Age Discrimination in Employment Act Essay

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 prohibits employers from discriminating against employees, or job candidates, on the basis of age. This law covers workers who are 40 years of age and older. An employer must have at least 20 workers to be covered by this law. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act makes it unlawful for an employer to make employment-related decisions based on an employee’s or a prospective employee’s age. Here are several ways in which workers age 40 and above are covered: †¢An employer can’t make hiring decisions based on an applicant’s age and he or she can’t discriminate based on age when recruiting job candidates, advertising for a job or testing applicants. †¢An employer can’t fire a worker because of his age. †¢An employer can’t use age to classify, segregate or limit an employee if this will negatively affect the employee’s status or deprive him or her of opportunities. †¢An employer can’t use age to determine an employee’s pay. †¢An employer can’t deny benefits to an employee because of the employee’s age. In some circumstances, however, the employer may provide reduced benefits to older workers if the cost of providing those reduced benefits matches the cost of providing benefits to a younger worker. In other words, the cost of providing the benefits to older workers and younger workers must be the same. †¢An employee may take age into account when making an employment-related decision only if it is in regard to an authentic qualification necessary for the business’s operation. Age discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) less favorably because of his age. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) only forbids age discrimination against people who are age 40 or older. It does not protect workers under the age of 40, although some states do have laws that protect younger workers from age discrimination. It is not illegal for an employer or other covered entity to favor an older worker over a younger one, even if both workers are age 40 or older.Discrimination can occur when the victim and the person who inflicted the discrimination are both over 40. Age Discrimination & Work Situations The law forbids discrimination when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment. Age Discrimination & Harassment It is unlawful to harass a person because of his or her age. Harassment can include, for example, offensive remarks about a person’s age. Although the law doesn’t prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that aren’t very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted). The harasser can be the victim’s supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer. Age Discrimination & Employment Policies/Practices An employment policy or practice that applies to everyone, regardless of age, can be illegal if it has a negative impact on applicants or employees age 40 or older and is not based on a reasonable factor other than age (RFOA). The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from employment discrimination based on age. The ADEA’s protections apply to both employees and job applicants. Under the ADEA, it is unlawful to discriminate against a person because of his/her age with respect to any term, condition, or privilege of employment, including hiring, firing, promotion, layoff, compensation, benefits, job assignments, and training. The ADEA permits employers to favor older workers based on age even when doing so adversely affects a younger worker who is 40 or older. It is also unlawful to retaliate against an individual for opposing employment practices that discriminate based on age or for filing an age discrimination charge, testifying, or participating in any way in an investigation, proceeding, or litigation under the ADEA. The ADEA applies to employers with 20 or more employees, including state and local governments. It also applies to employment agencies and labor organizations, as well as to the federal government. ADEA protections include: †¢Apprenticeship Programs It is generally unlawful for apprenticeship programs, including joint labor-management apprenticeship programs, to discriminate on the basis of an individual’s age. Age limitations in apprenticeship programs are valid only if they fall within certain specific exceptions under the ADEA or if the EEOC grants a specific exemption. †¢Job Notices and Advertisements The ADEA generally makes it unlawful to include age preferences, limitations, or specifications in job notices or advertisements. A job notice or advertisement may specify an age limit only in the rare circumstances where age is shown to be a â€Å"bona fide occupational qualification† (BFOQ) reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the business. †¢Pre-Employment Inquiries The ADEA does not specifically prohibit an employer from asking an applicant’s age or date of birth. However, because such inquiries may deter older workers from applying for employment or may otherwise indicate possible intent to discriminate based