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AnimusRex -> RE: Eleven tips on getting more efficiency out of women employees (10/20/2009 10:15:08 AM)
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OK, a contrary word here.
Most of these seem unremarkably commonsense. Remember that we are NOT dealing with women in the 2009 workplace. In other words, we are dealing with women who have for the most part, never held a job, or have worked entirely as homemakers. The workplace was set up and organized exclusively along the lines of what worked for the male psyche- it was set up in a quasi military organization of hierarchy, rank, aggression and competition.
While we recognize today that women bring other skills- cooperation, collaboration and such- the workplace of 1943 these were foreign concepts.
Most of these have as their weakness overly broad generalizations; but then any modern "Who Moved My Cheese" type guide does the same.
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.
Aside from the weakness of overly broad generalization, there is truth to this. Younger people of both sexes are easier to train, and married people have actual experience in being responsible.
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.
Homemakers are in effect independent managers- they are used to setting their own schedule, working on their own course, and being their own boss- it can be difficult for them to suddenly have to answer to others or cater to unreasonable customers without wanting to box a few ears.
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.
I don't get this one. The author's mom was probably his inspiration.
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.
Not much changes, I guess- employers still want only healthy employees who will not burden their health insurance. This sounds like it comes out of Aetna's "How to shrug off insurance covereage, 2009 Edition".
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.
Probably good for either of the sexes; but again, if we are talking about people who have never worked in the workplace, time probably does have a different concept. In the 1940's, "time/ motion" studies and assembly line efficiency was all the rage among corporate manager types. "creative" slacking as we know it today was unheard of.
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.
Again, this is pretty much true for anyone who has never been in the workplace.
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.
Another way of saying women multi-task better than men. I would go along with this.
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.
Given that women are made intensely aware of their appearance from teh age of 13 on up, with every tiny detail of their body examined and weighed and evaluated, yeah, the need for frequent "appearance" breaks are understandable.
9) Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive, they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.
Men-generally- react well to hierarchy and aggression. Women-generally- react well to collaboration and cooperation.
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.
Ditto to item #9
11) Get enough size variety in operators uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too strongly as a means of keeping women happy, according to Western Properties.
Another variation on item #8
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