The Endicott Johnson Shoe Company was located in New York’s southern Tier. It was a giant global firm that manufactured shoes during the 19TH Century period; the company was founded in 1899 by Henry Bradford Endicott of Dedham. This company played a significant role during the world war years as it supplied military footwear to the military’s in the united states of America, increasing its production to approximately 52 million shoes per year as there was high demand for the products at that moment (Desai, 2021). The company considered corporate welfare to attract the employment of workers and retrench those who have less input to the company. It also ensures that the company’s management is more flexible, leading to the firm’s efficiency. In order to attract and retain workers, strategies should be adopted to make this possible. The company published several articles that expounded on the welfare of workers and ways to maintain them within an organizational setting. While the company published many articles, the essay focuses on several aspects of workers’ welfare, citing Bradford Endicott magazines on employees’ welfare.
Putting into consideration welfare capitalism is vital for an organization’s success. It can be seen that workers in welfare capitalism refer to the act of an organization to provide social programs like housing and education like the government. The magazine “Negotiated Loyalty” by Endicott Johnson Shoe Company expounded on the aspect of welfare whereby workers’ loyalty amounted to success. For instance, when workers are loyal, the output could increase. Endicott Johnson Shoe Company workers were ready to overlook company practice and considered the firm their provider and protector ( Zahavi, 1983). The book also depicts workers’ power when they are manipulated as they can strike and conduct go-slows which reduce the output in products hence detriment to the financial year goals set aside by the institution. Hence, the book highlights the benefits of welfare capitalism within the firm that results in optimal production. The magazine further shows that workers are loyal to their unions; hence when they feel like their rights are infringed upon, they use this as a bargaining chip to disrupt the company’s reputation. Hence, welfare capitalism is paramount for workers in an organization.
Good relations between the management and employees drive a company’s success. The “E-J Industrial Relations” is a magazine that explains in detail various issues that ensures good relationship among the company staff published by the Endicott Johnson Shoe Company. The magazine also talked about the worker’s welfare through labour relationships in the company, whereby good relations lead to good productivity. According to Michelson (1993), the “EJ Safety Program and the provision of on-site medical clinics “also talks about providing medical services to its employees and their families, ensuring the availability of a clinic to provide services to the employees. By doing so, the shoe company improved the quality and energy output of the workers in the firm, which was the organization’s main aim. Therefore, the services offered clinic played a significant role in the business’s success as this welfare improved the employees’ health. Thus, this welfare is very productive for human resources, and the organization runs longer before its maturity.
A company’s growth requires many welfare strategies, for instance, the security of an employee. Endicott Johnson Shoe Company clearly explained the need and guarantee for keeping workers safe in an organization. The article “At a Shoe Company, a Revolutionary Approach to Workplace Safety” by Endicott Johnson Shoe Company talked about the importance of ensuring that workers are exposed to any damages and harm minimised. As stated by (Nesbitt-Rutkowski, 2000), EJ created a more secure place for its employees, which was more productive than having employees exposed to injuries and damages leading to poor input to the production of the company. This corporate welfare provided training programmes to its employees, for example, training them to use some machines to avoid causing injuries due to lack of knowledge on its use. They also provided safety equipment to the employees, and adopting this practice led to productive output in the organization. The article further explained that inspections of employees, whether they are taking measures, were conducted regularly by safety-trained experts. For the company to ensure that workers’ welfare was taken care of, they provided access to safety equipment, such as glasses to prevent light damages and clothes that were more protective to the workers. The employee’s safety ensures a safe environment to work in, thus increasing a company’s production.
In conclusion, we can see that the most appreciated welfare among the workers is the safety program, where the organization provides health facilities to their employees and their families. Catering for both parties saves money for the workers, and the absentees of workers are reduced, which increases the company’s productivity. People feel more secure in a company that cares about their health and security, making them input more into their work.
References
Desai, P. (2021). The Contaminated Realities of a Post-IBM Endicott Today. Alpenglow: Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal of Research and Creative Activity, 7(2), 1.
Michelson, G. (1993). The Backgrounds and Careers of South Island Union. New Zealand Journal of Industrial Relations, 18(2), 250-259.
Nesbitt-Rutkowski, S. (2000). Sustainability and the next industrial revolution: A Revolutionary approach.
Zahavi, G. (1983). Negotiated loyalty: welfare capitalism and the shoeworkers of Endicott Johnson, 1920-1940. The Journal of American History, 70(3), 602-620.
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