on age, requests for age information will be closely scrutinized to make sure that the inquiry was made for a lawful purpose, rather than for a purpose prohibited by the ADEA. If the information is needed for a lawful purpose, it can be obtained after the employee is hired. †¢Benefits The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (OWBPA) amended the ADEA to specifically prohibit employers from denying benefits to older employees. Congress recognized that the cost of providing certain benefits to older workers is greater than the cost of providing those same benefits to younger workers, and that those greater costs might create a disincentive to hire older workers. Therefore, in limited circumstances, an employer may be permitted to reduce benefits based on age, as long as the cost of providing the reduced benefits to older workers is no less than the cost of providing benefits to younger workers. Employers are permitted to coordinate retiree health benefit plans with eligibility for Medicare or a comparable state-sponsored health benefit. †¢Waivers of ADEA Rights An employer may ask an employee to waive his/her rights or claims under the ADEA. Such waivers are common in settling ADEA discrimination claims or in connection with exit incentive or other employment termination programs. However, the ADEA, as amended by OWBPA, sets out specific minimum standards that must be met in order for a waiver to be considered knowing and voluntary and, therefore, valid. Among other requirements, a valid ADEA waiver must: obe in writing and be understandable; ospecifically refer to ADEA rights or claims; onot waive rights or claims that may arise in the future; obe in exchange for valuable consideration in addition to anything of value to which the individual already is entitled; oadvise the individual in writing to consult an attorney before signing the waiver; and oprovide the individual at least 21 days to consider the agreement and at least seven days to revoke the agreement after signing it. If an employer requests an ADEA waiver in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program, the minimum requirements for a valid waiver are more extensive. See Understanding Waivers of Discrimination Claims in Employee Severance Agreements† at http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda_severance-agreements.html

The Host Chapter 45: Succeeded

Healer Knits Fire and Cerulean walked through the door together. The Healer handed me a tall glass of water. It didn't feel as cold as the first-my fingers were cold with fear now. The dark-skinned woman had something for me, too. She handed me a flat rectangle with a handle. â€Å"I thought you would want to see,† Knits Fire said with a warm smile. The tension flooded out of me. There was no suspicion or fear. Just more kindness from the souls who had dedicated their lives to Healing. Cerulean had given me a mirror. I held it up and then tried to stifle my gasp. My face looked the way I remembered it from San Diego. The face I'd taken for granted there. The skin was smooth and peachy across my right cheekbone. If I looked carefully, it was just a little lighter and pinker in color than the tan on the other cheek. It was a face that belonged to Wanderer, the soul. It belonged here, in this civilized place where there was no violence and no horror. I realized why it was so easy to lie to these gentle creatures. Because it felt right to talk with them, because I understood their communication and their rules. The lies could be†¦ maybe should be true. I should be filling a Calling somewhere, whether teaching at a university or serving food in a restaurant. A peaceful, easy life contributing to a greater good. â€Å"What do you think?† the Healer asked. â€Å"I look perfect. Thank you.† â€Å"It was my pleasure to heal you.† I looked at myself again, seeing details beyond the perfection. My hair was ragged-dirty, with uneven ends. There was no gloss to it-homemade soap and poor nutrition were to blame for that. Though the Healer had cleaned the blood from my neck, it was still smudged with purple dust. â€Å"I think it's time I called the camping trip quits. I need to clean up,† I murmured. â€Å"Do you camp often?† â€Å"In all my free time, lately. I†¦ can't seem to keep away from the desert.† â€Å"You must be brave. I find the city much more comfortable.† â€Å"Not brave-just different.† In the mirror, my eyes were familiar rings of hazel. Dark gray on the outside, a circle of moss green, and then another circle of caramel brown around the pupil. Underlying it all, a faint shimmer of silver that would reflect the light, magnify it. Jamie? Mel asked urgently, beginning to feel nervous. I was too comfortable here. She could see the logic of the other path laid out before me, and that frightened her. I know who I am, I told her. I blinked, then looked back at the friendly faces beside me. â€Å"Thank you,† I said again to the Healer. â€Å"I suppose I'd better be on my way.† â€Å"It's very late. You could sleep here if you'd like.† â€Å"I'm not tired. I feel†¦ perfect.† The Healer grinned. â€Å"No Pain does that.