Analysis of Employee Benefits within an Organisation The WritePass Journal

Analysis of Employee Benefits within an Organisation Introduction Analysis of Employee Benefits within an Organisation Introduction Types of Employee Benefits2.1 Disadvantages of employee benefits2.2 Advantage of employee benefits   Compensation Management Influence Over Employees and CompaniesConclusions References Bibliography   Related Introduction The purpose of this essay is to open the discussion about one of the most relevant features for the human beings these days, the payment schemes such as salaries, wages and benefits that employees receive in retribution of their work. On this paper work it will be developed the next question â€Å"If employees undervalue the cost of benefits, why should a company not drop benefits and simply add more direct compensation?† On first instance, is precisely to say that the direct compensation is the monetary benefits that employees receive in return of the service they provide to the company, such as basic salary, rent allowance, travel allowances and medical reimbursements among others; on the other hand indirect compensation is the non monetary benefits that the employees receive such as life insurance, health security, pension, vacations and flexible timings among others. Thus, the payment programs have become one of the most important issues on the human life nowadays, that ´s because they define the opportunities and choices that one person has to provide wellness, security and a future to their families or their loved ones, and in the same way feel recognition for their capabilities and efforts. Consequently, there have always been different systems of pay and compensations to suit the employees and employers requirements, for this reason there are wages with non monetary and monetary benefits. Employees typically depend on salaries and wages to get a stable income and on benefits to provide health and security. For employers, compensation decisions influence their cost of doing business and thus, their ability to sell at a competitive price in the goods and/or service markets. Far beyond that, compensation decisions determinate the employers ability to compete for qualified employees in the labour market. (Ferris, et. al, p.528) Employee compensation practices differ across employment units (e.g., organizations, business units, and facilities) on several dimensions. Dimension like Form (cash or benefits), Level (How much do people disserve to earn for their job), Structure (hierarchies and pay differential within an employee unit), Mix (how and when cash compensation is disbursed) and finally Pay Administration (pay policies and who is in charge of that process) (Ferris, et. al, p.528).The central point of the employee compensation discussion has been on defining these dimensions, researching why organizations differ on them, and considering whether such differences have consequences on employee behaviours and attitude; Along this work this topic will be developed deeply and it will be shown examples of how it can vary and how this contribute to the question above. Now then, as it was mentioned before indirect compensation refers to benefits, is essential to understand that this benefits are forms of value (non monetary) that are provided to the employee in return for his/her job. That ´s why when it refers to employee benefits the most common are: vacations-holidays, employee stock ownership plans, retirement plans, health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, pension, leisure bonuses, etc. Benefits are increasingly expensive for businesses to provide to employees, so the range and options of benefits are changing rapidly to include, for example, flexible benefit plans and timings. Despite that some employees undervalue the benefits, it ´s important to say that companies cannot drop benefits that easy because two essential reasons. The first reason is because of the law; the benefits must be given to the employees as part of the remuneration of their job or services, that ´s legal issue and must be part of the pay policies of the company. The second reason is because employees like parents or elder people prefer benefits as they find them important for their families, their retirement or their pension schemes. Other aspects that companies find important are that the indirect compensation can encourage the employee to do a better job, creates a sense of trust and loyalty between the employee and the employer. This way compensation plays such a key role because it is at the heart of the employment relationship, being of critical importance to both employees and employers; also that ´s a reason why organizations are becoming more concerned with positioning employee compensation as a strategic human resource management function in order to obtain competitive advantage. Types of Employee Benefits Each country has different forms of salaries, wages and benefits. In the UK, employee benefits are categorised by three terms: Flexible Benefits, Voluntary Benefits and Core Benefits. (Price, 2007, p.467) The first term is Flexible Benefits, also called Flex Scheme, is where employees are allowed to choose how a proportion of their remuneration is paid. This is normally delivered by allowing employees to sacrifice part of their pre-tax pay in exchange for a car, additional holiday, a shorter working week or other similar benefits, or give up benefits for additional cash remuneration. The second is Voluntary Benefits; these are the collection of benefits that employees choose to receive. These tend to be schemes such as the government-backed, Bike2Work and Childcare Vouchers (Accor Services, Busybees, Sodexho, KiddiVouchers, Early Years Vouchers Ltd). Employee Discount schemes are often setup by employers as a perk of working at the organization. (www.cipd.co.uk) Finally, Core Benefits is the term given to benefits which all staff enjoys, such as holiday, sick pay and flexible schedule. In recent years, many UK companies have used the tax and national insurance savings gained through the implementation of salary sacrifice system, to fund the implementation of flexible benefits. In a salary sacrifice arrangement, an employee gives up the right to part of the cash remuneration due under their contract of employment. Usually, the sacrifice is made in return for the employers agreement to provide them with some form of non-cash benefit. The most popular types of salary sacrifice benefits include childcare vouchers and pensions, that’s a reason why indirect compensation still being important for some workers like those who are parents or those who are close to retirement. 2.1 Disadvantages of employee benefits In the UK these benefits are often taxed at the individual’s normal tax rate,which can be expensive if there is no financial advantage to the individual from the benefit. The UK system of state pension provision is dependent upon the payment of National Insurance Contributions NIC. Salary exchange schemes will result in reduced NIC payments and so are also liable to reduce the state benefits, most notably the state second pension. (www.cipd.co.uk) 2.2 Advantage of employee benefits   The benefits are an important component of a companys remuneration package for attracting and retaining its employees. The benefits serve as incentives to the employees and encourage them to work hard for the organisation, instead of give up part of their salaries. These also help in building up job satisfaction. In the same way, there can be advantages for employers; one of the major advantages is an easing of their own cash flow. Another advantage is the option to negotiate discounts with benefit providers, this could represent savings for the company when the personnel is large, so the provision of non cash benefits can consequently be cheaper than the part of the salary that the employee is giving up. Some benefits are attractive even for young workers such as a company car or mobile phones, which can be provided by the employer and without having to make these arrangements by the employee. On the other hand, tax advantages are extended to employees as well as employers. Some benefits package provides a tax advantage; for example, if the employer pays for the mobile phone, this is treated as a non-taxable benefit, so this can represent a significant tax saving over the course of a year, for both parts. Compensation Management Influence Over Employees and Companies (Example 1) On this case, AVIVA an insurance company has proposed closing its final-salary pension scheme, because is considered inequitable and unsustainable. On this case, the reason of the closure of the final-salary pension was because it took two-thirds of Avivas contributions to UK staff pension arrangements, but only one-third of UK staff had the final-salary benefit. This proposal come after a string of businesses announced their intentions to close final-salary schemes to current members. Construction firm Taylor Wimpey, Trinity Mirror, Pirelli, Fujitsu, Barclays, Morrisons, Vodafone, BMI, Dairy Crest, IBM and Costain all said they planned to do so in the last year. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/) Now this could be a problem, as it means the typical worker will lose a third of expected pension payments, but also it can proved the high costs of indirect compensation for organizations. On the other hand, incentives and motivation programs can reduce the cost of the benefits expenses for the companies; on the following two examples it can be proved. (Example 2) The company name is Rim Hospitality, which is a hotel, resort and boutique property management company. With rising workers compensation expenses, Rim Hospitality needed to find a cost effective solution that would motivate employees to help reduce these costs, and also maximize efficiencies with employee productivity and scheduling. The plan developed by this company consisted in implementing a prepaid MasterCard card as the award to the employees, which provided the employee the freedom to choose what they want, when they want it. With this plan, Rim Hospitality experienced positive results almost immediately which have steadily increased. Thus, over two years, they reduced workers compensation claims by 29% and therefore this meant more productivity to compensate the cost of benefits and savings of $634,000 during that time. (www.hrmreport.com) (Example 3) There is another case where incentives and motivation programs can reduce the cost of the benefits expenses. This example is referred to Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG) which is the worlds largest manufacturer, seller and distributor of Pepsi-Cola beverages. In 2005, PBG was working on a better way to manage the rising cost of health care for its employees. They did that by educating their employees on various health related issues. First of all, PBG implemented an employee survey to get feedback on the interest of their employees. Thus, all the employees who had participated in the survey were rewarded with a prepaid card as an incentive; following the survey period, employees were offered a variety of healthcare educational classes to attend. When the class was completed, the employee received an additional prepaid Card as a reward for completing the class. Time after the implementation of that program, PBG has noticed that expenses generated by health disease, absence, emot ional conflicts, and health insurance costs were lowered in 47%. (www.hrmreport.com)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Now then, sometimes a bad healthcare can drive up the cost of the benefits for employees and employers. (Example 4) Similar to the previous, this example shows