The firm of Cadbury retains a powerful hold on peoples’ imagination. This was vividly demonstrated during the Kraft takeover of 2009/10. The press and media covered events daily, and there were lively exchanges in the ’letters’ pages of local newspapers. There were even demonstrations. This ...
(Show more)The firm of Cadbury retains a powerful hold on peoples’ imagination. This was vividly demonstrated during the Kraft takeover of 2009/10. The press and media covered events daily, and there were lively exchanges in the ’letters’ pages of local newspapers. There were even demonstrations. This hold on the public imagination has a long history.
Many Cadbury commentators concentrate their attention on paternalism (but not all ), using this as the main criterion by which to judge and make sense of the company. Paternalism provides much insight, but only provides part of the story.
The purpose of this paper is to return to Edward Cadbury, the chronicler and publicist for the firm. It was Edward who was the main initiator of the labour management approach that came to represent the company early in the 20th C, and it was this managerial approach that generated the sense of loyalty and devotion that still exists today.
Previous commentators have given too little attention to the historical context, and in particular the influence of British Quakerism. Significant change occurred in British Quakerism during Edward’s time, and this had more than a passing impact on Edward’s generation.
Paternalism and welfare management continue to remain important ideas that help us make sense of labour management in the Cadbury company. But a deeper exploration of the Quaker influence adds to our understanding. There is a clear spiritual dimension arising from Edward’s Quakerism, and this suggests something of a covenantal relationship in the workplace.
Edward Cadbury authored and co-authored, three significant books, and a close reading of these texts goes some way towards tracing the trajectory of his development as a manager. The spiritual influence is current in all three. For Edward as a Quaker, all of life was sacramental, and as such he wouldn’t divide his personal beliefs from his working life.
A covenantal relationship is difficult to define, but a contemporary American Quaker, Doug Gwyn, has provided some help:
“Covenant is a web of faithful, accountable relationships as complex and polymorphous as capitalism itself – even more so. It does not simply shrug off the people, values, and species that find no value in the market, but insists that there be room for everyone......Rediscovering covenant begins with seeing through the contractual culture that surrounds us.”
Although Edward Cadbury used different language, he would have subscribed to the description. Workplace practice in the Cadbury firm was by no means perfect, but there is evidence that Edward saw through “the contractual culture that surrounds us.”
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