† Cerulean walked me to the reception area. She put her hand on my shoulder as I stepped through the door. My heart beat faster. Had she noticed that my pack, once flat, was now bulging? â€Å"Be more careful, dear,† she said, and patted my arm. â€Å"I will. No more hikes in the dark.† She smiled and went back to her desk. I kept my pace even as I walked through the parking lot. I wanted to run. What if the Healer looked in her cabinets? How soon would she realize why they were half empty? The car was still there, in the pocket of darkness created by a gap between streetlights. It looked empty. My breath came fast and uneven. Of course it should look empty. That was the whole point. But my lungs didn't calm until I could glimpse the vague shape under the blanket on the backseat. I opened the door and put the backpack on the passenger seat-it settled there with a reassuring clatter-then I climbed in and shut the door. There was no reason to slam the locks down; I ignored the urge. â€Å"Are you okay?† Jared whispered as soon as the door was closed. His voice was a strained, anxious rasp. â€Å"Shh,† I said, keeping my lips as still as I could. â€Å"Wait.† I drove past the bright entrance and answered Cerulean's wave with one of my own. â€Å"Making friends?† We were on the dark road. No one was watching me anymore. I slumped in the seat. My hands started to shake. I could allow that, now that it was over. Now that I'd succeeded. â€Å"All souls are friends,† I told him, using my normal volume. â€Å"Are you all right?† he demanded again. â€Å"I'm healed.† â€Å"Let me see.† I stretched my left arm across my body, so he could see the tiny pink line. He sucked in a surprised breath. The blanket rustled; he sat up and then climbed through the space between the seats. He pushed the backpack out of the way, then pulled it onto his lap, testing its weight. He looked up at me as we passed under a streetlamp, and he gasped. â€Å"Your face!† â€Å"It's healed, too. Naturally.† He raised one hand, holding it in the air near my cheek, unsure. â€Å"Does it hurt?† â€Å"Of course not. It feels like nothing happened to it in the first place.† His fingers brushed the new skin. It tingled, but that was from his touch. Then he was back to business. â€Å"Did they suspect anything? Do you think they'll call the Seekers?† â€Å"No. I told you they wouldn't be suspicious. They didn't even check my eyes. I was hurt, so they healed me.† I shrugged. â€Å"What did you get?† he asked, opening the drawstrings on the backpack. â€Å"The right things for Jamie†¦ if we get back in time†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I glanced at the clock on the dashboard automatically, though the hours it marked were meaningless. â€Å"And more for the future. I only took what I understood.† â€Å"We'll be back in time,† he promised. He examined the white containers. â€Å"Smooth?† â€Å"Not a necessity. But I know what it does, so†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He nodded, digging through the bag. He muttered the names to himself. â€Å"No Pain? Does it work?† I laughed. â€Å"It's amazing. If you stab yourself, I could show you†¦ That's a joke.† â€Å"I know.† He was staring at me with an expression I didn't understand. His eyes were wide, like something had deeply surprised him. â€Å"What?† My joke hadn't been that bad. â€Å"You did it.† His tone was full of wonder. â€Å"Wasn't that the idea?† â€Å"Yes, but†¦ I guess I didn't really think we were going to make it out.† â€Å"You didn't? Then why†¦? Why did you let me try?† He answered in a soft almost-whisper. â€Å"I figured it was better to die trying than to live without the kid.† For a moment, my throat was choked with emotion. Mel was too overcome to speak as well. We were a family in that one instant. All of us. I cleared my throat. No need to feel things that would only come to nothing. â€Å"It was very easy. Probably any of you could get away with it, if you acted naturally. She did look at my neck.† I touched it reflexively. â€Å"Your scar is too obviously homemade, but with the medicines I took, Doc could fix that.† â€Å"I doubt any of us could act so natural.† I nodded. â€Å"Yes. It's easy for me. I know what they expect.† I laughed briefly to myself. â€Å"I'm one of them. If you trusted me, I could probably get you anything in the world you wanted.† I laughed again. It was just the stress fading, making me giddy. But it was funny to me. Did he realize that I would do exactly that for him? Anything in the world he wanted. â€Å"I do trust you,† he whispered. â€Å"With all our lives, I trust you.† And he had trusted me with every single human life. His, and Jamie's, and everyone else's. â€Å"Thank you,† I whispered back. â€Å"You did it,† he repeated in wonder. â€Å"We're going to save him.† Jamie is going to live, Mel rejoiced. Thank you, Wanda. Anything for them, I told her, and then I sighed, because it was so true. After reattaching the tarps when we reached the wash, Jared took over the driving. The way was familiar to him, and he drove faster than I would have. He had me get out before he pulled the car into its impossibly small hiding place under the rock slide. I waited for the sound of rock against metal, but Jared found a way in. And then we were back in the jeep and flying through the night. Jared laughed, triumphant, as we jolted across the open desert, and the wind carried his voice away. â€Å"Where's the blindfold?