FINES FOR ABSENTEEISM

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22137, 8 September 1943, Page 4

FINES FOR ABSENTEEISM

MANPOWER OFFICER EXPLAINS 57 CASES IN DISTRICT A correspondent employed in an essential industry has written inquiring whether the manpower officer was acting within his rights in imposing fines on absentees from essential work, as had occurred on occasions recently. It was alleged that a letter was sent to the person concerned stating that a fine of a certain sum had been imposed for being absent on a specified day. This was deducted from the wages on the following pay-day. It was stated | that the officer did not seek an explanation as to why the person was absent. The manpower officer, in reply stated that he certainly had the authority to impose fines for absenteeism or frequent lateness in arriving at work. However, the correspondent had not put the case satisfactorily. Actually in each reported : case a printed form was sent to the alleged delinquent, inquiring for reasons and pointing out the seriousness of impairing the war effort. If reasonable answer was received it was usual to accept it, but some of the excuses given were patently incorrect. For instance, employees had been seen at race meetings, and their explanation for being absent from work was that they were suffering from sore feet, bad colds, or even rheumatism. Other absentees returned impertinent explanations, and asked what the manpower officer proposed to do in the matter. If the faults were persisted in fines were usually imposed, the amount of thej fine being deducted from wages by the employer, at the instance of the manpower officer. There was the right of appeal within 14 days. It was pointed out that a total of 1621 cases of absenteeism or repeated late arrivals at work were reported in the Hamilton district within the past 12 months, and in only 57 instances were fines imposed. Warnings sent out totalled 776. These figures compared more than favourably with the numbers in other manpower districts, which indicated that in Hamilton the authorities were tolerant in the extreme.