that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, as of 2009, trucking had an injury rate 30 percent higher than other U.S. industries. This coupled with higher average medical and indemnity costs, makes employer costs will go higher; therefore this will lead to higher workers compensation costs and any savings employers thought they were accruing will be lost when injuries go up. So, the higher rates can be attributed in part to several factors. Because of the nature of their work many drivers are out of shape, eat badly, smoke too much, dont do exercise and hardly ever get enough sleep. As a result of this, they found themselves susceptible to heart attacks and diabetes, as well as a myriad of strains, sprains and various other muscular-skeletal injuries. This makes truckers a danger on the road but also a danger to themselves, and by the way driving up employers costs. (http://web.ebscohost.com) (Example 5) Sometimes working in a non traditional way like working from home is a benefit that workers value, especially if they have families. This example shows that an AIM survey made in 2006, indicated that 40% of companies in Massachusetts were looking at ways to decrease the compensation budget, which meant that workers wouldn’t have been happy with that news, for that reason employers found the way to offset the dissatisfaction that will cause. They proposed to give flexible hours of work, telecommuting, and other lifestyle benefits; but perhaps, one of the most important benefits was the opportunity to work from home or 50/50 (half in the office and half in home), that was a differential factor and was used even as a recruiting tool. (http://web.ebscohost.com) That is an important benefit that more and more companies have put in practice, because they can trust and rely on people, this is a management new thinking and change of attitude, where people find that they work hard when no one is looking at them, that they don’t need a supervisor all the time or someone just watching if theyre working. This aspect was very important for families and parents who wanted to expend more time with their sons and relatives. (Example 6) Another option growing in popularity is flexible time and banks system, which consist on time off available to use at any time, instead of the typical, two weeks of vacation, five sick day permission, and 10 holidays. That way, employers are not asking to the workers if are they sick today, or if do they want the day off; because with the banks system and flexible times they can make some long weekends or take some time off in the middle of the week. That type of flexibility is definitely attractive to employees. (www.businesswest.com) By a short break, it has been found that the cost of the benefits could be a high risk when the PESTE factors (Political, Economical, Social, Technological and environmental) affect the organization. (Example 7) In Colombia for example, in the nineties when the government decided to open his economy to the neo liberal model of free trade and the invisible hand of Smith that in theory regulates the economy and the prices of buy and sale, a lot of Organizations in the textile industry suffered the consequences of that Governmental policy. There was a specific company that went to bankrupt in a short time after the economic opened, that company was Coltejer who had been one of the biggest companies in the textile industry in Colombia; the reason is that this company gave good benefits to their employees which made this one of the top organizations in where people desired to work, the benefits ranging from computers and household facilities provided by the company to cars that employees could acquire after have worked for some years in the company. So basically, when the Chinese and East Asia products got in the Colombian market, Coltejer could not compete with the bargaining and cheap prices of those products, that because of the high costs of benefits that Coltejer was holding with their employees, among other reasons, and the company could not bear and overcome the price difference, despite the fact that external products were low in quality; so in this case it can be seen that high costs of benefits could provide go od talents and satisfied employees, but also could be a high risk option for the organization if an external factor affect the business. (Example 8) In the same way in Chile, the shoes industry was affected by the PESTE factors; it was basically after signing the free trade agreement with China 4 years ago, and as a result of the undefeatable prices of Chinese shoes companies, many companies in Chile had to reduce staff and reduce both compensations direct and indirect, which brought turbulence and imbalance to the companies. (www.economiaynegocios.cl/) (Example 9) Although, external factors could be positive in a medium term perspective, like natural resources prices, especially the petroleum high prices; where in countries like Venezuela usually bring big wealthy to the people, such is the case of PDVSA, the Petroleum Public Company of Venezuela, which is one of the biggest companies in the petroleum industry over the world, and because the petroleum bonanza and the high prices of the barrel make that PDVSA could give spectacular and expensive benefits to their employees, such as car, housing, vacations, education (sons of PDVSA employees receive education allowances and scholarships to study abroad, and free education in Venezuela). So this shows the magnitude and the impact of the benefits on the employee’s life and in the company’s costs. (www.pdvsa.com) (Example 10) A survey made by Personnel Today found that, in half of 700 organisations who responded to the survey, take-up of childcare vouchers was less than 6%, and only 9% of organisations reported more than 30% staff take-up of the vouchers. So it means that poor communication of the benefits of the schemes is the result of the low take-up. However, the survey shows that there is growing awareness of the existence of childcare voucher schemes, which enable employers to offer working parents vouchers to pay for registered childcare without having to pay tax or National Insurance contributions. Most organisations (81%) said staff awareness of childcare vouchers had increased over the last five years, and that offering childcare vouchers could be a deciding factor in attracting working parents and retaining key staff. The final conclusion of the survey applied to the organizations, shown that 91% either agreeing or strongly agreeing that offering childcare vouchers improved an empl oyers reputation. The research also looked into employer interest in offering a similar scheme for staff that needed to look after elderly dependants and the results shown that 59% were interested in introducing them. (www.personneltoday.com) (Example 11) As it has been said along this work, good benefits are useful to attract and retain qualified staff for a company, now then, it also help the company to save money. That ´s because attractive benefits facilitate a companys bottom line on multiple levels, and one that shouldnt be ignored is the cost of replacing employees who become dissatisfied and leave. The cost to replace an employee can be anywhere from 30% to 40% of somebodys salary up to 150%, and is money that the employer is going to spend on recruiting and retraining. (web.ebscohost.com) (Example 12) On this order, employers might offer workers a motivating and attractive package that says, if you stay with me five years or 10 years, at the end of that time, Ill give you a raise that might be equal to 50% of the base salary. Because its on an individual basis, the employer cannot take a tax deduction for what he is spending, but if the employee got skills and talents that the organization needs to his optimal productivity, it would be more important to tie the employee to the organization for 5 or 10 years. That arrangement appeals to people at certain stages of life. For example, someone with two children is going to be staring to college costs in a little less than a decade. By offering to double his starting salary after 5 years, the employer can bring a little financial-planning reassurance to the worker, while not having to worry about losing the assets he brings to the company. Employees nearing retirement age might also find value in such an offer. (web.ebscoh ost.com) (Example 13) This is the case of Unisys (IT Services Company) which has had a flexible benefits scheme for 13 years. This has changed a lot over that time to reflect staff interests, and is split into three categories security, wellbeing and lifestyle. Unisys workers average salary is about  £50,000. Andrew White, reward manager, says We found high interest in security-type benefits rather than lifestyle, so tried to tailor as many as we can in the insurance sector. Security benefits include critical illness insurance, travel insurance and group income protection. The most popular benefits are critical illness, dental insurance, holiday-trading and income protection. (http://proquest.umi.com) (Example 14) In the case of retail giant Tesco, who offers its employees a wide selection of benefits, including a defined benefit (DB) pension scheme that is open to all staff, three all-employee share schemes, life assurance, childcare vouchers and discounts at theme parks. Tesco also offers all its employees a discount card (the Privilege card), which gives a 10% discount on shopping in all Tesco stores and online. Staff can save a maximum of  £730 a year. Staff feedback shows the Privilege card is top of the list of most valued benefits. The reason the Privilege card is so popular is because staff get immediate benefit from it, they get money off their shopping receipt. (http://proquest.umi.com) On the other hand, voluntary benefits include a staff tariff on the Tesco Mobile network and discounts at Tesco Bank. Each pay period, Tesco includes a new offer, for example extra deals on clothing, home ware or photo processing. With nearly 290,000 UK staff and from different nationalities, Tesco has a wide range of needs to consider. (Example 15) Telegraph Media Group is an organization who gives to their employees’ wide range of benefits, and that’s the cause of why more than 80% of the employees have declared to be satisfied with benefits. One of Telegraphs most popular benefits is the pension scheme, where the company pays a lot into that and employees don’t get charged for administration. In the same way there is a good website for the pension scheme. This is very important issue for employees therefore in the current situation, because they can save their pensions and don’t have to worry about the public pot. (http://proquest.umi.com) Another valued issue is the health and wellbeing services provided by Telegraph, such as its on-site gym, free and subsidised fitness classes, free corporate massage service, and on-site doctor with physiotherapy services. All this kind of smart compensation policies ease the life of the employees and also the productivity and work environment of the company. (Example 16) Another example is the one about the Oil and Gas Company Subsea 7, who employs 1,800 people in the UK and they consider that is essential to create a clever payment strategy to attract and retain the best people. Considering this the company first introduced tax-efficient perks offered via salary sacrifice arrangements, then built on this with a total reward statement and a flex scheme. To ensure the package is understood and appreciated by staff, it tracks a variety of measurements, including the number who has enrolled on the benefits website, the choices they make, how often they visit the site, and the take-up of different