† I asked. â€Å"Why?† I looked at him. â€Å"Wanda, if you wanted to turn us in, you had your chance. No one can deny that you're one of us now.† I thought about that. â€Å"I think some still could. It would make them feel better.† â€Å"Your some need to get over themselves.† I was shaking my head now, picturing our reception. â€Å"It's not going to be easy, getting back in. Imagine what they're thinking right now. What they're waiting for†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He didn't answer. His eyes narrowed. â€Å"Jared†¦ if they†¦ if they don't listen†¦ if they don't wait†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I started talking faster, feeling a sudden pressure, trying to get him all the information before it was too late. â€Å"Give Jamie the No Pain first-lay that on his tongue. Then the Inside Clean spray-he just has to inhale it. You'll need Doc to -â€Å" â€Å"Hey, hey! You're going to be the one giving the directions.† â€Å"But let me tell you how -â€Å" â€Å"No, Wanda. It's not going to go down that way. I'll shoot anyone who touches you.† â€Å"Jared -â€Å" â€Å"Don't panic. I'll aim low, and then you can use that stuff to heal 'em back up again.† â€Å"If that's a joke, it's not funny.† â€Å"No joke, Wanda.† â€Å"Where's the blindfold?† He pressed his lips together. But I had my old shirt-Jeb's raggy hand-me-down. That would work almost as well. â€Å"This will make it a little bit easier for them to let us in,† I said as I folded it up into a thick band. â€Å"And that means getting to Jamie faster.† I tied it over my eyes. It was quiet for a time. The jeep bounced along the uneven terrain. I remembered nights like this when Melanie had been the passenger†¦ â€Å"I'm taking us right to the caves. There's a place the jeep will be fairly well hidden for a day or two. It will save us time.† I nodded. Time was the key now. â€Å"Almost there,† he said after a minute. He exhaled. â€Å"They're waiting.† I heard him fumbling beside me, heard a metal clank as he pulled the gun from the backseat. â€Å"Don't shoot anyone.† â€Å"No promises.† â€Å"Stop!† someone shouted. The sound carried in the empty desert air. The jeep slowed and then idled. â€Å"It's just us,† Jared said. â€Å"Yes, yes, look. See? I'm still me.† There was hesitation from the other side. â€Å"Look-I'm bringing the jeep in under cover, okay? We've got meds for Jamie, and we're in a hurry. I don't care what you're thinking, you're not going to get in my way tonight.† The jeep pulled forward. The sound changed and echoed as he found his cover. â€Å"Okay, Wanda, everything's fine. Let's go.† I already had the pack on my shoulders. I got out of the jeep carefully, not sure where the wall was. Jared caught my searching hands. â€Å"Up you go,† he said, and lifted me over his shoulder again. I wasn't as secure as before. He used only one arm to hold me. The other must have had the gun. I didn't like that. But I was worried enough to be grateful for it when I heard the running footsteps approaching. â€Å"Jared, you idiot!† Kyle shouted. â€Å"What were you thinking?† â€Å"Ease up, Kyle,† Jeb said. â€Å"Is she hurt?† Ian demanded. â€Å"Get out of my way,† Jared said, his voice calm. â€Å"I'm in a hurry. Wanda's in perfect shape, but she insisted on being blindfolded. How is Jamie?† â€Å"Hot,† Jeb said. â€Å"Wanda's got what we need.† He was moving fast now, sliding downhill. â€Å"I can carry her.† Ian, of course. â€Å"She's fine where she is.† â€Å"I'm really okay,† I told Ian, my voice bouncing with Jared's movement. Uphill again, a steady jog despite my weight. I could hear the others running with us. I knew when we were through to the main cavern-the angry hiss of voices swelled around us, turning into a clamor of sound. â€Å"Out of my way,† Jared roared over their voices. â€Å"Is Doc with Jamie?† I couldn't make out the answer. Jared could have put me down, but he was in too much of a hurry to pause for that second. The angry voices echoed behind us, the sound constricting as we entered the smaller tunnel. I could feel where we were now, follow the turns in my head as we raced through the junction to the third sleeping hall. I could almost count the doors as they passed me invisibly. Jared jerked to a halt and let the sudden stop slide me down from his shoulder. My feet hit the floor. He ripped the blindfold from my eyes. Our room was lit by several of the dim blue lanterns. Doc was standing rigidly, as if he'd just sprung to his feet. Kneeling beside him, her hand still holding a wet cloth to Jamie's forehead, was Sharon. Her face was almost unrecognizable, it was so contorted with fury. Maggie was struggling to her feet on Jamie's other side. Jamie still lay limp and red, eyes closed, his chest barely moving to pull in air. â€Å"You!