36 HOURS WEEK.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15835, 4 June 1919, Page 6

36 HOURS WEEK.

NOTABLE POET SUNLIGHT SCHEME. Lord LeverhuTine last month announced to the shareholders of Lever Brothers at Port Sunlight that the firm had resolved to embark upon a six-hour working day for their employees, and a scheme, already prepared, was to be put into operation as soon as the necessary arrangements could be carried out. Describing the general feature ©f the scheme. Lord Leverhulme said the firm’s day workers and pieceworkers oould operate in two shifts, the morning shift beginning at 7 o’clock, with fifteen minutes’ interval for light refreshments at 8.45, and ending at 1.15. The afternoon shift was not quite so simple, because there was a strong desire to retain the Saturday half-holiday; so instead of a six-hour shift the week was to be divided into four shifts of seven and a quarter hours and one of seven hours to make up the 36 hours for the week. This shift would begin at 1.15 and end at 9 p.m.., the refreshment interval being of half an hour. REFRESHMENTS FROM THE FIRM. The light refreshments were to be provided by the firm on the premises, as it would save time, keep the factory running, and simplify the catering. Wages under the new system were to be exactly the same for 36 hours as they had been for 48 hours in the past. This was obviously essential, and it was equally certain that by proper organisation the staff conld accomplish the work without adding expense to the company, and, therefore, no cost would be added to the product or to to© management of the business. Another interesting development in regard to the method of paying toe men’s wages was outlined by Lord Leverhulme. Instead of the workmen crowding round the pay office at the week-end, arrangements were being made to open a banking account for each man ,at toe bank nearest his home, and his account would be credited weekly with toe wages to which he was entitled. He would thus be able to draw what he required for household purposes, and. anything left in would receive bank interest, supplemented by interest granted by the firm to bring it up to 5 per cent.