benefits. (http://proquest.umi.com) Conclusions During this essay, it has been tried to demonstrate what is better for both employees and companies in terms of compensation. As it has been shown the compensation could vary depending on the company policies and the HR strategies. As human beings we are looking always for the best choice for us, it must be a choice that satisfy the basic needs one person has and at the same time gave him/her wellbeing, comfort and happiness. In the same way companies are looking for the best way to attract and retain excellent staff, which brings quality, productivity, growth, status, competitiveness and profits to the company. Now then, compensation is just the manner in which the employees get some pay in return of the services they have given to the company. The main question of this essay put a hypothetical situation in which employees undervalue the cost of the benefits, and the company has to decide whether remove the benefits and add more direct compensation, which would means add more monetary value, more basic salary or just more allowances; now then, as it has been shown before, the needs of each employee differs depending on the age, personal aims, family type, lifestyle, culture, religion and even education level. So it’s essential that the employer knows perfectly well the characteristics and the staff behaviour, in order to offer the best compensation package for each group of workers, and also to save money and gain productivity and competitiveness. As it has been mentioned before, the company could gain productivity and competitiveness just by offering to their employees’ nice conditions, because the worker who feels that the company really care about him and give to him everything he needs could work the double in the half of time, giving better results and being committed with the business, so that’s how an employer can create loyal and good workers. On the other hand, when companies chose the right compensation packages for their employees, they will be saving money and the reason is because on one side they won’t waste money in benefits that employees don’t like or undervalue or even they are not going to use, and on the other side the save money because if they keep the employees satisfied they won’t be need to spend money on recruiting and training new staff. So, my answer to the main question is that, employers have to do everything necessary to keep employees satisfied, as they are the gears of the machine, so if in this case or in one specific company the employees undervalue the benefits and prefer more direct compensation, I must say that on first instance a general check in of the compensation program must be done, so it means to check the different dimension of payment such as form, level, structure, mix and the pay policies of the company. Is necessary to know that some benefits cannot be removed, as they must be given as a legal issue (e.g. social security or pensions), other flexible benefits could be removed or added according the characteristic of the employee, because I can’t offer a 25 years old person, whose marital status is single a childcare voucher or long term plans benefits, may be this person could be more attracted with travel allowances, or just have more cash to spend on leisure activities; on the other sid e a mother with little kids should be more interested in flexible timings, work from home, health care insurance and vacations, and in the same way an old person is probably thinking in pension schemes. Now then, for the company instead, the fact of add more direct compensation could represent a more complicated manage of the cash flow and at the same time could be more expensive, as employees are not giving up part of their salaries in exchange of the benefits, and some companies usually negotiate discounts with some benefit providers, instead it cannot be done with the employees salary; in addition, with indirect compensation employers get tax advantages, that could be relevant throughout of the year. In conclusion, if the employer adds more direct compensation he could lose money, because he won’t have tax advantages, there won’t be salary sacrifice system so there won’t be possibility to negotiate with benefit providers and as a result it will be also more complicated to manage the cash flow without those benefits. Now on the other hand, if the employees are not completely satisfied with the indirect compensation, it will mean that the work environment could be affected and as a result the productivity, competitiveness and loyalty of the staff which in a medium term could be expensive for the company. So it’s a complex situation, which I’m agree in part, because it require a smart strategy that permit the employer hold indirect compensation in order to benefit the company wealth, assets and resources, but at the same time is necessary offer good perks to employees in order to create incentives and wellbeing among them and thus boost each employ ee to get the best of them. References Books: Ferris, Gerald R., Rosen, Sherman D. And Barnum, Darold T. Handbook of Human Resources Management. (1995) Blackwell Publishers, first ed., Oxford,   pp. 528-570 Price, Alan. Human Resource Management in a Business Context. (2007) Cengage learning EMEA, third ed., London, p. 467-488. Redman, Tom and Wilkinson, Adrian. Contemporary Human Resource Management. (2009) Prentice Hall, third ed. Essex, p. 139-174. Electronic Articles and Internet:   Aviva to close final-salary pension scheme (20th April 2010). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8633088.stm [31st March 2011] HR Management Employee Incentive, Recognition and Reward Case Study. (2005) hrmreport.com/article/HR-Management-Employee-Incentive-Recognition-and-Reward-Case-Study/ [ 1st April 2011].   HR Management Employee Incentive, Recognition and Reward Case Study. (2005) hrmreport.com/article/HR-Management-Employee-Incentive-Recognition-and-Reward-Case-Study/ [ 1st April 2011].   direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/index.htm [2nd April 2011]. human-capital-management.net/business/   [3rdApril 2011] Hudson Valley Business Journal May 17. 2010 http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=21hid=119sid=b9cb39d4-a1c7-499b-9d41-b7631902a20a%40sessionmgr104 [4th April 2011] Hudson Valley Business Journal May 17. 2010 http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=21hid=119sid=b9cb39d4-a1c7-499b-9d41-b7631902a20a%40sessionmgr104 [4th April 2011] personneltoday.com/home/default.aspx   [4th April 2011] http://businesswest.com/archive [4th April 2011] economiaynegocios.cl/mis_finanzas/detalles/home_fin.asp?seccion=3   [4th April 2011] pdvsa.com/interface.sp/database/fichero/publicacion/6409/1279.PDF[4th April 2011] personneltoday.com/home/default.aspx [4thApril 2011] cipd.co.uk/search/searchresults.aspx?recommended=TrueQuery=compensation+and+benefitsPageIndex=1sortby=relevancesitetype=REDESIGN_MAIN [8th April 2011] Hudson Valley Business Journal May 17. 2010 http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=21hid=119sid=b9cb39d4-a1c7-499b-9d41-b7631902a20a%40sessionmgr104   [10th April 2011] http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=21hid=119sid=b9cb39d4-a1c7-499b-9d41-b7631902a20a%40sessionmgr104 [10th April 2011] Employee Benefits.  Ã‚  Dec 2010.   pg.24 http://proquest.umi.com.ez.urosario.edu.co/pqdweb?index=6did=2202553811SrchMode=3sid=3Fmt=3VInst=PRODVType=PQDRQT=309VName=PQDTS=1302484952clientId=65930aid=2 [13th April 2011] Employee Benefits.  Ã‚  Jul 2010.   pg.20   http://proquest.umi.com.ez.urosario.edu.co/pqdweb?index=8did=2202553441SrchMode=3sid=3Fmt=3VInst=PRODVType=PQDRQT=309VName=PQDTS=1302485310clientId=65930aid=2 [13th April 2011] Employee Benefits.  Ã‚  May 2010.   pg.43   http://proquest.umi.com.ez.urosario.edu.co/pqdweb?index=8did=2073932571SrchMode=3sid=5Fmt=3VInst=PRODVType=PQDRQT=309VName=PQDTS=1302485541clientId=65930aid=3 [13th April 2011] Employee Benefits.  Ã‚  May 2010.   pg.44   http://proquest.umi.com.ez.urosario.edu.co/pqdweb?index=2did=2028876661SrchMode=3sid=6Fmt=3VInst=PRODVType=PQDRQT=309VName=PQDTS=1302485717clientId=65930aid=3 [14th April 2011] peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/subjects/employment-law/ [15th April 2011] Bibliography   Ferris, Gerald R., Rosen, Sherman D. And Barnum, Darold T. Handbook of Human Resources Management. (1995) Blackwell Publishers, first ed., Oxford,   pp. 528-570 Price, Alan. Human Resource Management in a Business Context. (2007) Cengage learning EMEA, third ed., London, p. 467-488. Dowling, Peter and Festing, Marion and Allen D, Engle. International Human Resource Management. (2008) Cengage learning EMEA fifth ed.   Hough, Alison. Employment Law. (2006) Old Bailey Press third ed., London.   Redman, Tom and Wilkinson, Adrian. Contemporary Human Resource Management. (2009) Prentice Hall, third ed. Essex, p. 139-174. Electronic Articles and Internet:   Aviva to close final-salary pension scheme (20th April 2010). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8633088.stm [31st March 2011] HR Management Employee Incentive, Recognition and Reward Case Study. (2005) hrmreport.com/article/HR-Management-Employee-Incentive-Recognition-and-Reward-Case-Study/ [ 1st April 2011].   HR Management Employee Incentive, Recognition and Reward Case Study. (2005) hrmreport.com/article/HR-Management-Employee-Incentive-Recognition-and-Reward-Case-Study/ [ 1st April 2011].   direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/index.htm [2nd April 2011]. human-capital-management.net/business/   [3rdApril 2011] Hudson Valley Business Journal May 17. 2010 http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=21hid=119sid=b9cb39d4-a1c7-499b-9d41-b7631902a20a%40sessionmgr104 [4th April 2011] Hudson Valley Business Journal May 17. 2010 http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=21hid=119sid=b9cb39d4-a1c7-499b-9d41-b7631902a20a%40sessionmgr104 [4th April 2011] personneltoday.com/home/default.aspx   [4th April 2011] http://businesswest.com/archive [4th April 2011] economiaynegocios.cl/mis_finanzas/detalles/home_fin.asp?seccion=3   [4th April 2011] pdvsa.com/interface.sp/database/fichero/publicacion/6409/1279.PDF[4th April 2011] personneltoday.com/home/default.aspx [4thApril 2011] cipd.co.uk/search/searchresults.aspx?recommended=TrueQuery=compensation+and+benefitsPageIndex=1sortby=relevancesitetype=REDESIGN_MAIN [8th April 2011] Hudson Valley Business Journal May 17. 2010 http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=21hid=119sid=b9cb39d4-a1c7-499b-9d41-b7631902a20a%40sessionmgr104   [10th April 2011] http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=21hid=119sid=b9cb39d4-a1c7-499b-9d41-b7631902a20a%40sessionmgr104 [10th April 2011] Employee Benefits.  Ã‚  Dec 2010.   pg.24 http://proquest.umi.com.ez.urosario.edu.co/pqdweb?index=6did=2202553811SrchMode=3sid=3Fmt=3VInst=PRODVType=PQDRQT=309VName=PQDTS=1302484952clientId=65930aid=2 [13th April 2011] Employee Benefits.  Ã‚  Jul 2010.   pg.20   http://proquest.umi.com.ez.urosario.edu.co/pqdweb?index=8did=2202553441SrchMode=3sid=3Fmt=3VInst=PRODVType=PQDRQT=309VName=PQDTS=1302485310clientId=65930aid=2 [13th April 2011] Employee Benefits.  Ã‚  May 2010.   pg.43   http://proquest.umi.com.ez.urosario.edu.co/pqdweb?index=8did=2073932571SrchMode=3sid=5Fmt=3VInst=PRODVType=PQDRQT=309VName=PQDTS=1302485541clientId=65930aid=3 [13th April 2011] Employee Benefits.  Ã‚  May 2010.   pg.44   http://proquest.umi.com.ez.urosario.edu.co/pqdweb?index=2did=2028876661SrchMode=3sid=6Fmt=3VInst=PRODVType=PQDRQT=309VName=PQDTS=1302485717clientId=65930aid=3 [14th April 2011] peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/subjects/employment-law/ [15th April 2011]

