Profit-sharing and Industrial Co-partnership in British Industry, 1880-1920

In this title, first published in 1987, the author discusses the economic and industrial circumstances in Britain under which profit-sharing and co-partnership came into being. He explores the merits and drawbacks of the system as both advocates and opponents saw them, the motivations of employers in introducing profit-sharing schemes, and the implementing of such notable schemes as that of Lever Brothers, a multinational corporation based in Britain. The author also assesses the role of profit-sharing and co-partnership in the development of modern management practices and industrial relations.

List of Tables; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Economic and Political Circumstances 2. The Advocacy of Profit-sharing 3. The Criticism of Profit-sharing 4. Employers' Objections to Profit-sharing 5. Trade Union Attitudes toward Profit-sharing: Objection, Acceptance or Acquiescence? 6. Motivations of Profit-sharing Employers 7. South Metropolitan Gas Company and the Gas Industry 8. The Co-partnership Scheme of Lever Brothers: The Pursuit of Efficiency 9. The Assessment; Bibliography; Index