Employment Policies and Practices in American Organizations
EACH year a new group of chemically trained young men and women put aside the relative freedom of student days and t&e to themselves a taskmaster which, often as not, will wield a control over them for the rest of their lives-a job. Gone are the free summers. Tu'o more jobs as lifegua~ds,caddies, bellhops. You've finished four years of college. Picking an employer now is serious business. There are many things you need to know about your employer, just as he does about you. So, let's suppose that you're thinking about a job with Hercules Powder Company. Your first interview with a Hercules representative answers many of your questions. They have a job to offer you; it will he
JANE F. GAPFNEY and JOHN T. HAYS Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, Delaware
in their central research laboratories near Wilmington, Delaware. If you make out well, there will be advancements. The pay sounds good. You learn t o your surprise that Hercules Powder Company is not primarily a powder manufacturer. Hercules produces many basic raw materials for the chemical industry. So there can be considerable variety to the work. The representative of the company who interviews you is pleasant and courteous.
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You stack up these facts and impressions along with those you have of other potential employers. You think Hercules would be a good bet. At the same time, Hercules is appraising you. They know that you come from a good school, your records are good. They like your personality: you are friendly, intelligent, well-informed. So, Hercules decides to hire you, and you decide to accept. . Be in the office of technical personnel supervisor George F. Cooper, Room 815, Delaware Trust Building, Ninth and Market Streets, Wilmington, Del., Monday morning," the letter telling you about the job says. You arrive a t the building around nine, a bit nervous, glad that you took time to have your suit pressed, your shoes sh'med. You wish you could look ahead a month or two to see how you are going to like this company. The elevator operator has reached the eighth floor and is waiting for you to get out. "Around to the right," she says helpfully. You find Room 815 without any trouble. You open the door. Mr. Cooper greets you in a friendly way. Younger than you thought he would be. You figure he didn't get those shoulders in a chemistry lab. (As a matter of fact he didn't. He was a two-letter man at the University of Iowa.)
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HERCULFS ORGANIZATION
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trip to Wilmington, the weather, about finding a place to live. "Naturally you want to know more about the work you'll be doing," Mr. Cooper says. You agree. "Well, you'll be starting in the Naval Stores Division," he explains. "Dr. Ivett, manager of the division, will give you the details about that later today. Meanwhile, I can give you an idea of where your work will fit in." He tells you then that Hercules has six operating departments-called the Cellulose Products Department, Explosives Department, Naval Stores Department, Paper Makers Chemical Department, Synthetics Department, and Virginia Cellulose Department. Working with the six operating departments are auxiliary departments. These include: advertising, engineering, export, legal, medical, personnel, purchasing, safety, traffic, and research. You are now a member of the Research Department, he tells you. The Research Department has six research divisions which correspond to the operating departments. It also has general divisions--each separatefor analytical work, new product evaluations, pilot plant development, physics, and scouting research. "What sort of products does Naval Stores research handle?" you ask. "Naval Stores raw materials include rosin, pine oil, turpentine, and other terpenes," he replies. "From them, it develops a wide variety of chemicals for the paint, ink, soap, and many other industries." "You're wonderinc, no doubt, why or how we decidrd to put you in tllc ~ a v n l ' S t o & Division," 11c a . "Thry jwt hnpptmed ro nccd s man right now. Actually, you could have started in any division. We'll all know after a time where you're best fitted to work." FIELDS A CHEMIST CAN ENTER . The Research Department is separate from the six operating departments, but each phase of its work is correlated with the interests of the operating departments, Mr. Cooper explains. Most of the company's research is conducted a t the Experiment Station just outside Wilmington, although developmental research is carried on in many of the plant laboratories. However, much laboratory work done a t plants is essentially quality control work. "Suppose I found I wanted to branch out into some other type of work, could I do it?" you ask. "Yes; specialization usually comes a few months after you've started on general work," he explains. "In a comDanv like Hercules which makes and sells many chemicais, the chemically trained employee has a number of outlets in which he can specialize. He can put his knowledge of chemistry to work in research, in ~roduction. in sales. or in technical service to customers. Chemical engineers may also turn to engineering." ~ design ~and construction t ~ ~
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Hercules does not expect the newly hired chemist to know which of these phases of the company's work he would like to do right away, Mr. Cooper tells you. That's why Hercules starts the new chemist a t the Experiment Station where he works under a division manager on a broad field of company research. That way, he becomes familiar with Hercules policies and its many products. How long you stay in a laboratory or at the Expedment Station, depends upon the type of work you will specialize in. Some chemists and chemical engineers ask for, or are picked for, production work. That means they will go to a Hercules plant. They might start in the development laboratory a t the plant, or as shift supervisors. These men may stay a t the Experiment Station just long enough to acquire a basic familiarity with the company or they may stay a couple of years, depending upon the department and the nature of the work. "What about chemical engineers who want to enter the field of designing or construction engineering, do they train at the Experiment Station too?" you ask. "Not unless they're going into operating work. If they're planning to work as engineers they train through the Engineering Department," Mr. Cooper replies. "Their headquarters are here in this building." That covers the men who stay only briefly a t the Experiment