The working life of shop assistants : a study of conditions of labour in the distributive trades / by Joseph Hallsworth and Rhys J. Davies.

  • Hallsworth, Joseph, 1884-
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The working life of shop assistants : a study of conditions of labour in the distributive trades / by Joseph Hallsworth and Rhys J. Davies. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Maxwell went on to state that employes had informed him that the closing of the shops at a certain hour in no way indicated the hours worked. Some societies, whose nominal hours of employment were set down at 56 or 57 per week, extended to 60 or 61. This was caused by the counter hands being kept after scheduled hours to make up goods for next day. By comparing Mr. Maxwell’s figures with those we have compiled it is possible to measure the progress made in the reduction of the hours of labour in stores during the seventeen years that have elapsed since 1893. We find that of 1,234 societies making returns in November, 1909, there were 947, or 76'7 per cent., whose net working hours were over 521 per week ; 123 societies, or 9^9 per cent., whose net working hours were over 58 J- per week ; and 40 societies, or 3 ’ 2 per cent., with net working hours varying from 62^ to 73 per week. The two sets of figures are summarised and compared in the following table :— Table VIII. ANALYSIS I. ANALYSIS II. ANALYSIS III. Year. Total No. of Societies making Ueturns. No. of Societies, and percentage of Total, with Net Working Week of more than 5‘2J hours. No. of Societies, and percentage of Total,with Net Working Week of more than r.Sl hours. No. of Societies, and percentage of Total, with Net Working Week of 62J hours and upwards, Number. Percent age. Number Percent- age. Number Percent- age, 1893 1909 1,172 L234 I 096 947 93‘S 76-7 509 I23 43'4 9'9 163 40 i3'9 3-2 Percentage Decreases 16-8 . . 33 * 5 . # 10-7 It will be seen from the foregoing figures that during the last seventeen years a remark-