† Sharon spit, and then she launched herself from her crouch. Like a cat, she sprang at Jared, nails reaching for his face. Jared caught her hands and twisted her away from him, pulling her arms behind her back. Maggie looked as if she was about to join her daughter, but Jeb stepped around the struggling Sharon and Jared to stand toe-to-toe with her. â€Å"Let her go!† Doc cried. Jared ignored him. â€Å"Wanda-heal him!† Doc moved to put himself between Jamie and me. â€Å"Doc,† I choked. The violence in the room, swirling around Jamie's still form, scared me. â€Å"I need your help. Please. For Jamie.† Doc didn't move, his eyes on Sharon and Jared. â€Å"C'mon, Doc,† Ian said. The little room was too crowded, claustrophobic, as Ian came to stand with his hand on my shoulder. â€Å"You gonna let the kid die for your pride?† â€Å"It's not pride. You don't know what these foreign substances will do to him!† â€Å"He can't get much worse, can he?† â€Å"Doc,† I said. â€Å"Look at my face.† Doc wasn't the only one who responded to my words. Jeb, Ian, and even Maggie looked and then did a double take. Maggie glanced away quickly, angry that she'd betrayed any interest. â€Å"How?† Doc demanded. â€Å"I'll show you. Please. Jamie doesn't need to suffer.† Doc hesitated, staring at my face, and then let out a big sigh. â€Å"Ian's right-he can't get much worse. If this kills him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He shrugged, and his shoulders slumped. He took a step back. â€Å"No,† Sharon cried. No one paid any attention to her. I knelt beside Jamie, yanking the backpack off my shoulders and tugging it open. I fumbled until I found the No Pain. A bright light switched on beside me, pointed at Jamie's face. â€Å"Water, Ian?† I twisted the lid open and pinched out one of the little tissue squares. When I pulled Jamie's chin down, his skin burned my hand. I laid the square on his tongue and then held out my hand without looking up. Ian placed the bowl of water in it. Carefully, I dripped enough water into his mouth to wash the medicine down his throat. The sound of his swallow was dry and painful. I searched frantically for the thinner spray bottle. When I found it, I had the lid off and the mist sprayed into the air above him in one fast movement. I waited, watching his chest until he inhaled. I touched his face, and it was so hot! I scrambled for the Cool, praying it would be easy to use. The lid screwed off, and I found that the cylinder was full of more tissue squares, light blue this time. I breathed a sigh of relief and placed one on Jamie's tongue. I picked up the bowl again and dribbled another mouthful of water through his parched lips. His swallow was quicker this time, less strained. Another hand touched Jamie's face. I recognized Doc's long bony fingers. â€Å"Doc, do you have a sharp knife?† â€Å"I have a scalpel. You want me to open the wound?† â€Å"Yes, so I can clean it.† â€Å"I thought about trying that†¦ to drain it, but the pain†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"He'll feel nothing now.† â€Å"Look at his face,† Ian leaned in beside me to whisper. Jamie's face was no longer red. It was a natural, healthy tan. The sweat still glistened on his brow, but I knew it was just left over from before. Doc and I touched his forehead at the same time. It's working. Yes! Exultation swept through both Mel and me. â€Å"Remarkable,† Doc breathed. â€Å"The fever has cooled, but the infection may remain in his leg. Help me with his wound, Doc.† † Sharon, could you hand me -† he began absentmindedly. Then he looked up. â€Å"Oh. Ah, Kyle, do you mind handing me that bag right there by your foot?† I scooted down so that I was over the red, swollen cut. Ian redirected the light so I could see it clearly. Doc and I both rustled through our bags at the same time. He came up with the silver scalpel, a sight that sent a quiver of unease down my spine. I ignored it and readied the bigger Clean spray. â€Å"He won't feel it?† Doc checked, hesitating. â€Å"Hey,† Jamie croaked. His eyes were open wide, roaming the room until they found my face. â€Å"Hey, Wanda. What's going on? What's everyone doing here?†

Globalization and the World Economy Essay

Globalization is a powerful real aspect on the new world system, and it represents one of the most influential forces in determining the future course of the planet. It is described as having â€Å"many dimensions: economic, political, social, cultural, environmental, and security† (Intriligator, 2001). Globalization in the 21st century is inevitable. Increased globalization and international businesses are growing because technology is expanding rapidly especially in communications and transportation. According to Daniels, Radebaugh, and Sullivan (2007) countries are beginning to remove many international restrictions facilitating trade and commerce. Numerous governments have developed services to help conduct international business more easily. Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about foreign goods and services and want them in their home country. Increased global competition has stimulated more companies to enter the international arena for selling goods and services. In most cases, improved political relationships among some of the major economic powers have made international trade more profitable. As the world shrinks because of the internet, improved communication and transportation more countries are cooperating on transnational issues related to business and commerce. Globalization has changed the scope and focus of business. The impact of globalization can be categorized generally in terms of distance, country, and culture. Our world is becoming increasingly interdependent because of globalization. Globalization did not just â€Å"happen†. It was driven and is being driven by a number of worldwide developments. Some of these developments have spanned many years, and some have occurred in a relatively short period of time. The first development was the end of the cold war. As stated by Brooks and Wohlforth (2000) the world changed in 1991 when the â€Å"Soviet Empire† collapsed. Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies helped to bring major political changes. With the removal of a threat of war, global interdependence could take hold. The second development is the world’s increasing population growth. This growth all but ensures a broad, expanding, worldwide market for goods and services, and an expanding workforce. The third development is the emergence of free markets on a worldwide basis. According to Ruggiero (1996), country after country is opening its borders to a freer flow of goods, services, technology, and capital. Many are forming regional trade blocks that facilitate investment and commerce in their local economies. The World Trade Organization (WTO), an international body that deals with the rule of trade between nations, is actively helping countries at all level of development with financial and trade agreement support. The fourth development has been the ongoing emergence of a worldwide technical and logistics framework. Daniels, Radebaugh, and Sullivan (2007) remark that tremendous strides in communications and transportation technology enable businesses to quickly know about and demand products and services developed in another part of the world. A worldwide telecommunications network is in place to facilitate global commerce, with millions of phones supported by satellites and fiber optic cables. An array of ships, planes, trucks and other logistical systems makes it possible to transport people and packages to almost any point in the world. The last development is the explosion of the internet on the world scene, which is playing a key role in aspects of global commerce. Kabuga (2000) argues that the arrival of the internet has speeded up globalization. This growth in internet usage on a worldwide basis has had a major effect on global business activities. The advent of the internet has allowed for rapid access to world markets. Knowing how to use the internet for globalization activities can be very beneficial for a company. In this dotcom economy, everything can be produced anywhere and sold anywhere. The internet has given many companies a new view on how to handle global business needs. Globalization is not just a â€Å"me too† trend. There are solid reasons why some businesses embrace the global path and others do not. Three solid business factors for globalization are expansion of sales, to acquire resources, and to minimize risk. Daniels, Radebaugh, and Sullivan (2007) claim that a company’s sales are dependent on two factors: the consumers’ interest in their products or services and the consumers’ willingness and ability to buy them. Higher sales mean higher profits, so increased sales are a major motive for company’s expansion into globalization. To acquire resources manufacturers and distributors seek out products, services, and components produced in foreign countries (Daniels, et al. , p18). Foreign sources may give companies lower costs, new or better products, and additional operating knowledge. To minimize swings in sales and profits, companies may seek out foreign markets to take advantage of business cycle differences among countries (Daniels, et al. , p18). International operations may reduce operating risk by smoothing sales and profits and preventing competitors from gaining advantages. When deciding how and where to conduct business globally, it’s important that companies have some knowledge of the target countries. According to Daniels, Radebaugh, and Sullivan (2007) political policies and legal practices, behavioral factors, economic forces, and geographical influences are key external forces that affect the way a company operates and the amount of adjustment it must make to its operations in a particular country. Knowing background information on the countries can help in two areas: communication and credibility. Knowing about the target country gives a common ground for talking with people from that country. This can open the door to effective communication. Knowing about the target country gives credibility when talking about the country to others, both within the organization and native to the