The Fifth Principle- The Fair Deal

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 Next up from Emerson, is his fifth principle, ‘The Fair Deal’. The Fair Deal is an arrangement or contractual agreement, between two or more people that is reasonable for both parties and treats everyone involved equally. [1]

Harrington Emerson viewed The Fair Deal as a concept which deals with the promotion of efficiency amongst an industry’s workers through fair and reasonable treatment. Emerson believed that a company could thrive if they were selective with their hiring and equitable in their treatment of employees. [2] 

He stated that the standards which an employer bestowed upon his workers will be returned to himself. Therefore, he believed, that if an employer wishes to be treated in a certain way by their workers, than they should treat their workers in this way.[3]


‘Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them’. [3]

-       Harrington Emerson; The 12 Principles of Efficiency 


Emerson uses an example of delivery men in the early 20th century, to demonstrate this concept. The men’s route of travel began with an easy 10 miles, before a difficult 30 miles which would be a rough journey, that was considered ‘desperately hard’. Once they had secured their contracts of $0.04 - $0.08, the delivery men began their journey. However upon reaching the end of the initial easy 10 mile stretch and coming across the remaining hard journey, they dropped their deliveries, abandoned the task, and returned to gain the next job in search of more money. The men cared little about the dumped goods and simply went in search for more money to sustain themselves. [3]

In contrast to this was a man named George Brooks. Brooks was a businessman at this time, who offered the men a greater wage of $0.20 for the same task. This was on the condition that the job was completed within 48 hours and was fulfilled fully, or else they would not be paid. Emerson notes that this was the more successful method of employment, as the men were offered more for their work and in return were more willing to fulfil their contracts. [3] There was a mutual respect between employee and employer and thus Brooks clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of The Fair Deal, in promoting greater efficiency levels. [3]

Overall, Emerson believed that workers should be placed in a company to assist the task like parts in a well-oiled machine, not as mere pawns for employers to exercise dominion or power over. [2]






 

[1]. Fair Deal Definition (no date) LDOCE. Available at: https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/fair-deal (Accessed: November 2, 2022). 


[2]. Witzel, M. (2003) “Harrington Emerson (1853 - 1931),” in Fifty Key Figures in Management . London:Routledge , pp. 87–96. 

[3]. Emerson, H. (1993) “The Fifth Principle: The Fair Deal,” in Twelve principles of efficiency. London: Routledge / Thoemmes Press, pp. 167–201. 


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