Station, he continues. On the other hand, research chemists who prefer to remain in research This Apparatus 1s Typxsd of Thmt Used in the Pioneer W o r k Done by usually are assigned to the Experiment Station perthe scouting Research Division manently. They may specialize in fundamental research, or in process development, or perhaps in product photographic film. And that holds true for most of our application research. This group usually includes many chemicals-they all go into many industrial products. You are beginning to get a picture of the business men who hold advanced degrees. now. You have other questions you want to ask. Mr. "How do men in laboratories a t your plants get Cooper's phone rings. You take time to look out his there?" you inquire. "They're the men who specialize in improving a par- window over the rooftops of Wi'ilmmgton while he's ticular product or in developing a better way to produce busy. A couple of girls are talking in the next office, that product. These men frequently start a t our Ex- laughing about something. You feel more relaxed now. periment Station and move out to a plant laboratory It seems like a friendly place so far. Mr. Cooper finishes his phone call, looks at his watch. after they have acquired a solid groundwork of information about the product. In some cases they may be "It's just about time for the station wagon to leave transferred back to the Experiment Station later on. here for our Experiment Station," he says. "It takes Experiment Station and plant chemists work closely about 25 minutes to get there. We make several trips a day." He pushes a button. A girl from the next together on many projects." office comes in. Mr. Cooper asks her to take you around SELLING TAKES MUCH TRAINING to the rear elevator. "Our station wagon is parked Men who will become salesmen or technical service- right outside the door down there," he explains, "the men for customers may remain a t the Experiment Sta- driver will take you out to the station. Mr. Malcolm tion for several years before being assigned to a sales Moore is expecting you. . .he's in charge of personnel a t office. Sales and service work requires this extensive the Station." He comes around the desk and walks to training. You have to be thoroughly familiar with a the door with you. "Good luck. I hope you're going to product to do a good job of selling it, he explains. like working with us." You shake hands and hurry Chemical raw materials have so many end uses that it after the girl who has already started down the oortakes years to learn enough about them. It's far more ridor. You spot the station wagon right away. In a minute, complicated than selling a finished product. A man selling just one chemicalsay, for example, a girl with a big canvas valise comes out of the building nitrocellulose--will have customers who make plastics, and sits behind the wheel. You move out into the printing inks, textiles, lacquers, airplane glues, or morning traffic.
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This folder will give you a general picture of the plans which Hercules has set up for the benefit of employees, he explains. Some of them are paid for completely by the company-like the regular vacations. Others, like the low-cost group life and group accident and sickness insurance, are paid for partly by the company and partly by you. Hercules doesn't want to be a paternalistic outfit, he tells you. It has more respect for its employees than that. Hercules pays its men and women as well as other companies in the chemical industry, and the opportunities for advancement are excellent because Hercules is growing rapidly, he adds. Of course, in the last analysis, it's up to the individual to make the most of these opportunities. "We all recognize that each of us is working for a livelihood and we try, through cooperation, to make the work as pleasant and satisfying and productive as possible," he says. A view of the Microscopy Loboretory Catches a Chemist Scru*ini.. ing e Slide under the Misrorsope "I thought every business had its 'royal family,' " you muse out loud. FAMILIAR SIGHTS AND SMELLS "Hercules doesn't operate that way," Mr. Moore reThe ride to the Experiment Station takes you through plies. You can tell it's a fact he's proud of. "The top jobs are open to those who merit them," he rolling hills and rich farmland. At the crest of one hill the driver points ahead to the left. "That's the Ex- continues. "Our board of directors are all working men. Each one is an executive of the company. Most of the periment Station over there," she says. It looks good, you decide. Low brick buildings with a men on the board started as chemists just as you are lot of ground around them. A high water tower. And starting now," he tells you. "Some of the men started stretching down toward the road, a golf course. Two out as clerks." "Do you ever get to see any of them-the directors, I women in bright cotton dresses are climbing slowly up mean?" toward a green. Mr. Moore laughs. "You'll be seeing a lot of them. "Looks like a tough course," you comment. "I don't know. I don't play golf," the driver says. I meant i t when I said we are one big happy family. "I like to swim, though. There's a nice pool right up For instance," he continues, "we have a men's club. there by the clubhouse. You can't see it from here, it's They meet each month, to listen to a speaker, or hold a behind the hill. But you'll see it a t noon. I guess. The picnic or clambake. You'll meet clerks and mailboys and vice-presidents, and the president too, for that cafeteria is in the clubhouse." You stop a t the gate to the station while a guard matter. He gets around to the plants and branch takes your name and gives you a badge. Then you drive in and pull up in front of the largestbrick building. Once inside the gate, the country-club atmosphere disappears. You feel more alert. You sense that people are a t work, seriously, inside here. You tell the receptionist you want to see Mr. Moore. You follow her down the corridor. Through open doors on the right you can see men and girls in white coats or rubber aprons working with chemical equipment. The air has a sharpness to it. It smells like the laboratory back a t school. This is more like it, you think. POLICIES, BENEFITS
You get a cordial welcome from Mr. Moore. His office reminds you of offices you'd seen a t school, too: plain, not too large, brown mastic tile on the floor. Right away he gives you things to fill out: withholding tax forms for state and federal taxes, a questionnaire for the personnel department, a contract regarding patent rights. He gives a which has "Benefits and ices for Hercules Salaried Employes" written on it.