foreign country. Another benefit of knowing about foreign operations is increased awareness of how to help an operation be successful. Without adequate knowledge, a company may not realize what it takes to succeed with a foreign operation or realize that an operation is in danger of failing. Globalization has sparked some of the most highly charged debates of the past decade, been the subject of countless books and cause of major demonstrations in Europe and North America (World Bank, 2000). Critics of globalization see it as a process by which power is taken from the poor and given to the rich and powerful, particularly to transnational corporations Aisbett (2004). Daniels, Radebaugh, and Sullivan (2007) have put these claims into three broad categories: threat to national sovereignty, growth, and growing income inequality. Globalization does not reduce national sovereignty. It does create a strong incentive for governments to pursue sound economic policies (International Monetary Fund, 2000). While globalization may confront government officials with more difficult choices, the result for their citizens is greater individual freedom. In this sense, globalization acts as a check on government power that makes it more difficult for governments to abuse the freedom and property of their citizens. Criticisms against globalization are really criticisms against economic growth. The assumption is that globalization brings more production or growth, which, in turn, brings both long-term and negative consequences (Daniels, et al. , p15). Growth and globalization have gone hand-in-hand; economic growth in the last fifty years has been faster than it was in earlier centuries. According to Krueger (2002), the impact of the faster growth on living standards has been phenomenal. We have observed the increased well-being of a larger percentage of the world’s population by a greater increment than ever before in history. Globalization offers greater opportunity for people to tap into more and larger markets around the world. In regards to growing income inequality people look at not only absolute achievement or improvement, but also at how well they do compared to other people, especially those in other countries. Thus, improvement in global well-being is of little solace to most people unless they, themselves, are doing better and at least keep up with others (Daniels, et al. , p15). Growing income inequality is said to be the Achilles Heel of globalization (Krueger, 2002). This characterization is misleading in several respects. There has been in the last century remarkable income growth, but it obvious that the progress has not been evenly dispersed. The gaps between rich and poor countries, and rich and poor people within countries, have grown. The richest quarter of the world’s population saw its per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increase nearly six-fold during the century, while the poorest quarter experienced less than a three-fold increase (International Monetary Fund, 2000). As stated by Krueger (2002) â€Å"poor people are desperate to improve their material conditions in absolute erms rather than to march up the income distribution†. The focus should be on impoverishment than on inequality. Many have argued that these claims have exploited people in developing countries, caused massive disruptions to their lives and produced few benefits in return (World Bank, 2000). According to Daniels, Radebaugh, and Sullivan (2007) anti-globalization forces have protested meetings of international organizations and conferences, both peacefully and violently in recent years, as they press for legislation and other means to stop or slow the globalization process. Organizations against globalization see it as a new form of imperialism or as a new stage of capitalism in the age of electronics. Globalization has involved greater openness in the international economy, an integration of markets on a worldwide basis, and a movement toward a borderless world. Supporters point to the significant reductions in poverty achieved by countries, which have embraced globalization with the world economy such as China, Vietnam, India, and Uganda. â€Å"Globalization has had a significant impact on all economies of the world, with manifold effects† (Intriligator, 2001). According to an article on Freetrade. org (2007) for the less developed countries, globalization offers access to foreign capital, global export markets, and advanced technology while breaking the monopoly of inefficient and protected domestic producers. Faster growth, in turn, promotes poverty reduction, democratization, and higher labor and environmental standards. Because it expands economic freedom and spurs competition, globalization raises the productivity and living standards of people in countries that open themselves to the global marketplace. This growth in cross-border economic activities takes various forms such as International Trade, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and Capital Market Flows. In international trade, a growing share of spending on goods