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Depression Years & The EmployeesDuring 1931, there came a marked falling-off in business volume, in both poster and newspaper business and it became quite apparent that I had too large a staff. But which of these loyal employees would I discharge? To lose one's job meant entry into the poverty stricken horde of unemployed.
Week after week, when payday came around, the old problem came with it. Each week the thought of laying off any of them became increasingly painful.
The final decision was made by the staff members themselves. (Excerpt from Paper, Pen and Ink by Andrew King, Pg 120)
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Daughter Jessie McBain talks about staffing during the Depression.21 October 2003
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During the depression, he didn't want to lay off any of the staff. He met with them and said that they could work fewer hours and maintain the same wages. They all agreed that they would still come in to the office, into the shop, and do things, like maybe dust stuff and keep busy. That they would always come in and get their regular wages. Dad always had turkey for them at Christmas time and very thoughtful, very kind.Jessie McBain
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Daniel's Greater Shows Poster King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
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One Saturday morning, they all came into my office with the foreman as spokesman. They had talked the situation over. It was quite apparent to them that the amount of business being done could not support the prevailing payroll.They had a proposition to make.
They would all take a ten per cent cut in the hourly rate then being paid them and work only the number of hours needed to produce our work providing such did not go below 30 hours per week.
Their offer brought tears to my eyes. They had solved the problem themselves, in a much fairer manner than I could have done. ...
All this was an action of the part of labor that stood out as an excellent example of good judgement on the part of a staff who would not demand the impossible of an employer suffering a business setback. (Excerpt from Paper, Pen and Ink by Andrew King, Pg 120)
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Empire Shows Poster King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
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Gayland Shows Poster King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
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Gayland Shows Drawing King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
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Gray's Shows Poster King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
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Leader Shows Poster King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
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