566 PARKS 



The employees of one park office have received the following admoni- 

 tions and suggestions from their manager. It is worth careful study. 



"Rather than give a list of rules of conduct which shall request that it be done. At the same time, I expect 



I think brands an office as being composed of mediocre the request to be complied with wholeheartedly, not be- 



individuals I prefer to give you my conception of cause it comes from a superior but because you are 



the proper attitude to assume and let the individual be interested in the welfare of the department, believe in 



himself. I am an idealist and expect every one in the parks and are anxious to do your bit to the best of your 



office to believe that the best man wins and that honest, ability. In other words, you are truly cooperating, 



conscientious, charitable effort invariably supplants and The office hours are from 8.15 a.m. to 12 m. and from 



predominates effort of the opposite character. I con- l.oo p.m. to 5.00 p.m. on each day of the week except 



sider this the fundamental attitude, for it is what makes Saturday when the hours are from 8.15 a.m. to 12.00 m. 



one genuinely cheerful and happy even in times of ad- No work on Sunday. We have no time clock and never 



versity, for then it is conducive to self-examination and expect to purchase one. In spite of office hours, remem- 



prevents personal depression. Moreover, it is a fact. ber you have a job to perform upon which your effi- 



Moments of success, you have the personal satisfaction ciency is judged. You are the first one who knows that 



of knowing, are the result of faithful and thoughtful additional time should be spent on your work and it 



service and, on the other hand, defeat discloses your should not be necessary to tell you so. On the other 



own shortcomings and frailties which tends toward sym- hand, any reasonable requests for additional time off 



pathetic consideration of others and a reduction of at noon or otherwise are always granted. Vacation of 



personal egotism. two weeks and a two-week sick leave are given as pro- 



In accordance with the above, I shall expect all of vided for by civil service rules. The time of vacation 



us to treat each other, not as superiors and subordinates. is determined in as fair a manner as possible to suit 



but as free and equal American citizens. To be sure, both the employee and the department. 



we are of different capacities for the work of the office, It does not seem necessary to go further into the 



but that does not mean that we are of the same rela- deportment of the employees at the present time. 



live total mental capacity. A subordinate in the office Remember only that you are expected to give good, 



may be a superior outside the office. We are working honest, conscientious, constructive service and are to 



tozetker and with each other and every respect and be treated and respected in a dignified and sympathetic 



courtesy should exist among all employees. manner." 



I never expect to order anyone to do anything I 



Whole volumes have been written on this one subject of office discipline, 

 some containing very good ideas. The park office will do well not to go in 

 much for social welfare work or fads and fancies of any kind. These are 

 frequently resented by the class of employee one would like best to have 

 in a park office. Nevertheless, many of the newer ideas can be modified by 

 old-fashioned common sense and often will work out to good advantage. 



7. The office manual. The office manual has for its purpose the record- 

 ing of the various processes of the office, the duties of the individual and 

 such other information as will provide the employee with complete knowl- 

 edge of the conditions under which he is endeavoring to carry on his work. 

 It should contain a complete description of the duties and qualifications of 

 the employee in each of the positions of the office, and where possible the 

 approved methods of doing each particular job should also be outlined. 

 It should also tell in detail the conditions under which each of the employees 

 is working, lines of promotion, rates of pay, office hours and rules of con- 

 duct and similar general information. There should also be discussed within 

 its pages the general process of work to be done so that the individual can 

 tie his bit of work up with the rest of the office machinery. An office manual 



