SOC361H5 Chapter HOVE: Reading Note-Hovey and Beard
Document Summary
Toys arrive in trays, cut, sanded, partially assembled, dipped in shellac. Employee puts a toy in a jig, sprays on the appropriate colour, hangs toy on hook. Hook speed calculated by engineers so each employee (ee) could hang a toy on every eighth passing hook. Eight work booths with spray paints and work jigs. All also get a group bonus when they exceed the production standard. By second month: ees are learning much more slowly than anticipated. Some turnover (2 women), which more training delays. Foreman reluctantly called a department meeting: discussed centred on one complaint: poor ventilation, foreman promised to discuss with engineers, and scheduled a second meeting to report back. Engineers, supported by management, refused to do anything. Foreman came to second meeting w/ this bad news. Relations between women and foreman improved visibly. Foreman suggested another meeting re other aspects of the work situation.
