RiaHTS AND DUTIES OF SERVANTS CHAPTER I 6£N£BAL RELATIONS OF EMPLOYERS AND SERVANTS IN THE HOME AND BEFORE THE LAW Before the law of this country servante of various kinds stand upon the same footing. The term of service ìs to be determined by the agreement between employer and employee, between master and man, between mistress and maid. The nsnal engagement is for a week's trial ; if both are suited, the arrangement is to go on by the month. If the contract is for a term longer than a year, it should be put in writing or it will be invalid. Importanoe of Olear Understandingr between Bmployer and Bmployed at the Time of Engagement A dear nnderstanding between master and servant at the time of the engagement is most important. A servant has a right to ask questions about the place in a respectfnl manner, and he should gain ali the Information he legitimately can about the character and demands of the house- hold to whieh he thinks of going. Masters cannot expect efficient servants to be indifferent to the duties they are under- taking, and to their surroundings while performing those duties. 8 4 MBS. 8ESLT*S COOK BOOK A servant should teli what he or she expects as a pari of hìs place — to help and not to hinder him in the performance of hia dutìes. For instance, a lady's maid has a tight to a sewing room, and a yalet to a room where he may press his master's clothes, free from the possible interference of other servants. In arranging for a place and ita dnties these matterà should ali be forecast, considered, and definitely settled. But a servant should not have a right to dictate what he or she will or will not do. The employer has the right of naming duties. Seryants are at liberty to accept them or not, as they wish. liiability of a Servant to disoharge under Difforiziff Oircurnstances The servant may be lawfully discharged before the expira- tion of his or her term for immoral conduct, wilful disobedience of orders, gross incompetence to pei-form his duly, etc. Intoxi- cation, for example, is a sufficient cause for dismissal. In such cases the servant is paid wages for the period he or she has served, and not for the entire month. If the servant is discharged unjustly, and without sufficient cause, before the expiration of his or her term, he or she is entitled to a week's or a month's wages. In other words, if a master or mistress, without just cause, discharges a servant before his or her month expires, the servant is entitled to wages in full for the week or month, as the arrangement for service and wages may be. If, on the other band, an employer has occasion to speak to a servant for neglect of duty, and the ser- vant says he or she will leave at once, the employer has a perfect right to withhold ali wages for the week or month. A servant should give the employer proper notice before leaving. If the servant is employed by the month, at least one week's notice is necessary, and if by the week, not less than two or three days'. BIGWTS ANB DUTIX8 OF aEBVANTS 5 n a seryant leaves without proper notice and before ina month expires, unless through sickness or because of some acci- dente he forfeits his wages for the month. Wases whioh may be claimed in Gase of Abrupt Dismissal or Voluntary

AI-modernized reading of the original text

RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF SERVANTS GENERAL RELATIONS OF EMPLOYERS AND SERVANTS IN THE HOME AND BEFORE THE LAW Before the law of this country servants of various kinds stand upon the same footing. The term of service is to be determined by the agreement between employer and employee, between master and man, between mistress and maid. The usual engagement is for a week's trial ; if both are suited, the arrangement is to go on by the month. If the contract is for a term longer than a year, it should be put in writing or it will be invalid. Importance of Clear Understanding between Employer and Employed at the Time of Engagement A clear understanding between master and servant at the time of the engagement is most important. A servant has a right to ask questions about the place in a respectful manner, and he should gain all the information he legitimately can about the character and demands of the household to which he thinks of going. Masters cannot expect efficient servants to be indifferent to the duties they are undertaking, and to their surroundings while performing those duties. 4 MRS. SEELY'S COOK BOOK A servant should tell what he or she expects as a part of his place — to help and not to hinder him in the performance of his duties. For instance, a lady's maid has a right to a sewing room, and a yalet to a room where he may press his master's clothes, free from the possible interference of other servants. In arranging for a place and its duties these matters should all be forecast, considered, and definitely settled. But a servant should not have a right to dictate what he or she will or will not do. The employer has the right of naming duties. Servants are at liberty to accept them or not, as they wish. Liability of a Servant to discharge under Different Circumstances The servant may be lawfully discharged before the expiration of his or her term for immoral conduct, wilful disobedience of orders, gross incompetence to perform his duty, etc. Intoxication, for example, is a sufficient cause for dismissal. In such cases the servant is paid wages for the period he or she has served, and not for the entire month. If the servant is discharged unjustly, and without sufficient cause, before the expiration of his or her term, he or she is entitled to a week's or a month's wages. In other words, if a master or mistress, without just cause, discharges a servant before his or her month expires, the servant is entitled to wages in full for the week or month, as the arrangement for service and wages may be. If, on the other band, an employer has occasion to speak to a servant for neglect of duty, and the servant says he or she will leave at once, the employer has a perfect right to withhold all wages for the week or month. A servant should give the employer proper notice before leaving. If the servant is employed by the month, at least one week's notice is necessary, and if by the week, not less than two or three days'. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF SERVANTS 5 If a servant leaves without proper notice and before a month expires, unless through sickness or because of some accident he forfeits his wages for the month. Wages which may be claimed in Gase of Abrupt Dismissal or Voluntary

Mrs. Seely's Cook Book: A Manual of French and American Cookery : with ..