Melissa's Place

1943 Guide to Hiring Women

Apparently this list of tips on how to hire a female employee was found in a July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine. It was written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II.

1. Pick young married women. They have a greater sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters and are less likely to be flirtatious. They need the work or they wouldn’t be doing it.

2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones that have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never had contact with the public can be cantankerous and fussy.

3. Keep a doctor on staff to give special physical examinations – one covering female conditions. This will keep you safe from lawsuits and reveals any mental or physical weaknesses.

4. Stress at the outset the importance of time, the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.

5. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they’ll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.

6. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.

7. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.

8. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can’t shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman – it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.

9. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl’s husband or father may swear vociferously, she’ll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.

10. General experience indicates that “husky” girls – those who are just a little on the heavy side – are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.