
audiobook
E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, David M, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)
PREFACE
INTRODUCTORY
PART I GENERAL PRINCIPLES - CHAPTER I DIFFERENT METHODS OF PAYMENT OF WAGES
CHAPTER II WAGES AND EFFICIENCY REWARD - (a) The Reward System.
CHAPTER III WAGES AND PROGRESS - (a) Antagonism between Employer and Worker.
PART II AN APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLES TO A PARTICULAR CASE - CHAPTER IV WORK AND REWARD
PART III EXPLANATION OF DIAGRAMS SHOWING DIFFERENT METHODS OF REWARD PAYMENT - CHAPTER V REWARD AND EFFICIENCY
APPENDIX - A FLOATING WAGE RATE
In the wake of World War I, industry faces a turbulent crossroads: soaring production demands, shifting labour forces, and mounting pressure to cut costs without crushing wages. This thoughtful work examines how a scientifically grounded pay‑for‑efficiency system can bridge the divide between employers and employees, offering a practical alternative to the traditional “wage war.” Drawing on two decades of experience in American factories and early British trials, the author explains how rewarding skilled workmanship can boost output while keeping workers fairly compensated.
The book walks listeners through the core principles of this reward method, emphasizing cooperation, clear measurement of performance, and transparent calculations that benefit both sides of the shop floor. It also situates the approach within broader social concerns—post‑war reconstruction, the role of trade unions, and the need for sustainable prosperity. Listeners will come away with a clear picture of how rational wage schemes aim to harmonize efficiency and equity in modern manufacturing.
Full title
A rational wages system : $b some notes on the method of paying the worker a reward for efficiency in addition to wages Some Notes on the Method of Paying the Worker a Reward for Efficiency in Addition to Wages
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (142K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2014-09-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1873–1954
A British engineer and management writer, he is remembered for exploring how wages and incentives could be organized more fairly and efficiently in industry. His best-known work looks at reward systems in practical, plainspoken terms rather than abstract theory.
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