Childrens Television Drama Essays

Childrens Television Drama Essays Childrens Television Drama Essay Childrens Television Drama Essay Q1 What meanings are conveyed to the audience through the visual signs used in your programs? The programs I am analysing are Byker Grove and Shoebox Zoo. They are both aimed at younger children, this is there targeted audicence this is evident in Byker Groves opening sequence, as it has many vibrant colours such as yellow and red which connates the light heartedness and the innocence of the show, it is also very fast paced and energetic. However in the opening sequence of Shoebox Zoo it is different, the colours that are used are mainly dark reds connating the danger and the more seriousness of the drama. The sequence also implies that they are on some kind of quest. There is also a white light glow around one of the characters, which usually connotes that they are good and of some importance. The camera work that is used in the opening sequence of Shoebox Zoo has many slow motions and is shot mid shot, this connates the emotion of the characters the soft focus also amplifies this fact of emotion. At the end of this sequence is there is an old, medieval font, it is very magi cal and fits the quest storyline and the genre well. In the Byker Grove opening sequence the font that is used is a graphiti type of font which connates the childish side of the show. The first sequence of Byker Grove is set in the Grove, which is in essence is there youth club. The lighting in this first scene has a very naturalistic lighting to it, the decorations in the youth club are vivid and vibrant with bright reds and yellows again conveying the happiness of the show. The fist sequence in Shoebox Zoo Marnie and her Father are driving in the car and it is a dull day, with greys and dark colours being used, which again amplifies the seriousness of the show. In another scene they are all sat round a camp fire at night, the camera cuts to the sky, which shows the moving grey clouds which shows the danger of the scene, and it comes across as scary. In Byker Grove there is a scene where there is a child arguing with another, the camera shots are quite close to the two, then one of the childs throws a drink at the other, and the camera sharply zooms into the stain and then a close-up shot of the childs face, who is not pleased, this sort of camera work is a very basic way to show the anger of the child, this basic way is used extensivly as it is simple and easy for the children to get the idea of the scene. This fast paced switching between characters is used again in Byker Grove, in this scene we have to children and they have just eaten a meal, but cannot pay for it, so what we have is them arguing between themselves as to who pays for it, the camera goes backwards and forwards to each characters in a fast moving, fast paced way, and this shows the panic of the two very well. On Shoebox Zoo there is a scene where they are camping in a tent at night, the lighting is very dark and there is wind and rain outside connatating the disturbing atmosphere of the scene. Shoebox Zoo unlike Byker Grove uses a lot of animation, both for its characters and its intro. The animated characters add a kind of mystical, dreamlike side to the story, as the characters are very magical and unreal and fit this certain genre very well.It is also very sterotypical of a child with the dreamlike attributes of a child having these animated charecters is very beneficial to the story. And containing these character s is a very good way of enhancing the excitement of the journey which they are on. Q2 What important representations are there in your texts? Give reasons for your answers In Shoe Box Zoo one of the main characters is Professor Toledo. He is the evil villain within the story and is represented as a dark and dangerous shape shifter.The sterotype of an evil villain in a childrens drama is a old usually wearing black and often strange in appearance man. Toledo is not the stereotypical villain, looking at what he wears, a white cloak and gown, it comes apparent that these clothes do not conform to the usually bad guy image. There is a reason for this as he was once good, hence the white cloak but is now fallen evil. The white cloak also connotes a kind of magical and wizard like person which fits in perfectly with the story.It is however clear that he is the villian, this is clear in the way he speaks and the anger he puts across on screen towards the other charecters.The generic element of the good VS evil is clearly evident in this drama, with Toledo being the villian with his menacing ways and the hero being a young inecent girl that the children can ea sily relate too. Toledos body language suggest he is a powerful character with upright composure and his commanding presents, he also uses his hands a lot to express his feelings, and he often looks down towards an other character McTaggart, his servent. The way Toledo speaks and his use of language is very menacing, representing the evilness he brings to the story, he uses various words and speaks them quick and hard which also represents his power as a villain. In one scene Toledo is giving orders to McTaggart however he refuses to carry out the orders and McTaggart then walks away, suddenly Toledo appears from no-where and McTaggart then sees his power and accepts his order, we the audience are suppose to feel afraid and the power of Toledo as McTaggart feels. In Byker grove there is a character called Bradley, he is a lively teenager with a slightly annoying personality. If we take a look at what he wears its clear that he is represented as an individual in contrast to his peers and deffiantly a leader with the other charecters being the follwers of him.He wears a smart Tee shirt under a Blazer and casual trousers. In comparison to the other teenagers in the show who wear baggy jeans and Tee Shirts. The conations of his Blazer are that he is quite business like and more mature than the rest of the teenagers. His body language can be overwhelming, one instance of this is when there are two adult youth club workers ideologically of higher importance than him are sat down and he stands up and seems to overshadow them, and comes across as a figure of authority. The way Bradley speaks and his certain tone of voice suggest it is possible that he is a homosexual, which later comes apparent in the episode. The way the camera pans to Bradley and t he frequency implies that he is of greater importance than the other characters. When watching Byker Grove it is obvious that he is one of the main characters in this series and he is represented to that of a father figure, if the teenagers have problems they consult Bradley.

The History of Grammar School Education in England Essay

The History of Grammar School Education in England - Essay Example This essay declares that the modern education system has developed to become a public facility that is accessible to every person in the society. When religious bodies started education forum, they intended to form a training ground for Latin language that was the traditional language that linked people in religion. This paper stresses that in the 19th century, education experienced numerous changes that are regarded as critical turning points in the history of education. This period began with the leadership of the Lord Chancellor who came with the motive of abolishing the traditional school system that only paid attention to the study of Greek and Latin. His feeling was that the system was unprogressive and immodest for a world that was quickly changing and experiencing forces that demanded an expansion of the education culture. In 1840, the Grammar School Act was put in place to allow the traditional school to teach other languages such as French other than the traditional languages. This wave of change was suppressed by other forces that were foreseen in the Grammar School Act. In this act, the head of the school had to approve a change in the educational structure within the institution and hence those who did not feel the necessity to revise their learning subjects were left at liberty to retain their old system. This freedom of the educational heads to decide the kind of curriculum to teach in their schools inhibited institutional transformation. By the year 1968, the number of grammar school in England was at a figure of 782, and an increase in these figures was anticipated. In this year, the Public Schools Act came into existence and formed a new era when regulation policies for institutions became evident (Miner, 2010, P. 32). This act was enacted by the British parliament that as a reformation strategy that would see the leading English boys’ schools that had been previously grown out of some traditional charity school. After this act, these schools were placed under the direct care of the government as public schools apart from a few schools such as St Pauls’ and Merchant Taylor schools that were able to prove their authenticity as private schools. This was a critical point in the history when the educational system became divided into public and private, which is a characteristic of the modern education system. Another markable transition came into place after the formulation of the Endowed Schools act in 1869 that sought to change the social aspect of the traditional school system. After the Public schools act launched a policy to control the nine leading boys' school, the Taunton commission was given the mandate to investigate the affairs of the 782 grammar schools that existed by that time. In their investigation, the commission gave a feedback report that noted the gender imbalance that existed in these schools and the low quality of education that was offered (Miner, 2010, P. 32). The two issues were identified as a weakness of the educational system and that these conditions did not match the demands of the current population. In this regard, the government sought to reform educational structures by imposing an act that would enhance quality and gender balance in these grammar schools. Consequently, the Endowed school s act was put in place and declared that some

