ’ their "twenties” on too low a salary 1 do not make happy, efficient workers either in office or factroy. "The domestic anxiety takes their mind from the job,” he declared. "Only the strongest characters can fight that down and make use of theadded spur to ambition that family responsibilities bring on them. "The modern young man's chief workaday worries are his anxiety to gain promotion and higher pay before it is due, and personal dislikes of those in immediate authority over him.” The problem of the office and factory girl are totally different. A middle-aged woman who is the confidant and friend of 2,000 girls in a hosiery factory told the reporter that half the inefficient working in large factories was due to "misfits.” "Girls are put into departments where the work neither suits nor interests them,’ 'she explained. “I have devised a series of simple' manual and mental tests which every girl undergoes when she is engaged. "From the results of these tests I can tell accurately for which particular department any girl is most suited and in which she will be most happy.” Another woman "Doctor” —this time in a large city office employing many girl clerical workers—said 80 per cent of work failures among the girls were due to worries at home. “It took me two years of tactful work to gain the confidence of the girls here,” she said. “But the results I am getting now are well worth the trouble.

“Instead of a girl hiding a private worry and wasting the firm’s time and money by inaccuracies or poor work, she comes to me, and I help to find a way out of her difficulties. “Often I go to see her parents, with whom she may have quarrelled. "The commonest causes of worry among girl workers are: — “Disagreements at home with parents or brothers and sisters.

“Lack of confidence in - themselves and the fear that they will never make good. “Jealousy of some other girl in the office, leading to quarrels and inattention to duties. * “As regards youthful love affairs, the seriousness with which girls still in their teens treat tiffs with the boy friend is amazing.”