Good communication and team work

People cannot not communicate... the fact is that the way one communicates reflects one's innermost self, one's skills, one's confidence.



The ability to communicate:

Has a direct bearing on one's friendships, promotion, pay raises, responsibilities, career paths.

It directly affects the level of support and help one receives from others. This is where good communication and team work go hand-in-hand.

Determines how well one gathers and gives information, ideas and feelings.

It decides how well one solves their problems, makes decisions, reach agreements and resolve disagreements.



70% of mistakes at the workplace are a direct result of poor communications.



The communication impact:

7% Verbal

38% Tone of Voice

55% Body Language

... These abovementioned aspects help the receiver interpret and understand the meaning of what is being communicated in a team and otherwise.



The way one begins to transfer their message determines the outcome of the communication process



Thus, one needs to prepare, think carefully how, when and where to deliver. Given here are important pointers to keep in mind to understand what effective communications is all about, especially when team workings come into play...



The way a message is delivered always affects the way it is received.

How one says something is more important than what one actually says.

The real communication is the message received and not the message intended to be delivered.

Find out how important it is to the other person, how much they already know and what their previous experience was.



Communication is a two-way lane - There is giving and receiving.



Good and free communication in a team or between two people is therapeutic.



The barriers that occur in communicating with others:



Obstacles within the self: One tends to screen information and messages, thereby limiting one's understanding and communication ability.

Self beliefs, mindsets, etc., that limit one from seeing the larger picture of life.

People do not talk to each other, but to the images they have about each other.

Physical barriers like noise, etc., make concentration on what is being communicated rather difficult.

The compatibility between the communicators tend to make it uncomfortable, awkward to communicate.

Tendency to evaluate and judge - approve or disapprove other's statement.



Gateways to effective team communications:



Listening with understanding.

One needs to empathize with the speaker.

Aim to achieve the speakers his frame of reference in regard to what he/she is speaking about.



Good communication skills is required to grow in any business or profession. If you want to improve your communication skills you need to read more of inspirational books or short stories on communication.

Sexual Orientation Discrimination in Workplace: What You Need to Know

Gays and lesbians are vulnerable to harassment and discrimination because of their sexual orientation. But with the growing awareness and acceptance, the society has realized that these people should be given the equal rights just like everyone else.



Presently, there is a federal anti-discriminatory law that protects gay people and prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in all federal institutions. However, this law does not cover gays who are working in private companies.



While the federal law is limited, many states such as California, New York, Washington, Connecticut, Oregon, Rhode Island, and New Jersey have laws that prohibit any form of discrimination against gay people working from private companies. Also, many cities and counties have outlawed discrimination based on sexual preference.



Meanwhile, some states and cities have no anti-discrimination law that protects gay workers. Still, a pragmatic employer should not allow discrimination in his office or company since he is legally liable in incidents which involve harassment, assault, invasion of privacy, wrongful termination, breach of contract, and defamation against gay workers.



According to lawyers, employers should provide training for their workers that will teach them about employment discrimination. Providing such training is practical since employers may not only avoid costly lawsuit, but also allow workers to be productive since they are free from harassment and discrimination.



To create a workplace free from abuses, discrimination, and harassment, many companies across the US have included policies which prohibit discrimination against gay workers. Such policies include penalties for the harasser or anyone who will commit discriminatory act and guidelines on the proper conduct and behavior.



Here are the other ways an employer can do to prevent sexual orientation discrimination:



1. Understand current laws. Employers should know the current laws that protect workers from marginalized sectors including gay people.



2. Make sure that employment processes (e.g. recruitment, promotion, termination, etc.) are consistent and fair.



3. If an applicant or employee reveals his/her sexual orientation, employers and supervisors should keep it confidential.



4. Communicate and ask workers if there is any discriminatory act happening in the workplace.



5. Observe if workers understand and follow the company's anti-discrimination policies.



6. Provide workers with regular training about sexual orientation laws, prevention, and policies.



7. Establish a complaint process and assign a credible supervisor who will handle cases of sexual orientation discrimination.



