This is a chapter from a helpful textbook published in 1961 called Secretaries On the Spot. As explained in the book's Forward, it contains:
"...a collection of actual problems faced by secretaries in offices all over the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Hawaii. The secretaries are members of The National Secretaries Association (International) whose membership is now well over 22,000."
Heady stuff! The real-life solutions are listed in the back of the book, so you can puzzle over each problem for yourself and then flip to the back when you are well and truly stumped. It's just as relevant today as it was in 1961. Anyone who works in a modern-day American office will instantly recognize the problem presented below:
What would YOU do? ........................See Comments for the real-life solution.
"The secretary encouraged the girl to attend a weekly discussion group covering business techniques, ignoring for a while any discussion of appearance. Then one day at lunch she mentioned the reluctance of insurance companies to write policies for obese people. The secretary had the opportunity to discuss the importance of losing weight and suggested that a doctor could give the girl a diet.
ReplyDelete"The girl consulted a doctor and for a while began to lose weight. Suddenly, however, she quit taking her medicine and gained weight again. Finally, the secretary, upon the advice of the company nurse, told the girl very frankly that she must return to the diet if she wished to retain her position. This time the girl stuck to the diet and took her medicine. Her work and general health improved as a result."