Chose an interesting topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chose an interesting topic - Essay Example This leads Alice to be even more frustrated than she was in earlier chapters. While on the surface the way of life in Wonderland seems strange to Alice, this is perhaps because she is not really at home. Not being from Wonderland means that she cannot really understand the mindset of the critters that reside in the area. In this way, she grows increasingly mad at the actions that are taking place around her, when she should be soaking up what is being said and trying to understand what is really happening. Take the fact, for example, that every question Alice asks in chapters six and seven is met with a nonsensical answer. This is completely alien to Alice’s way of life. She was raised, the reader is lead to believe, in a world that has purpose and direction. In her mind, Wonderland lacks both. Her questions, while logical in her former world, are actually illogical to the animals in Wonderland. In this way, the animals and Alice continue to go back and forth, until Alice is on the verge of giving up. It is quite interesting to watch this ‘battle of the minds’ and consider how it will play out through the remainder of the

Project1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Project1 - Essay Example The products are marketed as a total solution to different hair and scalp problems and thereby act as market leaders in scalp care. Over the years from 1961 to current, ‘Head and Shoulders’ have slowly evolved as one of the best shampoos to fight perennial problems like dandruff and hair fall and also other types of scalp problems. Products marketed under the Dandruff category are further divided into three types like shampoo, conditioner and 2-in-1 for both men and women customers. Shampoos and hair products of Head and Shoulders generate a wide array of benefits to customers like generating protection to damaged and broken hair and also in making hair thicker, stronger and moist in nature (Procter & Gamble, 2014). Procter and Gamble, the company that markets Head and Shoulders operates as a multinational company in the consumer goods segment. The company aims at producing branded products that contribute in enhancing the lives of consumers along different parts of the globe. Value additions are generated in terms of innovating different product offerings to meet the changing needs of the consumers from time to time and in retailing the right quality and quantity of products to the customers (Procter & Gamble, 2014). Procter and Gamble is well known in terms of the global brands created by the company along which are marketed by the company along different consumer segments spread along 180 different countries. Current estimates related to Procter and Gamble reflect that the company through its operation baaed along 23 different brands earns the potential of generating a total sales revenue of around $10 billion. Another set of 14 brands tend to generate a total sales of around $1billion in an annual fashion. The rate of market capitalization for Procter and Gamble is evaluated to be greater than the Gross Domestic Product of a number

Risk Factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Risk Factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Article 1 Socioeconomic Position and Factors Associated With Use of a Nonsupine Infant Sleep Position: Findings From the Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey SIDS is the surprising loss of life of an baby young than one year of age. SIDS continues to be mysterious after a thorough case research, such as efficiency of a complete autopsy, evaluation of the loss of life field and evaluation of medical record.Unexpected Child Loss of life Issue has always been a challenge to scientists.. So far no concepts or details are able to provide a effective response for this. Physicians have did not figure out whether the child instantly had a center problem or just basically missing the capability to take in. Over 70 different concepts have been suggested to describe the cause of SIDS The chance of SIDS usually mountains in babies older between 2-4 several weeks of age, it is very unusual within the first month of birth and threat decreases after six several weeks of age. Research has revealed that about 90% of SIDS fatalities happen in babies young than six several weeks of age. In SIDS an baby between the age groups of two to four several weeks is discovered deceased during a period of sleep. The surprising loss of life of previously healthy babies is all the more surprising and harmful. Sudden baby loss of life is a terrible event for any mother or father or care provider. This is the most severe disaster mother and father can face, a disaster which results in them with unhappiness and a feeling of weeknesses that continues throughout their lives. SIDS is also generally known as Bed loss of life, Cot loss of life, Sudden mysterious loss of life in beginnings (SUDI). Unexpected Baby Loss of life Issue has always been a challenge to scientists. The cause (or caus es) of SIDS is still a secret. SIDS is one of the top causes of infant death in USA. So far no concepts or details are able to give a effective response for this. Physicians have did not figure out whether the child instantly had a center problem or just simply missing the capability to take in. Over 70 different concepts have been suggested to describe the cause of SIDS. In facedown position, air activity around the oral cavity is also affected. This can cause the baby to rebreathe just blown out co2. Normal air activity is avoided by Smooth bed linens and gas-trapping things, like bed linens, bed linens, waterbeds and soft beds. Some of the concepts relevant to SIDS describe that the childs higher air gets obstructed making the child suffocate. One concept says that blood vessels structure of the child may have sudden development of the level of body fat and thus, the mind of the child prevents performing. Some fault defective neurological program in children for SIDS as it is not able to notify the child and awaken it up when the fresh air provide is low. SIDS children may not have this procedure at all. SIDS may be due to a defective defense mechanisms or the way a child rests such as smooth bed linens in which the children unintentionally hide their experience and then cannot convert and thus get choked. Covering the child too firmly in a cover may also cause to SID. Article 2 Heart Rate Variability in Sleeping Preterm Neonates Exposed to Cool and Warm Thermal Conditions The term babies with apparent deadly event (ALTE), premature babies of low birth weight are at risk for SIDS. Some state that friends of babies who have succumbed to SIDS are at risk. The study states that the babies who die of SIDS have irregularities in functions like respiration, hypertension and arousal. The structural differences in a specific part of the mind may add to the chance of SIDS. Exams of the mind stems of SIDS victims have revealed a developing delay in formation and function of several serotonin-binding nerve routes within the mind. These routes regulate respiration, pulse rate, and hypertension reactions. The study examine that increase in the heat range due to overdressing, using extreme covers can cause to an improved fat burning capacity in these babies and ultimate loss of respiration control. Apparent life-threatening activities (ALTEs) are medical activities in which young babies show unexpected changes in respiration, shade, or muscular mass. ALTEs are triggered due to popular breathing attacks, gastro esophageal flow back illness or convulsions. But there is no medical proof connecting ALTEs to SIDS.Some of the baby fatalities followed by immunization made people believe immunization as a cause of SIDS which has now proven to be wrong by research. SIDS is non-contagious and is not genetic and obviously it is not due to bad being a parent. Infants are very delicate to changes in heat range. Child may sleep greatly if the space is too heated and may not awaken in time in case of any problems in respiration. Breast fed children are secured against attacks that can cause to SIDS. Parents can pay attention to their children while they are resting through digital products. They increase an alert if the child prevents respiration. But they are not known to prevent SIDS. They are suggested for children with higher threat for SIDS. Pacifiers give included security for children up to 6 month. Because heating up may increase a childs chance of SIDS, outfit your baby in light, relaxed outfits for resting, and keep the 70 degrees at a level thats relaxed for an mature. If youre concerned about your baby remaining heated, outfit him in a onesie, sleepwear that protect arms, legs, arms, and legs. Remember, dont use a protect your baby can get twisted in it or take the protect over his face. Article 3 Clinical Digest Cot lack of life, better known as S.I.D.S., is one of the top causes for the overpriced baby death amount rate in this nation these days. It is often misinterpreted or unrecognizable. For the most part, the causes of SIDS are unidentified to the community. This is modifying, however, as attention is ever improving. Thus, the objective of this document will be to describe unexpected baby lack of life problem and its known or recommended causes. Also, the record of SIDS, the issues and psychological struggling that outcomes from the lack of a kid, the cost it requires on the enduring brother, and possible guidance or other help that is available for mother and father who may have missing a kid to SIDS are such places that will be researched. Overall I desire to accomplish a better knowing of all these recommended subjects within the body of the document. Despite decreases in occurrence during the past two decades, cot loss of life (SIDS) remains the leading cause of loss of life for babies older between 1 month and 1 year in western world. Behavioral risks identià ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ed in epidemiological studies include vulnerable and side roles for baby rest, smoking visibility, soft bedding and rest areas, and heating up. Proof also indicates that pacià ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ er use at rest time and room discussing without bed discussing are associated with reduced chance of SIDS. Although the cause of SIDS is unidentified, premature cardiorespiratory autonomic control and failing of excitement responsiveness from rest are key elements. Gene polymorphisms with regards to this transportation and autonomic neurological system development might make aà ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã¢â€š ¬ected babies more susceptible to SIDS. Strategies for threat reduction have assisted to decrease SIDS occurrence by 50–90%. However, to decrease the occurrence even further, greater progr ess must be made in reducing prenatal smoking visibility and applying other recommended baby care methods. Ongoing research is needed to recognize the pathophysiological basis of SIDS. In the UK, present suggestions say that mother and father should choose where their child rests, however, the most secure choice is in a bed or cot in the same space. The researchers discovered that the chance of SIDS was more regular in breast-fed children young than 3 several weeks who distributed the bed with their mother and father, even if the mother and father did not use alcohol, medication, or smoking. Furthermore, the chance of bed-sharing reduced as the child got mature. The most frequent interval for the incident of SIDS was between 7 and 10 several weeks. The writers indicate that a important loss of SIDS worth could be achieved if mother and father did not discuss beds with their children. Article 4 Alcohol as a risk factor for sudden infant death Syndrome SIDS is the unexpected loss of life of an baby young than one year of age. SIDS continues to be mysterious after a thorough case research, such as efficiency of a finish autopsy, evaluation of the loss of life field and evaluation of medical record. The unexpected loss of life of formerly healthy babies is all the more surprising and harmful. Sudden baby loss of life is a terrible occasion for any mother or father Alcohol during maternity is one of the greatest risks to a unborn infant. Consumption can put the mom and unborn infant at threat for several things. For example: miscarriages, stillbirths, early babies, and low-birth-weight babies. When a lady is drinking regularly it boundaries her nutritional consumption that both she and the unborn infant need to develop. Consuming during maternity can also have an impact on baby growth. Alcohol remains in the blood circulation twice as long in a unborn infant than it does in the mom. This can cause the most harm to the unborn infant during the first trimester when body system components and body system parts are developing, such as the mind, center, and anxious system. Scientists discovered those fatalities may result from kids being exposed to alcohol in the uterus and from alcohol-using moms creating dangerous surroundings for the kids after beginning. Previously, studies have tied SIDS to parents smoking and to risky surroundings, but few stu dies have looked at whether alcohol could be involved in some of the fatalities. They in comparison the number of SIDS and baby fatalities that happened in kids of moms with a clinically diagnosed consuming issue, to cases among the kids of moms without a analysis. The researchers discovered that kids created to moms who consumed intensely during maternity had a seven-fold increase in the chance of SIDS, in comparison to kids of moms without a consuming issue. Babies also had a nine-fold increased chance of SIDS when their moms consumed within the year after beginning, in comparison to kids created to moms who didnt drink. The results of this study indicate that expectant mothers alcohol-use problem improves the chance of SIDS and (infant deaths) through immediate effects on the unborn baby and ultimately through ecological risks,† The writers add that past studies suggest children revealed to alcohol in the uterus may have irregularities in the brainstem, which could lead to problems controlling basic body features like respiration.

