1941 by William M. Christie

Author:William M. Christie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carrel Books
Published: 2016-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

August: Leisure Time and Travel

BY 1941 A combination of factors had brought about a striking change in working conditions for millions of Americans. Barely fifteen years earlier the typical work week for industrial workers had been forty-eight hours. By 1941 it was down to forty hours. Further, the two-week vacation, while far from universal, was becoming more common. Consequently, Americans in 1941 had more leisure time than ever before; and thanks to the defense buildup, they had more money to spend on recreation than ever before. This is not to say that spending on leisure time was lavish. The Depression was too recent a memory for that. But the American people now could devote some of their time and money to purely recreational activities.

While more people were able to enjoy paid vacations, that ability still varied enormously by social class. The wealthy, of course, could travel as they wished. Even middle-class vacations were accepted as normal. Most salaried employees could take one and often two weeks off with pay. Even hourly workers were beginning to receive vacation benefits. Vacations for industrial workers were only indirectly the result of union activity. Mostly they were granted at the initiative of employers, especially in large industries. Owners and management hoped to develop employee loyalty, increase productivity from a rested work force, and co-opt potential union demands.

Building employee loyalty was a major incentive for many business owners. Consequently a substantial waiting period, often as much as five years, was required before a man qualified for paid vacation. The requirement for female workers was often less, commonly three years of continuous employment. For industrial workers the most common vacation allowance was one week a year, although the two-week vacation was by no means rare. By 1941 over half of America’s industrial workers were covered by some form of paid vacation plan. It is worth remembering, however, that almost a quarter of all Americans lived on farms. For them finding time to get away was extremely difficult. Crops and livestock could not be neglected for even a few days. Occasionally one or two family members might get away for a short trip, especially after the harvest; but farming made it all but impossible for an entire family to take a vacation together.

The range of vacation possibilities was broad. Those on tight budgets might spend a week visiting family or friends who lived within a reasonable driving distance. Camping, too, was a popular and inexpensive option for many people. Thanks largely to the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps over the last decade, there were numerous campsites and recreation areas within an easy drive of most workers, especially in the East. Pitching a tent near a stream offered an additional way to save money: Fishing was a good way to feed a family at little or no cost and had always been a favorite recreational activity. For those with a bit more money, there were options other than the tent. By 1940 there were perhaps 100,000

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