Alternatives to State-Socialism in Britain by Peter Ackers & Alastair J. Reid

Author:Peter Ackers & Alastair J. Reid
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer International Publishing, Cham

As we have seen, the whole notion of ‘experiments’ drew on the core attitudes of Quaker belief and were an updated version of a long tradition of social testimony traceable back to George Fox himself in the seventeenth century. It is therefore worth reviewing Edward’s approach to management from the perspective of the behaviour Fox laid out as that appropriate for ‘true Christians’, and which has been usefully summarised in Pickvance’s Reader’s Companion to George Fox’s Journal. 46

First up was a need to honour God in all men and women, which was embodied in the traditional Quaker forms of address: everyone, regardless of social standing or gender, was addressed as either ‘thee’ or ‘thou’. This approach and practice, somewhat radical for its time, emphasised the equality of all, not least of men and women. The Cadbury plant was a good example of this, with women receiving much the same treatment as men and, as we have seen, Edward consistently supported and promoted the role of women not only in his own workplace but also in the wider society.

Closely allied to this was a need to be just and faithful in one’s dealing with others. For employers this would have involved treating employees fairly, opposing oppression and the payment of low wages. Employees were to be treated almost as an extension of the family. Of course, this meant, in turn, the expectation of honest service by the employee. In other firms abuse and exploitation in the workplace might have been justified by the notion of the single-minded pursuit of profit, but Edward’s view of profit was a wider and more inclusive one:Profits belong in three places: they belong to the business—to keep it steady, progressive and sound. They belong to the man who helped produce them. And … they belong also, in part, to the public. A successful business is profitable to all three … of these interests—planner, producer and purchaser. 47

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