SOME PROBLEMS OF OPERATION 7 
ployees in the hope of maintaining their positions as representatives 
and voting in a manner to avoid incurring the ill will of the manage- 
ment or some members of the supervisory forces. Such a dilemma 
should not be presented to the employee representatives but they 
should be guarded against it by the assurance of a secret ballot when- 
ever they wish it. 
CASE RECORD AND DOCUMENTS 
Closely related to the question of publicity of minutesis the matter 
of adequate records of cases considered by joint committees. While 
the minutes of the meetings will reveal the action taken and possibly 
something of the discussion, a more complete record of the question 
at issue and documents bearing upon the case should be filed in such 
a manner as to make readily accessible all the material for subsequent 
reference. This refinement of records has been developed in rela- 
tively few cases. In order that it may be of most service, cases 
should be numbered serially and adequately cross-referenced accord- 
ing to some scheme of classification so that consistent action may 
be taken from time to time regarding similar matters on the basis of 
precedents which have been established. In several companies a 
record of each case is made on a card prepared for that purpose. 
While this is adequate for the cross-reference index, it is highly de- 
sirable that a more complete record with pertinent documents be 
kept elsewhere. Neither is sufficient in itself, but requires the other 
to make it truly serviceable for anything other than statistical 
reports. 
Such records, while not intended to be published, should be accessi- 
ble to all employee representatives and, for certain purposes, to 
other employees and to the members of the management. They 
should be in charge of some one person, either an elected employee 
secretary or some subordinate in the office of the personnel manager. 
It may be one of the proper functions of this person to issue notices 
to all individuals concerned regarding the outcome of each case as 
it is decided. Such information should be issued apart from the 
publication of minutes where certain individuals are directly con- 
cern< '. 
20° 
od.