Historical Workplaces
May 2002

Ah, the good old days! Or were they? These office work rules were issued in 1852. They were recently found in the ruins of an old factory in Scotland.

All employees must abide by the following regulations:

• This firm has reduced the hours of work and the clerical staff will now only have to be present between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Daily prayers will be held each morning in the main office. The clerical staff will be present.
• Clothing must be of sober nature. The clerical staff will not disport themselves in raiment of bright colors.
• A stove is provided for the benefit of the clerical staff. Coal and wood must be kept in the locker. It is recommended that each member of the clerical staff bring four pounds of coal each day during cold weather.
• No member of the clerical staff may leave the room without permission from Mr. Rogers. The calls of nature are permitted and clerical staff may use the garden below the second gate. This area must be kept in good order.
• No talking is allowed during business hours.
• The craving of tobacco, wines, and spirits is a human weakness and as such is forbidden to all members of the clerical staff.
• Now that the hours of business have been drastically reduced, the partaking of food is allowed between 11:30 a.m. and noon, but work will not on any account cease.
• The owners recognize the generosity of the new Labor Laws, but will expect a great rise in output of work in compensation for these near Utopian conditions.

Reprinted from Ralph Milton's RUMORS, a free Internet "e-zine" for active Christians with a sense of humor. To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rumors-subscribe@joinhands.com.

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