Holiday Spirit?
By Bob Wirt
In the Study Butte Mine payroll records (1916-1919) (a), monthly pay always was rounded DOWN to the nearest 5 cents. For example, if an employee worked 23 ½ days at a rate of $1.25 per day, his monthly pay would equate to $29.37 and ½ cents, but he would actually be paid $29.35. However, in December 1917, all pay was rounded UP to the nearest 5 cents. Perhaps the payroll clerk was feeling generous during the holiday season. Net cost to the company: 47 cents.
(a). W. Keesey Collection, Archives of the Big Bend, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas
In the Study Butte Mine payroll records (1916-1919) (a), monthly pay always was rounded DOWN to the nearest 5 cents. For example, if an employee worked 23 ½ days at a rate of $1.25 per day, his monthly pay would equate to $29.37 and ½ cents, but he would actually be paid $29.35. However, in December 1917, all pay was rounded UP to the nearest 5 cents. Perhaps the payroll clerk was feeling generous during the holiday season. Net cost to the company: 47 cents.
(a). W. Keesey Collection, Archives of the Big Bend, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas
