EMPLOYE TRAINING is expanded
 

In a nationwide poll of public opinion about the
railroads, a leading research organization found:

"More courtesy and a generally better grade of
service are the chief improvements the public would
like to see made."

The Central long has realized that its business
success depends on the quality of its service — its
only product. That service, to a substantial degree,
is based on the courtesy and willingness of the em¬
ployes. That's why your railroad is constantly plac¬
ing such great emphasis on various types of public
relations training for employes.

JSew correspondence course started

The Central's newest effort further to improve cour¬
tesy and service to the traveling and shipping public
is a correspondence course in public relations for
employes.

It brings out such points as the value of courtesy
to employes both on and off the job; numerous prac¬
tical hints for improving relations with the public
and other people; and provides basic knowledge
about the workings and economics of the company
and the relationships of its customers, employes,
management and investors.

There are four short, well-illustrated sections
which compose the new course. Each unit ends with
 

a list of questions, and all employes who achieve an
average of 75 per cent or better for the course receive
certificates in recognition of their public relations
interest and ability.

More public relations classes

The new correspondence course supplements the pub¬
lic relations conference classes being held for several
years at many points on the Central's 11,000-mile,
eleven-state system.

The number of employes who have attended those
classes now has passed the 50,000 mark, and addi¬
tional groups are being organized regularly. Gener¬
ally, they are limited to between 15 and 20 people,
drawn from various departments at the particular
locations. This enables all to participate in the in¬
formal discussions, which are held under guidance
of trained group leaders. It also makes for closer
understanding and improved cooperation between
the various departments.

These classes remain the basic public relations
training activity on the Central. Some employes,
however, have been unable to attend because of un¬
usual working hours or varying working locations,
particularly in train service.

The correspondence course was initiated, there¬
fore, to reach such employes, and to provide addi-
 

Public relations conference classes, which have been in operation several years at numerous locations
along the Central, are being supplemented by correspondence courses in public relations for employes