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Notice!
Are you overworked,
under paid, over-regulated, under-leisured, and
underbenefited? Take heart! Not only could it be
worse, it has been. This notice was found in the
ruins of a London office building. It was dated 1852:
- This firm has
reduced the hours of work, and the clerical
staff will now only have to be present
between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
weekdays.
- Clothing must
be of sober nature. The clerical staff will
not disport themselves in raiment of bright
colors, nor will they wear hose unless in
good repair.
- Overshoes and
topcoats may not be worn in the office, but
neck scarves and headwear may be worn in
inclement weather.
- A stove is
provided for the benefit of the clerical
staff. Coal and wood must be kept in the
locker. It is recommended that each member of
the clerical staff bring four pounds of coal
each day during the cold weather.
- No member of
the clerical staff may leave the room without
permission from the supervisor.
- No talking is
allowed during business hours.
- The craving for
tobacco, wine, or spirits is a human
weakness, and as such is forbidden to all
members of the clerical staff.
- Now that the
hours of business have been drastically
reduced, the partaking of food is allowed
between 11:30 and noon, but work will not on
any account cease!!
- Members of the
clerical staff will provide their own pens. A
new sharpener is available on application to
the supervisor.
- The supervisor
will nominate a senior clerk to be
responsible for the cleanliness of the main
office and the supervisor's private office.
All boys and juniors will report to him 40
minutes before prayers and will remain after
closing hours for similar work. Brushes,
brooms, scrubbers, and soap are provided by
the owners.
- The owners
recognize the wisdom of the new labor laws,
but will expect a great rise in output of
work to compensate for these near Utopian
conditions.
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