8. During an investigation, employers should make certain decisions that will prevent further discrimination and harassment. These include reassigning the complainant and the alleged harasser from different areas and asking the involved parties to avoid each other while the investigation is still ongoing.



9. Encourage workers to report any case of discrimination to the company's complaint process. Employers can avoid costly lawsuit if a worker reports such incident to the company instead of reporting this to a federal court.



10. Do not retaliate against workers who file sexual orientation lawsuit.





To help you deal with issues on sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace, consult with our expert employment lawyers. Visit our website and call us toll free for legal assistance.

CMS and JCAHO Healthcare Security Requirements Summary

Every healthcare organization/hospital accepting payment for Medicare and Medicaid patients is required to meet certain Federal standards called “Conditions of Participation” (CoPs).

These Federal requirements are promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to improve quality and protect the health and safety of patients. Compliance is based on surveys conducted by state agencies on behalf of the CMS. Conditions of Participation are regulatory standards hospitals agree to follow as a condition for receiving federal funding through the Medicare program.

Under an agreement with CMS, State healthcare licensure agencies conduct surveys of hospitals and enforce compliance with CoPs and ensure that Conditions of Participation are being practiced. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are subject to random onsite reviews. Unannounced surveys can result from patient or public complaints or inquiries. Healthcare Security is an important element for the new 2006 Conditions of Participation.

CONDITIONS of PARTICIPATION
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(Healthcare Security)
____________________________________________

A-0038

Title 42CFR, Volume 3 - §482.13 Condition of Participation: Patients’ Rights

A hospital must protect and promote each patient’s rights

Interpretive Guidelines §482.13

These requirements apply to all Medicare or Medicaid participating hospitals including short-term, acute care, surgical, specialty, psychiatric, rehabilitation, long-term, childrens’ and cancer, whether or not they are accredited. This rule does not apply to critical access hospitals. (See Social Security Act (the Act) §1861(e)).

These requirements, as well as the other Conditions of Participation in 42 CFR §482, apply to all parts and locations (outpatient services, provider-based entities, inpatient services) of the Medicare participating hospital.

____________________________________________

A-0057

Title 42, Volume 3 CFR - §482.13(c)(2) The patient has the right to receive care in a safe setting.

Interpretive Guidelines for §482.13(c)(2)

The intention of this requirement is to specify that each patient receives care in an environment that a reasonable person would consider to be safe. For example, hospital staff should follow current standards of practice for patient environmental safety, infection control and security. The hospital must protect vulnerable patients, including newborns and children. Additionally, this standard is intended to provide protection for the patient's emotional health and safety as well as his/her physical safety. Respect, dignity and comfort would be components of an emotionally safe environment.

Survey Procedures §482.13(c)(2)

• Review and analyze patient and staff incident and accident reports to identify any incidents or patterns of incidents concerning a safe environment. Expand your review if you suspect a problem with safe environment in the hospitals.

• Review QAPI, safety, infection control and security (or the committee that deals with security issues) committee minutes and reports to determine if the hospital is identifying problems, evaluating those problems and taking steps to ensure a safe patient environment.

• Observe the environment where care and treatment are provided.

• Observe and interview staff at units where infants and children are inpatients. Are appropriate security protections (such as alarms, arm banding systems, etc.) in place? Are they functioning?

• Review policy and procedures on what the facility does to curtail unwanted visitors or contaminated materials.

• Access the hospital's security efforts to protect vulnerable patients including newborns and children. Is the hospital providing appropriate security to protect patients? Are appropriate security mechanisms in place and being followed to protect patients?

