Professional Standards and Employment Conditions

Abstract

This report comprises an analysis of problems of current employmentconditions as they relate to the individual engineer. The Engineers JointCouncil (EJC) is an organization composed of eligible professional engineeringsocieties, with each of these societies having appointed representatives whogovern EJC. The functions of EJC are: to act as an advisory and coordinatingagency to seek and study matters of mutual interest to the constituentsocieties; to represent the constituent societies when joint representationseems desirable; and administer activities authorized by the constituentsocieties. Foreword Unlike the members of most learned professions, the engineer usually is anemployee rather than a private practitioner. Surveys indicate that about 80 percent of professional engineers are in the employee classification, and thissituation sometimes creates special problems which are not inherent in theother professions. One such problem is how specifically to create and maintainan employment atmosphere consistent with high professional standards. Certain conditions of employment have had a profound influence on engineersand, among other factors, have caused a number of professional employee groupsto turn to collective bargaining. There is a need, therefore, for theengineering profession to state clearly the employment conditions thatengineers expect as professional men. Employers should align their policieswith respect to the engagement of professional engineering personnel to meetthese expectations. Mutual understanding between employers of engineers and theengineering profession is essential to the establishment of an environmentwhich will encourage the individual engineer to achieve full professionalstature. A special committee of Engineers Joint Council was charged with a study ofthis employment problem and the preparation for EJC of "a means ofeducation of and vertical communication to the membership of the constituentsocieties (including students) concerning conditions surrounding unionizationof professional personnel." Another assignment of the special committee was the preparation ofinformation for employers of engineers concerning employment practices, educational opportunities, and general measures for professional developmentthat influence the attitudes of engineers toward a true professional outlook.This study treats but one of many problems confronting the profession.Engineers Joint Council will continue its study of the problem related to theemployed engineer.