A BUSINESS PRACTICE.

Evening Star, Issue 21091, 2 May 1932, Page 2

A BUSINESS PRACTICE.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir, —May 1 join an “ Employer of Labour ” in protesting against tho inquisitorial methods adopted by the Australian syndicate which is at present causing so much distress and dismay among tho assistants of our larger firms? It is a confession of incompetency and inefficiency on the part of tho managers and the heads of departments that such mean detective and third-degree methods should be resorted to in order to ascertain whether or not employees are trustworthy. Aspersions may easily bo cast on quite innocent characters by the tactics which these self-constituted detectives employ, and suspicions of dishonesty excited on very trivial irregularities. Mrs Browning truly said in her ‘ Aurora Leigh ’ that “ being observed when observation is not sympathy is simply torture,” and for the majority of shop assistants to feel that they aro being spied on by ruthless customers, who are only seeking some opportunity of accusing them and securing their dismissal must make their position almost intolerable. It is putting them to an indignity which they ought never to have to endure. Finns which allow this sly syndicate to lay traps to ensnare their assistants may, of course, find a few who have betrayed tho trust reposed in them. But what of tho innocent who have served their employers well? An atmosphere of distrust is at once created, and work which was onco a pleasure becomes a dreaded thing. Through some slight and inadvertent slip suspicion may at any time fall on the head of a faithful assistant. Mutual confidence between employer and employee is broken down, and work which ought to bo a pleasure becomes a strain and a trial. None can work happily in an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust, and wo can but fear that tho methods of theso commercial inquisitors will do far more harm than good.—l am, etc., Trustful. May 2.