The Speakers Role in Three Poems by Howard, Wyatt, and Raleigh Essay

The Speaker's Role in Three Poems by Howard, Wyatt, and Raleigh The speakers in "Farewell, False Love," by Sir Walter Raleigh and "My Lute, Awake!" by Sir Thomas Wyatt the Elder have similar motivations, although the poems have differing constructs. Each speaker seeks to unleash his venomous emotions at a woman who has scorned him, by humiliating her through complicated revenge fantasies and savage metaphors. Through this invective, he hopes to convince us of this woman's inward ugliness. Raleigh catalogues a long list of conceits for his false love: she is every horrid thing from a "siren song" to "an idle boy that sleeps in pleasure's lap". The overtone of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey's "Alas! So All Things Now Do Hold Their Peace!" bears more similarity to that of a soliloquy of lamentation than a libellous study. The speaker seems more preoccupied with his own woe than with shaming his absent love before us, his audience, of whom he seems only peripherally aware. He does not berate the object of his affections for not requiting his love, only regrets that she cannot be with him, drawing a contrast between his heavy inward emotional swings and the peaceful night which outwardly surrounds him. Several centuries after these poets lived, John Stuart Mill would write an essay called "What is Poetry?" that codified a distinction between what he called "poetry" and "eloquence". He writes: . . . when he [the poet] turns round, and addresses himself to another person; when the act of utterance is not itself the end, but a means to an end -- viz., by the feelings he himself expresses, to work upon the feelings, or upon the belief or the will of another; when the expression of his emotions, or of his thoughts tinged ... ...women whom supposedly seduced them in their youthful naivete. The narrator of "My Lute, Awake!" takes a distinct pleasure in conjuring up a future where his lover, not he, lies "Plaining in vain unto the moon." Raleigh's vehement yet affected language are entirely out of keeping with the innocent-schoolboy image of himself he would have us believe. Surrey's speaker does not need to protest that he was beguiled, nor make any excuse for his misplaced emotion, because he is not aware of our listening, and therefore can feel no embarrassment at our knowing he was rejected. These three poems, then, are written in the voice of the spurned lover. In two of them, this lover is cognizant of our presence and seeks to impress us with his impassivity; but in the third, he pours out his sorrow and minds not whether we think the less of him for his poor choice of women. Â  

