APPENDIX-STATISTICAL TABLES

PAGE

Names and approximate size of exchanges covered in hour and wage inquiry.

69

Showing number of days worked by regular time operators.

80

Table showing percentage of operators on split trick....

82

Table showing percentage of absentees December 8, 9, 10...

83

Table showing percentage of operators with broken time December 8, 9, 10 83 Productive hours lost.

84

Number of times days of absence and broken time were or were not paid for by company

85

Table showing number of workers at each basic wage.

86

Table showing period of service, exclusive of students in training school.. 94

[4]

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Bureau of Women in Industry recognizes that recommendations for the improvement of the labor policy of the Telephone Company fall under two general headings:

First, reduction of labor turnover. A telephone operator is not a real asset to the Company until she has been with it for one Therefore, every effort should be made to retain the

year.

operators.

Second, an increased number of operators. Traffic has increased 27.5% from January, 1919, to January, 1920. It is necessary, therefore, that the number of operators increase proportionately to the increase in traffic.

As means of meeting the problems presented by these two factors, the Bureau of Women in Industry would therefore recommend:

(1) Scientific selection of suitable operators by the Employment Department in order to decrease the labor turnover within the Training School itself.

(2) A re-organization of labor management, so that the same department, preferably the Employment Department, is responsible for employing, dismissing and accepting resignations of operators, thus securing co-ordinated methods of handling labor supply.

(3) The limitation of the number of working days to six.

(4) Compulsory rest periods of 15 to 20 minutes at reasonable intervals for every operator, preferably splitting the trick in two equal parts.

(5) The elimination of all overtime, and the gradual establishment of a seven-hour shift for the day and the night operators similar to the seven-hour shift for evening and split-trick operators.

(6) A higher maximum wage rate, and a faster rate of promotion for an employee who has been in the service two years. Increase in wage, after this period, which marks the beginning of 100% efficiency, should be such that it will be an incentive to remain with the Company.

(7) The extension of the facilities of the Medical Department to give operators periodical physical examinations with particular reference to nervous strain and its effect on health and efficiency. In order to make this effective, complete medical records for each employee should be kept.

(8) A democratic system of organization and representation among the employees, through which they may express their desires and by which they may acquire a sense of responsibility toward their work.

The Bureau of Women in Industry would recommend further: (1) An amendment or amendments to the Labor Law which shall include telephone exchanges as subject to the supervision of the Industrial Commission as prescribed for factory and mercantile establishments under Section 51-a of the Labor Law.

(2) The serious consideration by the Public Service Commission of the items in this report which have a bearing upon the much complained of inadequacy of the telephone service, with such action to remedy these defects as is possible under its broad powers.