﻿OPINIONS OF EMPLOYERS.

67

D.—OPINIONS OF EMPLOYEES AS TO EESULTS
OBTAINED BY PEOEIT-SHABING AND CO-
PABTNERSHIP.

One principal object of the present inquiry was to ascertain
the opinions of employers who still have in force systems of
Profit-sharing and Co-partnership as to the results produced by
the adoption of systems of this nature.* For this purpose a
series of questions was addressed to the employers ashing whether
the adoption of Profit-sharing' (or Co-partnership) had proved
satisfactory, whether the system had caused an increase of zeal
on the part of the employees, and whether it had tended to
promote harmonious relations between employers and employed.

Considerations of space make it impracticable to set out
verbatim the replies which have been received, and it has seemed
best to adopt this course in relation only to those firms whose
experience of the systems in question dates back to 1902 or to
an earlier year; while the opinions expressed by the firms whose
experience of Profit-sharing and Co-partnership is shorter are
briefly stated in summary form.

The number of firms still practising Profit-sharing which
adopted the system prior to 1903 is 60, of which number nine
sent no reply to the question set forth above; while the opinions
of eight others (Messrs. Fox Bros. & Co., Ltd., see pp. 39 and 40;
Messrs. Blundell, Spence & Co., Ltd., see pp. 28 and 29; Messrs.
Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ltd., see pp. 64-66; Lady Wantage,
see pp. 27 and 28; The Hele Paper Co., Ltd., see p. 38;
The South Metropolitan Gas Co., see pp. 54-61; Messrs. Clarke,
Nickolls & Coombs, Ltd., see pp. 36-38; and Messrs. Foster, Sons
& Co., Ltd., see pp. 49-52) have been set forth in the detailed
account of schemes of various types contained in previous
pages.

The opinions expressed by the remaining 43 firms referred to
are printed below, the trade (where practicable) being shown in
each case. Particulars of the manner of treating bonus in each
case will be found on pp. 95-10.1 under the corresponding name or
initials.

“ ,1. J.” writes: —

“ We believe that, generally speaking, Profit-sharing has proved a
“ useful stimulus. Our work is of such a nature that we cannot
“ point to definite tangible results, but we do certainly believe that
“ the adoption of our Bonus System has proved satisfactory. We
“ certainly believe it has tended to promote harmony between Em-
“ ployers and employed, although our relations with our Employees

* In the] case of schemes which have been discontinued, the causes of
abandonment hrefsummarised on p. 114.

24548	E 2