January 5, 1914: Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday and $5 wage for a day’s work

By From The Christian Science Monitor, Page 1

From the January 6, 1914 issue of The Christian Science Monitor

Social justice motive of Ford profit sharing plan

DETROIT - “We believe that social justice begins at home,” said James Cousens, secretary-treasurer of the Ford Motor Company today as a crowd of men estimated at 10,000 waited their turns to apply for the 2000 extra jobs offered by the firm under the profit-sharing plan which will divide $10,000,000 with its employees.

“There,” said Henry Ford, pointing at the long line of men, “is the chief reason for this plan.  We wanted to give work to more men; here we reduced the working shift from nine hours in two shift to eight hours in three.”

“We want those who helped us to produce this business,” added Mr. Cousens, “and are helping to maintain it, to share in our prosperity. We want them to have present profits and future prospects. Thrift, good service and sobriety will be encouraged and recognized.  It is our hope to do still better by our employees in the future.  We want them to be in reality partners in our enterprise. We do not agree with those employers who declare that the movement toward bettering society must be universal.  We think our concern can make a start and create an example for other employers.  That is our chief object.”

Henry Ford also said:

“We believe in making 22,000 men prosperous and contented rather than follow a plan of making a few multi-millionaires.”

Beginning next pay day every employee of the Ford concern over 22 years of age will receive a minimum wage of $5 a day.