Exceptions:

The use of handcuffs or other restrictive devices applied by law enforcement officials who are not employed by or contracted by the hospital is for custody, detention, and public safety reasons, and is not involved in the provision of health care. Therefore, the use of restrictive devices applied by and monitored by law enforcement officers who are not employed or contracted by the hospital, and who maintain custody and direct supervision of their prisoner are not governed by §482.13(f)(l-3). The individual may be the law enforcement officer's prisoner but he/she is also the hospital's patient. The hospital is still responsible for providing safe and appropriate care to their patient. The condition of the patient must be continually assessed, monitored and reevaluate.

JCAHO – 2006
(Healthcare Security)

____________________________________________

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 healthcare organizations and programs throughout the United States. Hospitals aggressively seek Joint Commission accreditation to meet Medicare certification and licensure requirements. Accreditation is also a condition of reimbursement for many insurers and other payers. In addition, JCAHO Accreditation reduces the hospital’s liability insurance premiums. Beginning in 2006 JCAHO will conduct all surveys without prior notice.

The Joint Commission has accredited hospitals for more than 50 years and today accredits over 80 percent of the nation’s hospitals. The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) have required JCAHO accreditation by US hospitals since 1965 as a ‘Condition of Participation’ requirement in order for them to receive Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements.

The Joint Commission and Healthcare Security

The Joint Commission’s Standards address the hospital’s performance in specific areas, and specify requirements to insure that patients are provided a safe and secure environment. 2006 Environment of Care© requirements include, but are not limited to the following:

• Development and maintenance of a written Security Management Plan to include an Emergency Management Plan.

• Conduct an annual Risk Assessment that evaluates the potential adverse impact of the external environment on the security of patients, staff, and others coming to the facility.

• Use the risks identified to select and implement procedures and controls to achieve the lowest potential for adverse impact on security.

• Identify, as appropriate, patients, staff and other people entering the facility.

• Access Control / Physical Protection – control access to and egress from security sensitive areas, as determined by the organization.

• Mitigate Violence in the Emergency Department and other locations.

• Education and Training – staff, licensed practitioners, and volunteers have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their responsibilities within the environment.

• Develop and implement a proactive infant abduction prevention plan.

• Include information on visitor/provider identification as well as identification of potential abductors/abduction situations (during staff orientation and in-service curriculum programs).

• Enhance parent education concerning abduction risks and parent responsibility for reducing risk and then assess the parents' level of understanding.

• Attach secure identically numbered bands to the baby (wrist and ankle bands), mother, and father or significant other immediately after birth.

• Footprint the baby, take a color photograph of the baby and record the baby's physical examination within two hours of birth.

• Require staff to wear up-to-date, conspicuous, color photograph identification badges.

• Discontinue publication of birth notices in local newspapers.

• Consider options for controlling access to nursery/postpartum unit such as swipe-card locks, keypad locks, entry point alarms or video surveillance (any locking systems must comply with fire codes).

• Consider implementing an infant security tag or abduction alarm system.

Material in this brochure provided to Accutech-ICS (www.Accutech-ICS.com) by Security Assessments International, Inc., www.saione.com

Disclaimer

The information provided by Accutech-ICS.com and SAI is in accordance with our understanding of current JCAHO and CMS Regulations. It is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered 'legal' advice. Please consult with your legal counsel or Compliance Officer for clarification of laws and rules related to your State when applicable.

Accutect-ICS.com and SAI are not affiliated with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Accutech-ICS.com and SAI - ©January, 2006

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How To Build A Positive Identity?

People derive a sense of self and identity through interactions with others who give recognition and approval to a person's abilities and accomplishments. How does that work? As children grow up, they are dependant on 'significant others' for forming of a positive sense of self.

Children need the experiences of a 'human hothouse'. When they are cared for, supported, encouraged, respected, appreciated, and appropriately challenged, children develop the ability to identify, interpret, and realise their needs and desires. This will allow them to become autonomous and self-actualised grown-ups who have self-confidence, self-respect, and self-esteem.

