Twenty-one years ago last summer this business was conceived by its present heads, operations starting in a small room in Indianapolis and during that twenty-one years (rather a long span of life for a business) they have striven year by year to build something that would be enduring and solid; have worked to create good will with customers on a lasting and permanent foundation; have attempted to surround themselves with an organization of satisfied and happy individuals who have been and are willing to grow and work with them; and above all, have endeavored to divide the dollars equally and fairly among each and everyone who has assisted them in building this business.

Dividing profits or dollars fairly is not an easy task as it compares to that of a judge who passes on the many aspects of a legal case having a lot of detail evidence that must be weighed, and at the best, each and every decision we or a judge makes cannot always be perfectly fair to everyone concerned.

In the final analysis, we receive a certain number of dollars for merchandise sold and from these dollars we then pay the manufacturers who sell us and the remainder must ~e divided up and spent for many, many different things, including taxes, rent, salaries, bonuses and miscellaneous terns of expense besides one that safeguards all of us-RESERVE CAPITAL ACCUMULATION TO CARRY US OVER LEAN PERIODS.

During these present hysterical times which may last a few months, a few years or even longer, it seems to us that one might stop, reflect, do some thinking about the past and some about the future and perhaps regain the equilibrium and balance by a study of some of the things that he hears. Stories are being passed around from mouth to mouth which probably should be labeled "exaggerations" at the least and in other cases, they may actually be termed "fabrications" concerning opportunities in other businesses, ideal working conditions in this and that industry and fabulous incomes which are accruing to certain people.

It certainly behooves all of us in a period of this kind to keep our thinking stabilized, to do a calm job of evaluating the above subjects and this little story is being printed with the idea of perhaps assisting all in accomplishing this end and helping us in our thinking.

No attempt is made to do a high pressure selling job but we know that all of you are periodically assailed with doubts on your employment conditions in exactly the same fashion as the management is also assailed with doubts during the hectic times in which we are now living.

In the final analysis, your management is conscientiously cognizant of the tremendous responsibilities that it owes to those who have assisted it in attaining its present position but at the same time, it is also conscious of its responsibility to safeguard its future and to keep this business alive over a period of time in order that we may al~ participate in its success over the indefinite future.

OPPORTUNITIES WHEN WORKING FOR US

VERSUS THE OTHER MAN

1. TODAY'S INCOME.

Today's income is extremely important to each and everyone of us and cannot be overlooked when we reflect on our position in life, it being physically impossible for any of us to work constantly for the future and never for the present and therefore, the above subject should be properly evaluated in our scheme of thinking.

However, when considering today's income, we do think that a number of details should be thought of which ordinarily might be overlooked by some of us, they being as follows:

The hourly rate a man receives today is important but the above points are also equally important and must be taken into consideration. If one is offered a high hourly rate of pay, bear in mind it can be affected up to as high as 25% of its apparent worth by the above mentioned factors. In other words, a rate of 80c an hour may actually net only 60c when the above is taken into consideration.

2. TOMORROW'S INCOME.

None of us can afford to entirely overlook tomorrow's income and probably if we attempt to evaluate it, we should assign at least a 40% credit to it in our calculations.

Is your occupation on a fairly well stabilized basis or is it subject to the vagaries of the peaks and valleys of general conditions?

Have you built up seniority with your present employer and can you acquire that seniority quickly providing you seek a new one? Seniority is a powerful lever and must be taken into consideration on tomorrow's income and becomes increasingly difficult to establish in a new business or with a new employer.

Is your business large enough and being handled on a conservative basis so that in turn you have the assurance that it will continue to offer you employment over the indefinite future?

3. AVERAGE INCOME.

Average income could be worked out on any basis one might desire, on a day, a week, a month, a year or ten years but certainly we do not believe in taking the extremes in this particular calculation.

Why should one sacrifice entirely future for present income and conversely why should one sacrifice entirely present for future income?

