WOMAN'S CLERICAL WORK, WAGE, AND TREATMENT.—In recent years the question of male versus female employment in clerical work has become one of considerable importance. This being so, it is opportune to discuss the relative value of the two sexes considered from the standpoint of salary paid and general efficiency displayed.
As stenographers and typists women far outnumber the males. It is frequently asserted that the reason for this, or the principal reason at any rate, lies in the fact that the calling is one particularly suitable for women. In a measure this is true, but it does not constitute the fundamental reason, which is the lower rate of pay that the female stenographer is usually pre pared to accept. As a matter of figures, it has been computed that the average wage of the female stenographer is less than 25s. a week, compared with the 32s. 6d. of the male worker. From an economic point of view and without regard to the further points which arise, the employment of female labour in this connection is obviously cheaper than the other alternative.
The figures, however, are apt to be misleading. A very considerable proportion of female labour of this description is of very indifferent quality, and between the wages of the efficient woman worker and the competent male employee there is not much disparity.
The male stenographer is, judging from the experience of competent critics, quicker at his work, and more enthusiastic in its performance, than the female. His natural ambition, however, is apt to curtail his usefulness sooner or later, inasmuch as he realises the limitations of his office, and unless some advancement offers is apt to grow slack or discontented, or both. For this very good reason (it is one which operates powerfully in ordinary business life) the best counsel to a business man is to secure a thoroughly competent lady stenographer, paying her a fair wage, and insisting upon a high standard of work.
In some offices the conditions of service render the employment of female labour difficult or inadvisable. In such a place, where a male shorthand writer and typist is employed, he should, if at all possible, be given to under stand that continued efficiency in his duties will be rewarded by promotion to more responsible work. This is a plan which has acted excellently in more than one large concern where the circumstances are as described, and the scheme is worth the earnest consideration of every employer who wishes to get the best work from his staff, and at the same time give his employees the best possible chance in life. Broadly speaking, the difference between the male and the female stenographer is that the former (if he is worth his salt) is bound to be wanting something better than his original occupation can afford ; the female stenographer, ou the other hand, is usually quite content with things as they are, and the only promotion which she looks upon as likely or realisable is that aflbrded by—marriage.
For the purely routine work of an office, the keeping of records, mailing duties, &c. &c., female labour is being increasingly employed, and it is in this direction that the woman or girl worker in the office has given most satisfaction. Experience has proved that women can perform monotonous duties with more cheerfulness and less possibility of ennui than men. They demand less both in wages and prospects, and in the future it seems more than probable that the great bulk of office work of this nature will be done by the fair sex.
Every wise employer, however, will do well to remember that the woman worker in the office does not yield good results to the same severe regimen as may be observed in the treatment of the male staff. With a lower standard of vitality, the woman (particularly the young woman), if worked for over-long hours, or at continued high pressure, is very likely to do her business in a way that is not conducive to ultimate economy, either of timt. or money. It is fatal to .the discipline of an office to treat the fair sex too indulgently; very few women, indeed, displeasing though the observation must be to many, have innate conscientiousness. They must be treated with I, tactful combination of firmness and kindness, shown plainly and unmis takably that indifference or foolish mistakes will not be tolerated, and at the same time given every comfort compatible with the proper conduct of business.
Such a comparatively slight concession as a tea interval is one which every woman worker appreciates, and in general she will work the better for it. She is more susceptible to clean and comfortable surroundings, warmth, and adequate appointments for the performance of the inevitable. toilet. Here a word of warning is necessary. Whatever the future may pro vide, it must be confessed that many girls engaged in business offices do at present possess the faculty, on the least slackness of supervision, of wasting an inordinate amount of their employers' time. This is more particularly true where several women are employed in one office, and facilities exist for the retailing of gossip, the occasional reading of novels, &c. The remedy for this is the appointment of a head or supervising girl. Such a girl should be selected carefully ; she should possess firmness without tyranny and con sideration without weakness. Naturally she will command a better salary than the others, but she is worth it. The head girl should be given a very fair share of power, and complete responsibility for the efficient work ing of her department. In this way, if she is the right kind, may be ensured the minimum of wasted time and the maximum of efficient work.