ABSTRACT
Companies had introduced employee recreational activities prior to 1890. The movement did not get under way, however, until after 1890. Many of the firms which established such programs were actively engaged in other areas of personnel work. Employee social organizations were a common feature of betterment programs and flourished for a multitude of purposes. A number of companies also built clubhouses for their employees and encouraged varied recreational activities. As a general rule, the formation of an athletic association was a concomitant development and frequently encompassed a separate organization for women. The library or reading room was an almost universal feature of employee clubhouses. Outdoor recreational facilities for employees did not command the interest or enthusiasm that was lavished on indoor programs. Vacations with pay were sometimes granted by some employers in this period. Movements for recreation are of importance.
