Mental Absenteeism

Once more displaying a positive genius for misinterpretation, Capitol Hill reactionaries have perverted serious discussion on absenteeism into another anti-labor crusade. Entangled in inconsistencies, Congress first kills an appropriation for the formation of a committee to cope with absenteeism problems, and then proceeds to assail it blindly as the sabotage of the treacherous, unamerican working man. The Rickenbacker crowd charges that unions are promoting it, Representative Johnson threatens labor with his "work or fight" bill, but as yet nothing constructive has been accomplished towards solving a problem which is rupturing the war effort. The solution lies in cooperation and constructive investigation of the underlying causes of absenteeism--investigation devoid of emotionalism and prejudice.

Absenteeism is only one of the characteristics of the whole dislocation of workers by the war program. But its cause lies in the actual environment of the worker. "Hotbed housing," jamming large numbers of workers together with no facilities for rest or recreation, induces workers to take days off to see their families at home. The isolated location of war plants has caused workers to take time off for shopping and medical care. And transportation bottlenecks in many communities have detained or prevented workers from getting to their jobs. The problem concerns neither attitudes of the workers nor unions, but rather the slowness of localities to adapt themselves to the influx of war plants and labor.

The problem of absenteeism is admittedly serious. But its solution will come with improvement of workers' living conditions and environments. Labor must live as well as work. While some absenteeism is inexcusable, this small proportion is negligible and no rational cause for vitriolic attacks on workers. Neither threatening workers with army service nor mud-slinging will solve the problem. Paul V. McNutt and the labor management committee of the War Manpower Commission, together with unions and local authorities are beginning to meet it. With sensible thinking and sober action, the obstacle of absentecism can be hurdled. But with the handicap of anti-labor attitudes, the bar can never be cleared.