One of the More Resent Additions to tho Exporirn~ntStation Is the ~ i ~ h ~ - . ~ b ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t ~ ~~
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interested in is safety," Mr. Moore continues. "We feel that accidents can be prevented, with care. At some time, any laboratory work may contain hazards. We insist that workers must not expose themselves unnecessarily to hazards. If operating conditions are unsafe temporarily, work must be stopped, no matter how urgent i t may appear. Our safety supervisor will tell you more about this when you talk to him later," he adds. "About salaries. . ." you begin. "Thev're naid on the last full workine dav " of the month," he explains. That was what you wanted to know. He explains briefly the link between the Research Department and the six operating departments. He lists the other nonlaboratory divisions of the Experiment Station: the library, office,maintenance division, safety, personnel, photographic, the weekly newspaper published for employees, and the employee magazine. He asks if you've had your physical examination yet. You haven't. Mr. Moore checks his watch-it's close to lunch time. He phones his secretary and asks her to make an appointment for your physical examination around three. "Now let's go meet Dr. Ivett," he says.
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The Chemical Library Offem Valuable Assletancs to t h e Technical Parsonnol of Hercules Central Research Laboretorie.
offices, too. So do the other members of the board. That's part of their job." "Sounds all right," you tell him. "Do they play softball or anything at the picnics? I used to play a lot a t school.. .like to keep my hand in." "They have sports a t the picnics," Mr. Moore explains, "but that isn't the only place you can get a chance to play. The Hercules softball team is part of the city industrial league; so is the tennis team. And we have regular intramural leagues for golf and bowling. You'll get plenty of exercise. And, if you're interested in dramatics, there's a Herculesgroup called the Variety Club which could use you. It started right here at the Experiment Station."
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THE JOB STARTS
Dr. Ivett's office is only a few steps away. When introductions are over, and you've talked a few minutes,
FIRST THINGS FIRST
"You see," he goes on, "Hercules is a practical company. It exists to make large-volume chemical materials for a great many industries. I t knows of course that it must make a profit from its operations to continue successfully. But it is never so engrossed in profit-making that it loses sight of human values. The company realizes that its employees-the mature and responsible men and women who man its operationstogether with its stockholders, are the company." "Well, I guess when you have a democratic atmosphere like that, people aren't afraid to make their opinions known," you say. "That's right," he replies. "No one hides in a corner, building up a grudge because he doesn't dare to bring it out into the light of day. This all sounds pretty ideal, you venture, but doesn't it become impractical? "Impractical? If you look. a t Hercules' financial record you'll soon see that it's not. Hercules is widely respected in financial circles for its sound financial position. We have an unbroken dividend record," he tells you. "One part of Hercules' p o k y you'll be particuIarly
TheTerg-O-Tometer i n thsNaval Stores Ressarshhboratory Meanvres Detergency of various N - V ~ I storsscompounds
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he reaches for his hat. "The most important thing on our program right now," he says, "is lunch. So let's go pick up Mr. Shockey-you'll be working directly with h i m a n d head for the cafeteria." Mr. Moore returns to his own office. You leave the large building, follow a macadam road through nicely landscaped areas, around several small buildings. Off to the northwest you can see acres of hilly farmland. The more you see this place and hear about its operations, the more a t home you feel. The lawns and scattered buildings almost look like a college campus. The work can't be too differentfrom what you've been doing in the lab at the university these past few years. The libram, softball, bowling, the dramatic group, that club the men belong to, it all has a familiar ring. Your life in the workaday world won't be as radically altered as you feared it would he. You reach a building marked 121. You go in. Mr.
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Shockey sees you and comes over. "Glad to meet you," he smiles, "we've been expecting you." He and some of the others are ready to go to the cafeteria too. You leave together. "What do you know about dehydrogenation?'' Dr. Ivett asks. Not much, you tell him. "Well, you'll get a chance to learn a little more about it first hand," Dr. Ivett replies. "You'll be starting off with Mr. Shockey working on the dehydrogenation unit back there. It's a good place to start: process development for a new product." You move into the line a t the cafeteria. It's a bright, sunny room, noisy with the sounds of people laughing and talking together. The food looks good. You have a job waiting for you. You realize that you've made the transition successfully. You're not a student or a jobseeker any more. You're part of chemical industry.
