PAYING OVERTIME

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3271, 25 February 1937, Page 4

PAYING OVERTIME

DAIRY FACTORY WORK TIME OFF IN LIEU OF CASH A suggestion that instead of paying overtime to dairy factory employees in cash the accrued time should be carried forward and given as time off in the slack season is contained in a circular which has been forwarded to all . dairy companies in the Dominion by the New Zealand Dairy Board. This proposal was submitted to the board by one of the large dairy companies and has been circulated with a request that dairy companies express their opinions of it.

The matter will be considered by the Cambridge Dairy Company at the next meeting of directors. “Dairying is a seasonal occupation, during the peak of which considerable overtime has to be worked,” stated the dairy company making the proposal. If, instead of paying time and a quarter and time and a half in cash, we were allowed to carry forward overtime on the basis of time and a quarter and time and a half worked, we could practically assure our employees continuous work, or at least continuous payment.

“If we pay overtime, when the slack season comes we must of necessity shorten staff, which is not very helpful to married men, who, in spite of the fact that they have had considerable overtime throughout the year, spend the money, and save nothing with which to face the slack period of seasonal operations. On the other hand, if it were permitted that, say, eight hours’ overtime worked in one week were credited in time to the employee, arid this time be given off in the slack season, it would provide continuous drawing of wages throughout the whole year.

“We think you would be serving belli the dairy farmers and tile factory employees if you would give this matter your serious consideration. As a safeguard against abuse it could be laid down that the practice may be adopted only where an employee is engaged continuously throughout the year. As a company we would have nothing to gain other than that we would retain team-spirit within the organisation, and therefore, in the interests of those engaged in the dairying industry, this suggestion is submitted.”