The 'human hothouse' is a metaphor for conditions of protection, ideal (emotional) temperature that is not too hot and not too cold, of shelter from rough storms of life, and of nutritional circumstances that take the changing needs of the child into consideration.

Through experience of this sort the child comes to understand him/herself as being worthy of love, care, protection, consideration, appreciation, and respect. It is able to form a positive sense of Identity and can say "I am OK".

What happens when the 'hothouse' conditions are not given? We'll see struggle in the child, the adolescent and later on in the adult. What will the struggle look like? Difficulty relating, difficulty being independent, difficulty grasping a strong sense of self!

What happens when the 'hothouse' conditions are not given? We see a struggling child, adolescent and later adult. What will the struggle look like? People will have difficulty relating, difficulty being independent, and difficulty grasping a strong sense of self!

Human integrity is closely linked with patterns of approval and recognition because once wrongly treated by others, people feel insulted or humiliated. Such injustice not only harms or restricts individual freedom but also causes feelings of shame, rage, hurt, or indignation. As a result people are harmed in their positive sense of self and their self development which is only possible through positive interactions with others.

Under most severe circumstances such as rape, torture, assault, discrimination, or marginalisation a person's identity could even be brought to the point of collapse. You'll end up with people with severe psychiatric disturbances, acute suicidal people, or people who get stuck in the social sidelines through gambling, drug abuse, or criminal activities.

What has been found, thought, is that even when childhood circumstances did not support the development of a positive sense of identity, people can 'fill up' on the good stuff later on. That can take place in loving relationships, in self-improvement courses, or through therapy. As they say: Its never too late to have happy childhood. Now is a good time to start!

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Cardboard Boxes and their effects on the environment

Cardboard boxes are extremely easy to recycle and minimise their effects on the environment. The best form of recycling is reuse, often once the cardboard box has finished its job of successfully transporting its contents to its destination it is still very solid and more than capable of transporting another item somewhere else. Recycling your old cardboard boxes this way may even help you recoup some of your original costs of buying the cardboard box if you can sell it on as a second hand box.
If your cardboard boxes cannot be sold on, given away or are damaged beyond use then you can still help the environment by recycling. Most local authorities have schemes to collect cardboard and recycle the cardboard boxes, alternatively you can take your cardboard boxes to a local recycling bank. If you collect your cardboard to recycle in cardboard boxes then you will not have to separate it later. For large companies wanting to recycle cardboard boxes there are companies that will collect containers full of cardboard boxes and pay you for them. The corrugated cardboard companies then use these recycled cardboard boxes as the input fibre instead of new trees and currently in the UK get over 70% of their 2 million tonnes of fibre for making new cardboard boxes this way. For the other 30% of fibre needed, fast growing softwood trees that are being planted faster than they are being used are used from sustainable forestry resources. Cardboard boxes are made from corrugated cardboard which in turn is made from paper. Paper is the only packaging material manufactured from a renewable source.
The last but most important part of this cycle of recycled cardboard boxes is you the buyer. Without people willing to buy recycled cardboard boxes it would just end up in landfill. So make sure when you next buy cardboard boxes you ask for recycled cardboard boxes.

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How Solar Energy Can Save You Money

Solar energy has been broadly accepted as an alternative option for the electric energy we use on a daily basis. Solar technology is now considered as a reliable means of energy production. Since, most of us are fed up of paying electricity bills every month; this preferred way of energy generation is one of the ways for curtailing our electricity bills. Solar light also assists us in minimizing our reliance on fossil fuels and confers us to use much power with complete autonomy to fulfill our requirements as we want.

Revolutionize Your Home into a Power Generator

Most of us are agitate with the costly electricity bills that come every month and slowly but surely they keep growing. This is a common problem faced by most of us today. In this regard, solar light is the best alternative for electricity that does not require monthly billing. We just need to pay for installation of the solar PV systems which will provide us free renewable energy. Solar PV systems can utilize sunlight to make electricity. These systems will minimize energy bills and produce more energy for fulfilling your daily requirements.