Certainly if a man receives $ 1,200 a year at the rate of $ 100 per month, he is equally as well off if not better than if he receives $1,200 working eight months at $150 a month, caused by being laid off irregularly over the remaining time.

Average income is important.

4. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT.

More high pressure salesmanship and loose conversation probably accompanies this subject than anything else that we know and it is maligned regularly by all of us, making it doubly necessary that each man's thinking should be reasonably clear and furthermore for him, himself to evaluate the promises and statements that might be made to him.

We suggest the following questions which may help one on his thinking, all of them being very important as far as assisting anyone in actually securing opportunities.

Is your employer's business growing regularly year after year and is it larger now than it was 10 years ago?

Does your employer promote people from one job to another and does he definitely encourage them in their desire to advance themselves in the world?

Do you have examples around you where men have advanced themselves in the particular organization in which you are employed?

Is your employer sufficiently financially responsible so that he can withstand the vicissitudes of depression which attempts to eliminate him entirely from the picture during bad times?

Does your present employer regiment you in a group where your personality becomes completely submerged or do you have the opportunity for self expression, and intelligent thinking in your work?

5. WORKING CONDITIONS.

Certainly working conditions must be considered in anyone's employment, although they probably do not carry as high a percentage rating as does today's and tomorrow's income but still they should possibly have a 10% credit in your consideration of your general welfare and the following points should have thought.

Am I being forced into regimentation by my present employer to the point where I have very little to say about what I do?

Will I be forced, perhaps against my will to participate in labor movements, and subscribe to their policies and theories whether my thinking coincides therewith or not?

Do I become simply part of a large machine or am I treated as a human and as an individual?

Is my immediate supervisor considerate of my welfare and personally interested in me?

Are the heads of my business available to me for consultation and discussion and are they interested in my welfare?

Does my employer have financial plans that will assist me in case of adversity or trouble and are they based on reasonable charges?

Is my place of work well located in the particular community or is it on the outskirts or in an inconvenient place?

Am I treated courteously, given proper consideration during sickness and trouble that I might have in my personal affairs?

DETAILS OF OUR WORKING PLANS AND CONDITIONS

1. YEAR'S UNDERSTANDING.

For years we have used a policy of having a talk with each and every member of our organization once a year, generally in December and at that time have a frank and complete discussion with them of their status in our concern, set their income rate for the succeeding year and in turn expecting that rate to continue during that time unless the employee is assigned to a more advanced and different type of position.

By this plan each and everyone's salary will come up for reconsideration once a year and if possible he will be given an increase and if not, we will at least talk the whole matter over with him, giving him an opportunity to express his own ideas thoroughly and completely.

It is never necessary for one of our employees to feel that he must bring up the subject of increased salary as it automatically comes up for consideration once a year.

A great many concerns never bring this point up but we feel that the best interests of each and everyone of us are served provided this subject is cleared up to everyone's satisfaction as of the start of each calendar year and then buried for the next twelve months unless as mentioned above, he is promoted to a better position.

2. AVERAGE WAGE.

In other words, we agree to offer to each one the opportunity to work sufficient extra hours to make up any time lost by holidays and try to give him sufficient overtime to cover all short sickness.

In case of long sieges of sickness which cannot covered or made up by overtime work, you will find definitely sympathetic to your needs and will do ever thing possible to assist you in the solving of financial problems that might arise in connection therewith.

3. VACATION POLICY.

If employed before September 1 st in any one year, he entitled to a vacation in the succeeding year. Example-employed before September 1, 1941, he is entitled to vacation in 1942.

If employed after September 1st, he is entitled to vacation in the second succeeding year. Example--October 1, 1941, his first vacation period will occur in 1943.

The first two vacations, will be for periods of one week each. Commencing with his third vacation and each on thereafter, he will be entitled to two weeks.

4. HOURS OF WORK AND SCHEDULE THEREON.

Your store has charts which show the hours of work offered during 1942 and average incomes figured out by the month and year.

BOOZER-TEST MANAGEMENT SERVICE