Coffee Growers

1. Coffee growers in poor rural areas are paid very little for their crop. What strategies are proposed in this clip for changing that situation?The strategies that are proposed in this clip for changing this situation are for coffee growers to adapt to the fair-trade market. Under the fair-trade market coffee growers will have the chance to a decent market price that will help increase their production. 2. Now that you know something about the â€Å"sociology of coffee† and globalization, will your own consumption habits change at all? Explain why you would change or not your consumption habits.I prefer not to drink coffee as a result my consumption will not change. 3. In what ways is the â€Å"coffee-go-round† an example of what Mills called â€Å"public issues† and â€Å"private troubles?†The public issues are coffee growers in poor rural area are not paid reasonably for their crops. The private troubles are coffee growers are trapped to sell only coca because of the competitive markets and expensive expenses.1. C. Wright Mills said that the sociological imagination comes from our ability to see the connection between â€Å"public issues† and â€Å"private troubles.† How does the narrator of this film make such a connection in his life? What are the â€Å"public issues† and the â€Å"private troubles?† The narrator of this film makes such a connection in his life by connecting his relationship with his brother through his childhood experiences and a tragic accident which created and caused a decision for his brother to go to West Point University and become a Black Hawk pilot for the army that as a result change the narrator’s connection between him and his brother through his childhood. Now having to send American troops to Iraq is a public problem and worrying to have to hear from a love one or relative going to war and not returning back to his family and tragically changing his family’ s life is a private trouble.Article Questions Article 141. How do the authors define â€Å"early adulthood†? How do they explain the incidence of prolonged early adulthood in the United States? Early adulthood is a time of struggle to gain the skills and credentials required for a job that can support the family they wish to start and a struggle to feel in control of their lives or is when people figure out when they want to do and how best to realize their goals. The primary reason for a prolonged early adulthood is that it now takes much longer to secure a full-time job that pays enough to support a family.2. Examine figure 2. How are the lives of young people in 2000 different from those in 1960? What do you think accounts for these differences? The lives of young people in 2000 are less successful completing the transition to adulthood than the lives from those in 1960. Young adults not finding a full-time job that pays enough to support a family.3. Discuss positive and n egative effects of postponing adulthood on parenting. How do you suspect this changes childrearing practices? How does having children change the careers of middle-aged workers? The positive effects of waiting to become a parent while in your adulthood are more likely to leave home, be financially independent, and completed schooling. The negative effects of postponing adulthood on parenting are not likely to be financially independent and completing schooling. Parents who postpone adulthood on parenting are likely to show care and loving towards their children than parents who are trying to complete their adulthood. Having children change the careers of middle aged Article 591. What is the Gautreaux program in Chicago and how is it departure from previous policy? The Gautreaux program in Chicago is an experiment in public housing. Such policies assume that to depopulate the ghetto, gentrify it, or blow it up is effective solution to the problems concentrated in it instead Gautreaux program try to improve the lifestyles and environment around the less unfortunate.2. What is the relationship between the â€Å"quality of life† in neighborhoods and their crime rates (as suggested by the work of Clifford Shaw and Henry  McKay)? The relationship between the â€Å"quality of life† in neighborhoods and their crime rates are lacked to control the behavior of local youth as a result traditions of delinquency are passed on by neighborhood youth.3. Logan refers to studies that used census data to understand variations in crime rates between neighborhoods and the demographic characteristics of their residents. Why is census data a valuable resource in this case? Can you think of ways in which the use of census data in social research might lead to questionable findings? Census data is a valuable resource in this case because it shows the average rates of juvenile delinquency in Chicago tracts that makes some neighborhoods unsafe. We can find out basic info rmation about the size of the population, and its composition by age, gender, race and ethnicity. The use of census data in social research might lead to questionable findings as to understand what are the causes and problems that each individual face.4. To explain the conditions in a neighborhood, Logan suggest we must answer two questions. What are these questions, and how do they differ from the approach of most studies of neighborhood inequalities? First, what happened to these places to create their conditions? Second, how and why do certain kinds of people come to live in places with such problems? The two questions are different from most studies of neighborhood inequalities because most studies of neighborhood inequalities strongly focused on race and education. Coffee growers Coffee growers in poor rural areas are paid very little for their crop. What strategies are proposed in this clip for changing that situation?The strategies that are proposed in this clip for changing this situation are for coffee growers to adapt to the fair-trade market. Under the fair-trade market coffee growers will have the chance to a decent market price that will help increase their production. 2. Now that you know something about the â€Å"sociology of coffee† and globalization, will your own consumption habits change at all? Explain why you would change or not your consumption habits.I prefer not to drink coffee as a result my consumption will not change. 3. In what ways is the â€Å"coffee-go-round† an example of what Mills called â€Å"public issues† and â€Å"private troubles?†The public issues are coffee growers in poor rural area are not paid reasonably for their crops. The private troubles are coffee growers are trapped to sell only coca bec ause of the competitive markets and expensive expenses.1. C. Wright Mills said that the sociological imagination comes from our ability to see the connection between â€Å"public issues† and â€Å"private troubles.† How does the narrator of this film make such a connection in his life? What are the â€Å"public issues† and the â€Å"private troubles?† The narrator of this film makes such a connection in his life by connecting his relationship with his brother through his childhood experiences and a tragic accident which created and caused a decision for his brother to go to West Point University and become a Black Hawk pilot for the army that as a result change the narrator’s connection between him and his brother through his childhood.Now having to send American troops to Iraq is a public problem and worrying to have to hear from a love one or relative going to war and not returning back to his family and tragically changing his family’s li fe is a private trouble.Article Questions Article 141. How do the authors define â€Å"early adulthood†? How do they explain the incidence of prolonged early adulthood in the United States? Early adulthood is a time of struggle to gain the skills and credentials required for a job that can support the family they wish to start and a struggle to feel in control of their lives or is when people figure out when they want to do and how best to realize their goals. The primary reason for a prolonged early adulthood is that it now takes much longer to secure a full-time job that pays enough to support a family.2. Examine figure 2. How are the lives of young people in 2000 different from those in 1960? What do you think accounts for these differences? The lives of young people in 2000 are less successful completing the transition to adulthood than the lives from those in 1960. Young adults not finding a full-time job that pays enough to support a family.3. Discuss positive and negat ive effects of postponing adulthood on parenting. How do you suspect this changes childrearing practices? How does having children change the careers of middle-aged workers? The positive effects of waiting to become a parent while in your adulthood are more likely to leave home, be financially independent, and completed schooling. The negative effects of postponing adulthood on parenting are not likely to be financially independent and completing schooling. Parents who postpone adulthood on parenting are likely to show care and loving towards their children than parents who are trying to complete their adulthood. Having children change the careers of middle aged Article 591. What is the Gautreaux program in Chicago and how is it departure from previous policy? The Gautreaux program in Chicago is an experiment in public housing. Such policies assume that to depopulate the ghetto, gentrify it, or blow it up is effective solution to the problems concentrated in it instead Gautreaux pro gram try to improve the lifestyles and environment around the less unfortunate.2. What is the relationship between the â€Å"quality of life† in neighborhoods and their crime rates (as suggested by the work of Clifford Shaw and Henry  McKay)? The relationship between the â€Å"quality of life† in neighborhoods and their crime rates are lacked to control the behavior of local youth as a result traditions of delinquency are passed on by neighborhood youth.3. Logan refers to studies that used census data to understand variations in crime rates between neighborhoods and the demographic characteristics of their residents. Why is census data a valuable resource in this case? Can you think of ways in which the use of census data in social research might lead to questionable findings?Census data is a valuable resource in this case because it shows the average rates of juvenile delinquency in Chicago tracts that makes some neighborhoods unsafe. We can find out basic informati on about the size of the population, and its composition by age, gender, race and ethnicity. The use of census data in social research might lead to questionable findings as to understand what are the causes and problems that each individual face.4. To explain the conditions in a neighborhood, Logan suggest we must answer two questions. What are these questions, and how do they differ from the approach of most studies of neighborhood inequalities? First, what happened to these places to create their conditions? Second, how and why do certain kinds of people come to live in places with such problems? The two questions are different from most studies of neighborhood inequalities because most studies of neighborhood inequalities strongly focused on race and education.

Punctuation with Parenthetical Phrasing

Punctuation with Parenthetical Phrasing Punctuation with Parenthetical Phrasing Punctuation with Parenthetical Phrasing By Mark Nichol Parenthetical phrasing is often punctuated incorrectly, as shown in the following examples, each of which is followed by a discussion and a revision. 1. That’s why they choose to live in San Francisco proper instead of say a suburb like Daly City. In this sentence, say is being used as a synonym for the parenthetical phrase â€Å"for example,† and like that phrase, it must be set off from the sentence: â€Å"That’s why they choose to live in San Francisco proper instead of, say, a suburb like Daly City.† 2. As these companies continue to evolve, a focus on organizational structure and governance framework as well as monitoring, testing, and reporting, become increasingly important. This sentence consists of three components: a subordinate clause, a main clause, and a parenthetical clause within the main clause. However, the parenthetical clause is not correctly set off from the main clause- a comma must precede â€Å"as well as† (the beginning of the parenthetical phrase) to counterbalance the one that follows reporting (the end of the parenthetical phrase): â€Å"As these companies continue to evolve, a focus on organizational structure and governance framework, as well as monitoring, testing, and reporting, become increasingly important.† 3. It’s imperative for them to have a longer-term approach to the market, and based on that, make permanent changes to their operations. The superfluous first comma in this sentence exists on the mistaken presumption that it must be placed there to separate two independent clauses. However, this sentence consists of a single main clause with the parenthetical phrase â€Å"based on that,† which should be preceded and followed by a pair of commas, so the first comma must follow, not precede, and: â€Å"It’s imperative for them to have a longer-term approach to the market and, based on that, make permanent changes to their operations.† Compare this sentence, which does consist of two independent clauses correctly separated by a comma and includes a second comma whose function is to set the introductory phrase â€Å"at times† off from the rest of the second independent clause: â€Å"Decisions have to be based on realistic considerations, and at times, that’s when a third party is helpful.† Compare it as well to â€Å"There have been dozens of bankruptcies so far, and, as Smith mentioned, some have already restructured and exited bankruptcy.† This sentence consists of two independent clauses (separated by the comma between far and and) and the parenthetical phrase â€Å"as Smith mentioned,† which is bracketed by two additional commas that have no relation to the first comma. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Direct and Indirect ObjectsDo you "orient" yourself, or "orientate" yourself?40 Words Beginning with "Para-"

Internal Business Factors at Nike, Inc.