How It Generates Electricity?

Sunlight reaches the earth in the form of electromagnetic radiations which is utilized by the energy system for the generation of solar energy. Solar panels comprise of photovoltaic cells that transform sunlight into energy. This energy can easily be used and stored in the form of electricity for your everyday use and also to power your modern home appliances. Solar technology can directly convert the solar light into electricity through the solar PV system in which electricity is stored in batteries. This is done via an electrical grid energy storage system or by the solar thermal systems.

Why Do We Need It?

Solar energy has proved to provide many economic and environmental advantages which contribute to a healthy and secure life. Instead of using expensive natural gas, coal, wood, oil or electricity, it is better to use renewable energy that can save you money. This energy is also environment-friendly as it does not pollute the environment while producing electricity by solar panels. Another plus point of this renewable energy is that it does not produce the green house effect which is the foremost cause of global warming. In this regard installation of solar panels in your home is a very prudent decision.

Installing solar PV system into your home can provide you freedom to use as much energy as you want to fulfill your electricity requirements. It helps you properly light up your surroundings during the night time. Definitely, the use of natural light will effectively lower the amount of your monthly bills of electricity. Indeed, an ultimate goal of solar energy technology is to create great reduction in expenditure of your electricity bills and save you money.

Since, there are affordable types of solar panels available today, so you can easily opt according to your financial statement. Solar lightning technology can be installed anywhere and is applicable for wide backyard spaces and long driveways that require adequate lighting. Aside from saving you money, solar energy can also help maintain a clean environment.

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Understanding the Legal Aspects of Insurance

The safety of a person and their compensation in case of an adverse event should always be a priority. Insurance is a form of risk management that reimburses insurance policy holders after that person has experienced an event which their insurance protects against. In changing times, insurance provides people with peace of mind. Many insurance companies are now in the business of solving the risks their clients may encounter.



There are many types of insurance: home insurance, auto insurance, health insurance, life insurance, and many more. All of these types of insurance are designed to help minimize the financial aspect of whatever risk the insurance plan covers. Other benefit of insurance, aside from giving you peace of mind, is financial protection of your assets, income, and lifestyle.



Many people are now acquiring insurance for various reasons. Because risk is always there, it is better to have the various aspects of your life insured. Most people whose main concern is the welfare of their family often buy life insurance. This is to assure themselves that their family will not suffer financially if something bad happens to the policy holder. On the other hand, people also buy home insurance to protect their property from whatever accidents that may happen. The exact details of house insurance plans and policies are determined by the location and size of the house, as well as the extent of protective devices.



Medical insurance is a form of insurance popular with people that need to insured against disability, and long-term nursing and care needs. Employers also provide medical insurance for their employees. However, there are certain conflicts that may cause a person to hire a personal injury lawyer ottawa, the capital of Canada, regulates health insurance to a strong degree. Under the law, the federal government gives its people the privilege to have access to the necessary medical services.



If you’re planning on obtaining a medical insurance plan for yourself or for your family, consult a personal injury lawyer ottawa’s lawyers have been helping people by assisting them with their insurance needs. Consulting a lawyer can help you get to know your rights in case your insurance company fails to give you the service you have paid for. Through the help of personal injury lawyers, you can fully understand and utilize the law.



Legal conflicts regarding insurance, as most people have experienced, can be avoided through the help of a personal injury lawyer ottawa law firms can assist you in case you need expert legal assistance. They dedicate themselves to helping people with personal injury cases that were caused by the negligence of others. Above all, they can help you get what you’re owed.

Arc Flash Work Safety: Understanding Hazard Risk Categories

(Anchortex-AWS-2010-0001 - http://www.americanworksafety.com/safety-clothing/arc-flash-protective-gear.htm )

The 2009 edition of NFPA 70E requires employers to label any electrical equipment likely to require maintenance or examination while energized with clearly visible warning labels that alert personnel to the hazard before they can be exposed to it. The most common way of doing so is to list a HRC (Hazard Risk Category) of required personal protective gear needed to service the equipment in question. So what does this mean?

