PROFIT-SHARING.
(To THE EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR."] Ste.,—About a year ago there appeared in the Spectator a very interesting and detailed profit-sharing scheme for a mill in the north of Ireland. As I am a life-long advocate of profit- sharing I trust it may prove a success. Several letters cubs,- quently appeared on the same subject, but they were all connected with big concerns. There must be many men like myself who are engaged in a "small way," and who are anxious and perplexed as to how they are to meet the con- tinued and often reasonable requests of their employees for increased remuneration, and perhaps my cave may be as help to them. I live in a small provincial town. My business Is, shall I say, semi-professional? We only have a clerical staff. We have been in business for over forty years, and have never been asked by one of our assistants for an increase in salary. We have always endeavoured to give an annual Increase. A good deal of our work is paid by fees on a time basis or a percentage. and for years we have given the clerk engaged on special work a fixed share of the fees received. We always pay for over- time. About ten years ago, while the cost of living was increasing, there was not much improvement in our revenue. I decided to distribute amongst the staff 10 per cent. per annum off my share of the profits; this enabled the senior clerk to effect a decent life assurance. The war has hit us very hard, and we were unable to give the large bonuses firms in trade were giving to their employees, so in 1917 (which was a fairly good year, and left an increased profit) we decided that for that year, and in future, the division of the previous year, i.e., 1918, for my partner, myself, and each member of the staff would be taken as a datum line, and all excess over 1918 would be divided pro rata. Although even that is a very inadequate increase to the staff they appreciate our action, they know we would do better if we could, and they are loyal to the office. Long ego we acted on Lord Cromer's advice to Lord Kitchener, and have always " Encouraged them to speak up."—I am, Sir, &c.,
CO-PARTNER.
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