External/Internal Business Factors at Nike, Inc. Free Online Research Papers Nike’s planning and organizing began in 1962 when Phil Knight, an accounting student and middle distance runner at the University of Oregon, had an idea to bring low-priced, high-tech athletic shoes from Japan to dislodge German domination of the U. S. athletic footwear industry (Nike, 2007, p. 5). In 1972, Knight, along with Bill Bowerman, University of Oregon’s track and field coach, formed a partnership and introduced Nike, a new brand of athletic footwear named for the Greek winged goddess of victory. Leading its employees and controlling or monitoring the company’s worldwide operations, along with on-going planning and organizing as new goals are established, has made Nike, Inc. one of the largest sports and fitness company in the world. Globalization When Nike first started selling in the foreign market in 1972, the company had to assess the economic trends of domestic and international markets during the planning stage. This would include the impact of the global market, technological advancements, and e-business which is rapidly growing. The planning and organizing process also has to be specific to the region where a new factory was to be built. For example, resources may be more available in the Nike Americas Region than in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Region; government regulations may be stricter in the Asia Pacific Region. To be successful in the leading or motivating process, Nike would have to assess a country’s culture and economic status. For example, in Indonesia, the take-home pay averages $65 a month which does not seem like much to the U. S. worker, but this pay scale is almost double Indonesia’s minimum wage of $34 a month. These wages also come with other benefits that include overtime and holiday bonuses, social security, free health care, free schooling, free clothing, at least one free meal a day, and sometimes free housing (Jenson, 2000, 1). In these countries where most of the population lives below the poverty line, Nike jobs are quite desirable. As with any global company, Nike’s success depends on the controlling or monitoring of the progress of its manufacturing and sales of athletic footwear and athletic gear. Technology When one thinks of technology, computers or electronic games may come to mind. For Nike, technology refers to product technology; new innovations in footwear, apparel, and equipment. As fitness evolves, Nike’s products are planned to give consumers a competitive edge and help athletes perform better. Each part of the manufacturing process is designed to accomplishing the goal of providing the world’s best athletic gear. When Nike Air was introduced, it made a revolutionary impact on the sports world for its versatility. Beyond its basic function of impact protection, it can be shaped and tuned to meet the specific demands of contemporary athletes (Nike, 2007, 6). As Nike monitored athletes’ needs, changes were implemented to make their footwear even better. For example, in 2001, Nike Shox was introduced, made with unique columns of engineered foam. This new product technology began a new revolution in footwear cushioning. Innovation Although Nike is one of the largest sports and fitness companies in the world, Nike still has to challenge its competitors with new product ideas. In the planning process, Nike must continue to evaluate consumer demands. Recently, Nike decided to collaborate with Apple and bring sports and music together. According to Nike’s CEO, Mark Parker, The Nike + iPod Sport Kit is a wireless system that connects to the iPod nano to give people a personal running and workout experience (Apple, 2007, p. 1). Nike is planning to make many of their footwear and apparel styles iPod ready. Some of the designs now include jackets, tops, shorts and armbands designed specifically to carry iPods seamlessly. Nike’s CEO and Apple’s CEO will continue to work together to maximize the Nike and iPod experience. This partnership will help Nike to remain as the leading sports company. Diversity Nike’s strategy focuses on diversity in the workplace (Nike, 2007, p. 1). In 2003, Nike created the Office of Global Diversity. Surveys are one way top-level managers communicate and receive feedback from Nike’s employees. The organization wants to know how satisfied the employees are and the effectiveness of management. Work teams and workshops are established to address employee recommendations (Nike, 2007, p. 2). The workshops emphasize employee interaction. Management is constantly monitoring the engagement of stakeholders and employees. Ideally, the company should build a data collection system to asses the issues and impacts in the workplace. Nike has a continued desire for improving performance and reaching new goals. Ethics Companies that specialize in business ethics training and corporate social responsibility instill workplace ethics among staff by creating a business ethics policy (Fieser, 2006). In 1996, the ethical issue of child labor came to the surface regarding the hiring of young employees by Nike’s Asian and Latin subcontractors whose ages ranged from very young to teenagers. The teen workers would have not been so controversial; however, there were no regulations or work permits issued. For the last decade, Nike’s managers have had to plan and organize a world-wide public relations campaign to redeem their name and reputation related to this ethical controversy. Without proper management leading and planning in the Nike Corporation, the company would have suffered from the child labor issue. Nike has made a true bounce-back from the negative media attention, and continues to be successful due to their strong business ethic philosophy. External and internal factors have an enormous impact on the productivity and success of a company. The process of assessing the external and internal factors that face an organization is a major part of the planning function of management. These factors also impact how a company is organized and how resources are used to accomplish the preferred goals and objectives established during the planning process. References Apple (2007). Nike and Apple Team Up to Launch Nike+iPod. Retrieved January 29, 2007 from apple.com/pr/library/2006/may/23nike.html Jenson, H. (2000, July 2). Globalization ala Nike. Retrieved January 29, 2007, from internationalreportingproject.org/stories/indonesia/indonesia_globalization.htm Fieser, J. (2006). The internet encyclopedia of philosophy ethics. Retrieved January 30, 2007, from iep.utm.edu/e/ethics.htm Nike (2007). After 30 year, Nike continues to lead innovation in footwear, apparel and equipment. Retrieved January 26, 2007, from nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=6 Nike (2007). When Nike breathed its first breath, it inhaled the spirit of two men, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. Retrieved January 27, 2007, from nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=5 Research Papers on External/Internal Business Factors at Nike, Inc.Marketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductDefinition of Export QuotasPETSTEL analysis of IndiaAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanThe Project Managment Office SystemHip-Hop is ArtNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

Discuss the impact that race, class and gender played in Bulosans life Essay

Discuss the impact that race, class and gender played in Bulosans life in American and which had the greatest consequence in shaping his life. Then compared an - Essay Example Today, he is best remembered for his semi-autobiographical work, America is in the Heart, which is credited for giving a 'Third World' perspective to the labor movement in America and for vividly showcasing the experiences of Filipinos during the 30s and 40s. Bulosan left for America on July 22, 1930 at the tender age of seventeen like most Filipinos during the early twentieth century. Being highly influenced by the American style of education during his high school, young Bulosan was led to believe that equality existed among all classes and individuals in the United States. America, he had hoped would help him escape his troubles and find salvation from the poverty and economic depression of his home country. However, as soon as he arrived in San Francisco, he was faced with the hostility of racism. Consequently, he was forced to work in low paying jobs-serving hotels, harvesting in the fields, and even working in the Alaskan canneries. As a result, his dreams were soon shattered and for years he encountered discrimination, starvation and sickness, later undergoing surgery for tuberculosis in Los Angeles. In the meantime, Bulosan took time out to self-educate himself, transforming himself later into the spokesman of the trials and trib ulations of the Filipinos in United States. In his own words, 'Writing is a pleasure and a passion to me'. Not only was he a protective voice of the immigrant Filipinos but also a prolific writer. Race, class and gender all exerted an influence on Bulosan's life and writings, but according to me the most prominent factor was race discrimination. There has been a lot of talk revolving around the racism faced by the African Americans in the United States. Bulosan through his work and writings brings to focus the rampant racism suffered by the other minority races like Filipinos in the proverbial 'land of oppurtunities'. Once while in Washington, the whites torched a bunkhouse where he slept. The treatment metted out to him by the whites left him feeling bitter, and isolated. His sums up his sentiments in the following lines: I know deep down in my heart that I am an exile in America. I feel like a criminal running away from a crime I didn't commit. And this crime is that I am a Filipino in America. Bulosan's angst and sense of alienation poured out in his writings. His major theme in his work is exile and return-the effect of leaving home and the need to return to the Philippines in order to make sense of the exile's experience in the United States because of the colonial status of the Philippines. In real life however he could never set foot on his homeland again. His hometown, Binaknan, is also the starting point of his famous semi-autobiographical novel, America is in the Heart. The novel is composed of stories loosely based on his brothers' and friends' experiences, providing a poignant peek into the immigrant Filipino's life during the 1930s and 1940s. America is in the Heart has been since then used as a symbol for the Filipino American identity movement of the 1970s and is also included in many bibliography lists for college courses on Filipino American studies classes, reflecting the importance of this seminal work in Asian American studies. Another important factor in Bulosan's life has been his sense of identification with the working class, having experienced their conditions first-hand

Organization Management Task Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organization Management Task - Term Paper Example Industry experts had forecasted that the attendants would fall considerably during the recession. However, increase in the price of tickets would not be effective as the expense increased by 2.5% leading to considerable operating deficit. However, the strength of the Symphony lies in the fact that it had earned a huge brand name for itself being one of the most famous orchestral groups. The financial strength of the organizations is also revealed through the immense reputation that it enjoyed and which consequently reflected through high ticket sales. Also the high paid musicians employed by the organization earning full time salaries only depicts the financial stability of the organization. The financial weakness of the organization was that it did not get any funds from the state and was the entire was generated through individual contributions and tickets sales. Moreover, ticket sales kept fluctuating depending on external conditions which weakened its financial position even furt her. The leadership strength of the company gets reflected by the fact it was led by Maurice Abravanel, who was hired as the conductor in the organization. The orchestra had developed under Abravanel starting from a small and part time community ensemble to a huge and renowned world class symphony. He was responsible for the growth of USA and for becoming the first orchestra in USA to have performed in the international platform. The leadership weakness of Utah Symphony gets revealed through the fact that it was subjected to too many leadership changes. The leadership of Abravanel was taken over by Lockhart and Lockhart continued to follow the initial strategies. However, since external conditions had changed it was necessary that Lockhart had made his own strategies which would be suitable for the present conditions at Symphony. a. Recommendations for addressing the weaknesses Firstly Anne should ensure that the organization would continue functioning under strong leadership and gu idance as they had done before. Otherwise it would lead to a fall in quality and performance. Secondly she would also have to ensure that the crisis which had resulted in revenue losses for the company would be eradicated. The crucial aspect of the merger was to ensure that the merger would result in economic benefits and remove the deficits which had been prevailing (Dymski, 1999, p.56). The merger would definitely result in realizing scale economies as both the organizations were into the same business. This would be possible by making thorough analysis of the financial position of the two organizations, measuring their strengths and weaknesses and working on them. The key strategy would be to use the strength of one organization to realize the benefit of the other. Merging Opera with Symphony could be effective in drawing audiences having affinity towards traditions and culture which could control the problem of falling ticket sales to an extent. Enhancing the brand name and repu tation through advertizing and publicity would also be effective in earning reputation and fame drawing in additional audiences which would consequently strengthen financial position of the organization. The improved financial position would be make it eligible for being part of the big merger. 2. Financial and leadership strengths and weaknesses of the Utah Opera The Utah Opera was also initiated and led by the best