Hazard Risk Category is defined within NFPA 70E as a general classification of hazard involved in performing specified tasks. HRC typically ranges from zero to four, with zero denoting minimum-risk activities and four denoting high-risk activities. Each category includes minimum safety equipment required, the minimum number of layers required to meet this requirement, and the minimum arc rating of all required equipment in cal/cm2. The arc rating, in turn, is a value of the energy required to pass through a given material and cause a 50% probability of second to third degree burns. Arc ratings from multiple layers are not cumulative.

Hazard Risk Category 0 (HRC 0)

Minimum Clothing Requirements: In order to qualify as covered under HRC 0, a long-sleeved shirt and long pants made from natural fibers (untreated cotton, silk, wool, rayon, or blends of these fibers), with a minimum fabric weight of 4.5 ounces per square yard, is required. Polyester, poly/cotton blends, and other artificial fibers are not permitted, as they will melt in an arc flash incident, increasing the potential damage.

Additional PPE Equipment: Employees in HRC 0 situations are also required to at minimum be wearing leather safety shoes, safety glasses, and a hard hat.

Minimum Layer Requirements: HRC 0 only requires one layer of protective clothing.

Minimum Arc Rating in cal/cm2: None. HRC 0 has no minimum requirements on arc rating of material.

Hazard Risk Category 1 (HRC 1)

Minimum Clothing Requirements: In order to qualify as covered under HRC 1, an employee must at minimum wear one of the following: denim jeans and a flame-resistant long-sleeved shirt, OR a flame-resistant long-sleeved sirt and pants, OR flame-resistant coveralls.

Additional PPE Equipment: Employees in HRC 1 situations are also required to at minimum be wearing leather safety shoes, safety glasses, and a hard hat with an arc-rated face shield.

Minimum Layer Requirements: HRC 1 only requires one layer of protective clothing.

Minimum Arc Rating in cal/cm2: 4 cal/cm2

Hazard Risk Category 2 (HRC 2)

Minimum Clothing Requirements: In order to qualify as covered under HRC 2, an employee must at minimum wear one of the following: flame-resistant long-sleeved shirt and pants, OR flame-resistant coveralls.

Additional PPE Equipment: Employees in HRC 2 situations are also required to at minimum be wearing leather safety shoes, safety glasses, and a hard hat with an arc-rated face shield. In certain circumstances, an 8+-cal/cm2 stocking hood or multi-layer switching hood may also be required.

Minimum Layer Requirements: HRC 2 requires one to two layers of protective clothing.

Minimum Arc Rating in cal/cm2: 8 cal/cm2

Hazard Risk Category 3 (HRC 3)

Minimum Clothing Requirements: In order to qualify as covered under HRC 3, an employee must at minimum wear one of the following: a multi-layer flash suit over FR long-sleeved shirt and pants over natural fiber short-sleeved T-shirt and pants, OR a multi-layer flash suit over FR coveralls over natural fiber short-sleeved T-shirt and pants.

Additional PPE Equipment: Employees in HRC 3 situations are also required to at minimum be wearing leather safety shoes, safety glasses, hard hat, hearing protection, and a multi-layer switching hood OR arc-rated goggle and stocking hood.

Minimum Layer Requirements: HRC 3 requires two to three layers of protective clothing.

Minimum Arc Rating in cal/cm2: 25 cal/cm2

Hazard Risk Category 4 (HRC 4)

Minimum Clothing Requirements: In order to qualify as covered under HRC 4, an employee must at minimum wear one of the following: a multi-layer flash suit over FR long-sleeved shirt and pants over natural fiber short-sleeved T-shirt and pants, OR a multi-layer flash suit over FR coveralls over natural fiber short-sleeved T-shirt and pants.

