We must raise the salaries of our operators or they will…
“We must raise the salaries of our operators or they will all be taken from us, that is, all that are good for anything. You will recollect that, at the first meeting of the Board of Directors, I took the ground that 'it was our policy to make the office of operator desirable, to pay operators well and make their situation so agreeable that intelligent men and men of character will seek the place and dread to lose it.' I still think so, and, depend upon it, it is the soundest economy to act on this principle.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He argues that paying operators well ensures a skilled, loyal workforce and benefits the economy.
In simple terms: Fair wages attract and retain good workers.
Key Takeaway
Pay operators well.
Themes
labor economics
fair wages
productivity
Mood
pragmatic
analytical
Type
business
economic
When to use this quote
- manufacturing
- telegraph industry
- policy making
- union negotiations
Key Concepts
capitalism
human resources
Questions to Reflect On
- How does compensation affect employee loyalty?
- What are alternatives to raise productivity?
A Different Perspective
Higher wages may increase short‑term costs.