Marking 100 years since the passing of Joseph Rowntree, learn more

Industrial Welfare

Joseph, and his son Seebohm believed strongly in giving workers a voice in determining working conditions. Seebohm wrote in Industrial Unrest: A Way Out in 1922. “In our own factory we are successfully giving an increasing share of responsibility to the workers. The directors retain a veto in all matters, and the Trade Unions do the same; but, subject to these two vetoes, which are scarcely ever exercised, I think it may be said that working conditions generally are fixed by mutual consent and not dictated by the management.”