Additional PPE Equipment: Employees in HRC 4 situations are also required to at minimum be wearing leather safety shoes, safety glasses, hard hat, hearing protection, and a multi-layer switching hood OR arc-rated goggle and stocking hood.

Minimum Layer Requirements: HRC 4 requires at least three layers of protective clothing.

Minimum Arc Rating in cal/cm2: 40 cal/cm2

Depending on the specific tasks performed, employees may also be required to wear voltage-rated gloves and use voltage-rated tools appropriate to the equipment being serviced. Whenever possible, energized equipment to be serviced should be put into an electrically safe work condition unless the employer can demonstrate that de-energizing creates more severe hazards (such as when performing work on life-support systems), or is not practical due to limitations of equipment or operation (such as during testing of live equipment). Any service that requires personal protective equipment should only be performed by qualified personnel following a documented plan approved by the manager responsible for the plan.

A brief overview of tasks that require arc flash protective gear, as well as the general hazard risk category they fall under, is available at http://www.anchortex.com/pdf/OEL-NFPA-70E-Compliance-Guide.pdf courtesy of OEL Worldwide Industries, manufacturers of arc flash wear and insulated tools. Anchortex Corporation is a leading distributor of OEL arc flash safety equipment.

Ethics In The Workplace

Workplace Ethics is a subject that we have all heard of. In fact, the subject of Ethics in general is something that most people are familiar with. And, what is commonly understood about ethics is there are ethics and then there are workplace ethics. What most people don’t realize, however, is that there is no such thing as workplace ethics; ethics are the same, (or, should be) whether in the workplace or in personal life.

WHAT IT’S ABOUT

Ethics are about making choices that may not always feel good or seem like they benefit you but are the “right” choices to make. They are the choices that are examples of “model citizens” and examples of the golden rules. We’ve all heard the golden rules: Don’t hurt, don’t steal, don’t lie, or one of the most famous: “Do unto others as you would have done to you.” These are not just catchy phrases; these are words of wisdom that any productive member of society should strive to live by.

In our personal lives, most people try to do exactly that. Ethics are thought of by many people as something that is related to the private side of life and not to the business side. In many businesses, having ethics is frowned upon or thought of as a negative subject. This is because business is usually about doing what’s best for number one, not about what’s really the right thing to do. You probably are already feeling uneasy just reading this.

A GOOD EXAMPLE

Take ENRON, for example. Were the actions of ENRON’s CEO’s a good example of ethics? No. But, what they WERE was a CLASSIC example of was two things: One, those actions displayed how ethics were not used in any way. Two, their actions painted a grim and realistic picture of what can happen when ethics are neglected. Had ethics been considered in the first place by the leaders of the company, there would have been no scandal. If ethics were used on a daily basis in every company, there would never be scandals.

Martha Stewart comes to mind when speaking of ethics. Again, there is a feeling of uneasiness when dealing with this topic. But, why is it like that? Ethics are supposed to improve our lives and invoke good feelings. Perhaps the reason ethics is such a sore subject is because they are so often poorly used, if used at all.

A NEW WAY

Ethics are making a comeback. To begin with, more and more corporations and businessmen and woman are now realizing that ethics aren’t checked at the door when entering the workplace. Ethics have every bit as much a place in the public as they do the private. How is it there should be separate sets of ethics, depending upon whether it is your personal life or your work life? The answer is that there shouldn’t be a separate set and in light of recent events that we see on our television sets as of late, more and more companies are realizing this fact.

Some companies are incorporating ethics into their training. It is s subject that can go hand-in-hand with business and when employees and CEO’s alike understand what ethics are about, business can improve. Not only will the community take note of the ethical nature of a business but also so will customers.

