EXPERIENCE WITH FIVE-DAY WEEK 45

week became a rarity. The reports from some companies
mentioned this practical elimination of machine failures as
an important reason for their ability to maintain or increase
production in spite of a shorter working schedule per week.
Probably this freedom from machine breakdowns is most
appreciated in the continuous process industries. The statement
 of a paper manufacturer shows the value of sufficient
time for repair work:

“For the greatest efficiency a paper machine must be run from
Monday to the week-end without stopping. Any shut-downs cause
partial idleness in each department and to avoid these shut-downs
all equipment must be maintained in perfect condition. Under the
six-day week all clean-up and repairs were supposed to be done on
Sunday when everyone wanted to get through in a hurry, resulting in
many cases in temporary makeshifts which again would break and
cause further shut-downs during the week.”

Attention was also called to the economic loss due to the
time required in starting and closing down a plant, which in
some industries is a considerable item. For example, in the
printing and lithographing industry, which has adopted the
five-day week extensively, the process of oiling and cleaning
the presses at the beginning of the day and the wash-up at
the end of each day’s run frequently take as long as an hour.
[t is obvious, therefore, that the fewer are the days into
which production work can be compressed, the smaller will
be the proportion of non-productive time. Similarly in other
industries, though usually in less degree, the time lost each
working day because of special preparations necessary for
starting the production process indicate the saving that could
be effected by reducing the days of operation from six to five
cach week, if productive requirements permit.

PuNcTUALITY AND ATTENDANCE

The effect of the five-day week in stimulating regularity in
attendance and promptness in reporting for work was commented
 upon by a number of employers as by no means the
least of the advantages resulting from the shorter work
schedule. Poor attendance on Saturday mornings had become
 habitual in many of these establishments, and was