Modern Methods in the Office; How to Cut Corners and Save Money (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 Excerpt: ...The only thing he can do, therefore, is to take up an evening course of study which will supply him with the broad perspective of business necessary for his advancement." Piece-work vs. Day-work "The piece-work plan of payment, if combined with measures which will serve to correct the worker's tendency to feel satisfied with a certain minimum income, is. doubtless one of the best systems for insuring a high output and predetermining labor costs," said an executive, recently. "But in some plants the nature of the work is such that the piece-work idea is impracticable. Uniformity of output is necessary to its successful application. In such instances, the desirable personal-incentive element which is present under the piece-work system is injected by the following method: "Operatives are timed to such a degree that it is possible to estimate the standard time required for a job of any nature which may come into the shop. With each allotment of work goes a ticket giving the cost allowed for its completion. The worker who is paid a regular hourly rate can then figure the time allowed. "If he completes the job before the specified hour, he is credited with the difference; if after, debited. If he shows consistent gains, at pay-day his rate of pay is increased; if losses, and an investigation shows that the time estimate is reasonable, he is shifted to another department or discharged. "Thus, although the men are employed on a daywork basis, the advantages of the piece-work system are preserved." How to Insure a Satisfactory Volume Under a Piecework System "One would think that men working on a piecerate basis would be inclined to exert every effort," said the superintendent of a large plant, "but the fact of...