Periodic reevaluations are suggested in ethics training as well, since times change many things that some would never consider ethical or non-ethical. For instance, when the first computer hacker to send a work into a university computer system crippled the entire network that the system was a part of, including that of public utilities – simply because he could do it – a question of ethics is hard to pose. Computers were new, at the time. And, no one had ever been able to do such a thing before. With new times comes new technology and new ways of doing things. Ethics will still play a part of it all and refreshing ethics training only re-strengthens what has already been learned, when new ages come about.

In the end, it’s all about what a person understands about ethics. Many university curriculums are now heavily applying the teaching of Ethics and for good reason. Young minds will take this information into the workforce and understand that ethics need to be applied there as well as in the private sector. Corporations will be able to avoid embarrassing scandals that are presented all over national news. Small business will be able to keep and attract more clients and customers. Negotiations between businesses could be accomplished with more consideration for the other company in mind, which would only help both.

Above all, a high level of ethics in your business should be in place at least for the customers. If anything, it is the customer that should be considered the most when it comes to ethical business practices. In the long run, a company will reap great profits from a customer base that feels it is being treated fairly and truthfully.

Let's Be Aware Of Road Test Tips

Road test is a challenging task for the beginners. When you are preparing for the road test, you are likely to become very nervous about this. Even though you have the instructions to follow, some suggestions in this article will help you to gain more confidence and remove the anxiety and nervousness.

Bring the Certificates of Completion

By the time when you are ready for the road test you need to bring several things with you. Required documents like information on the motor vehicle and the location should always be with you all the time. Moreover, you need to present a certificate of completion.

Students may not have such documents so they need to present documents that show their practice time which must be at least 20 hours. Additionally, they need to bring their photo ID with them. If you are going for the road test, you should check with the examiner first.

Bring a Test Vehicle

When you take the vehicle with you for a road test, you need to make sure that the vehicle is working in a good condition, and it should be clean and registered, furthermore the safety features must work. There should be a licensed driver present with you during the road test. The driver should be at least 21 years old and has good experience on operating the vehicle.

In case of motorbikes, the examiner should be in another vehicle. Overall, the safety majors like the seat belts should be workable and must be clean. Drive must show their license and all the required documents to the examiner.

Don’t be Late

Being punctual is another way to judge your behavior which affects the result of a road test. You shouldn’t be late, and make sure you calculate the time required to reach the location based keeping busy traffic in mind. If you think you can not make it on time, inform the examiner and explain the reason clearly. Check the schedule and be there on the time.

Arriving at the Site

When you arrive at the site look around if there are any other vehicles around you. If you see other vehicle, you need to park at the end of the line. Do not forget to leave enough room for the vehicle to move. Paying attention to the examiner is important. When the examiner says to get on the driver’s seat, do it, otherwise, don’t do it. If you don’t understand something, ask your instructor.

Follow Instructions

Now when the test begins, try to be relaxed. If you are comfortable, you can do it confidently. Always listen to your examiner instruction. Do not argue with it. Put questions if you need clarification. Avoid getting upset if they are nitpicking. And this is how you can learn from your mistake and stay alert when driving.

Other Suggestions

You know that you need to drive the vehicle with full confident. Practice it early if you need it to gain the confidence. While driving on road test, maintain the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you.

Feel free to clarify the errors during the test. It is good to learn from your mistake. If you practice it more, you will drive with full confidence.

Ten Reasons to Implement Choice Theory in Your Organization

What is Choice Theory (CT)? CT is a theory of the explanation of human behavior. CT has applicability to both a person’s personal and professional life. It teaches us about our five basic needs, how to meet those needs in a responsible way, and how to take personal responsibility for getting those needs met.

I have assisted many company with implementing the concepts and principles of Choice Theory (CT) in the workplace over the years. Their reasons ranged from mere curiosity to desiring a total immersion of their company into the concepts and principles of CT. Those companies that were committed to learning the CT model and implementing it correctly received better than expected results.

One of the elements of implementing CT in the workplace is to put the three conditions of quality in place. Those three conditions are: