Amidst a sea of Jeremy Beadle joke emails I received this morning was a fantastic one from Big lorry blog’s Brian Weatherley. It’s a Guide to Hiring Women, and it apparently featured in the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine. Although it’s incredibly dated today, it might still have some relevance to any haulier considering employing women today. (Yes I am joking, so please know hate emails and letters!)
And I quote:

General experience indicates that ‘husky’ girls – those who are just a little on the heavy side – are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they’ll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes.

Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.

Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can’t shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman – it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.

Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl’s husband or father may swear vociferously, she’ll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.

Get enough size variety in operator’s uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can’t be stressed too much in keeping women happy.

This advert for the new Douglas Power Truck appeared in MT in the early 1940s.