Discipline and Imagination
It is gratifying to find that the Ministry of Labour knows that the problem of absenteeism in industry is not merely a matter of original sin, or one which can always be dealt with by rules and discipline. It is taking the initiative in pressing industrial concerns to look at the matter from another angle, and to seek a solution within each industry by a human approach to the special problems of individual workers. In a White Paper issued by the Ministry it is pointed out that common causes of absenteeism are sickness in the worker's family, shopping difficulties, care of the home, prolonged fatigue, and simply depression arising from " blacked-out " factories or similar conditions. It is suggested that a determined effort to find out why individuals frequently absent themselves may often point the• way to a remedy, and that managements should frankly recognise that many workers, especially women, cannot continue to work 51 days a week if they live far from their work (Ir have children to look after. A rota system might be arranged to give certain workers a day off apart .from Sunday. It is urged that every management should take steps to ascertain the facts about the absentees and the conditions which are affecting them, and should secure the co-operation of the workers' representatives. Con- siderate treatment and the collective opinion of the workers will often succeed where severe discipline fails.
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