and services is devoted to imports from other countries. A growing share of what countries produce is sold to foreigners as exports. As stated by Daniels, Radebaugh, and Sullivan (2007) to meet their international objectives companies’ strategies require them to trade and transfer means of production internationally. When countries have fewer restrictions on foreign trade, it gives them the opportunity to gain economies of scale by servicing markets in more than one country from a single base of production. This trading and transferring of goods and services is what links countries economically. Several impacts of globalization on national economies deserve particular mention. One is the growth of foreign direct investment at a rapid rate. Foreign direct investment is on the rise around the world. It is now a competitive requirement that businesses invest all over the globe to access markets, technology, and talent. Attracting foreign direct investment has become a key part of national development strategies for many countries. They see such investments as bolstering domestic capital, productivity, and employment, all of which are crucial to jump-starting economic growth. While many highlight FDI’s positive effects, others blame FDI for â€Å"crowding out† domestic investment and lowering certain regulatory standards. The effects of FDI can sometimes barely be perceived, while other times they can be transformative. While the FDI’s impact depends on many conditions, well-developed and implemented policies can help maximize gains (World Bank, 2000). Capital market flows over the course of the past decade, companies’ in many countries (especially in the developed world) have increasingly diversified their portfolios to include foreign financial assets (foreign bonds, equities, loans), while borrowers increasingly turn to foreign source of funds, along with domestic ones. While flows of this kind to developing countries rose sharply in the 1990s, they have been much more volatile than either trade or FDI flows, and they have been restricted to a narrower range of â€Å"emerging market† countries (World Bank, 2000). Globalization has many advantages; properly executed it integrates world trade and financial markets, promotes economic growth, and provides opportunities for better education and living standards. It has already been noted that globalization has both positive and negative effects. Whether one sees globalization as a positive or as a negative development, it must be understood that it has clearly changed the world system and that it poses both opportunities and challenges. It is additionally clear that the above economic, political, social, cultural, environmental, and security developments that have led to globalization are still very active. I believe these trends toward greater globalization will continue to expand in the future.

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Assignment Example Blending the scholarship between the insightful narratives, the story line of this book portrays an extraordinary woman who comes out boldly to challenge the unwritten codes and some barriers of the social hierarchy and goes ahead to dare seek some measure of personal independence in the male-dominated world. This book gives a summary and analysis of the record case that is found in the Florentine archives1. In this book, the class difference is not only revelatory basing on the way that the law handled people of different social classes, but it also bases on how social class was subject in handling matters of love. Just in the same way that class played a role in affecting romance in Renaissance Florence is also evident in Giovanni’s initial pursuit of Lusanna’ love. Giovanni falls in love with Lusanna despite the fact that her husband is still alive, and goes ahead to try and start a relationship with her. Despite the fact that Giovanni is rich and many girls are afte r him, he only loves Lusanna. In this case, the custom was to seek to marry just for the purpose of increasing social status or tying together the important families, but not marrying each other because of love. For this, social class is evident in comparison of Giovanni and Lusanna, but Giovanni argues that he wants to marry Lusenna not because of increasing social ties, but because he is deeply in love with her. Social class is not only the difference separating the love story between Giovanni and Lusanna, but there is also an aspect of gender. Lusanna is the rare exception among many women of her time, and thus making it not possible to categorize her as in any major roles that women adopted in this community. Women of her class would be typical â€Å"chaste wives and widows or cloistered nuns,† but not passionate and driven just as Lusanna was. All through this case Giovanni was determined to prove that their relationship was strong and had started way back before the dea th of Lusanna’s husband Andrea, and that her willingness to not only to participate in this relationship that was making her mush happier than her marriage seizes the initiative of classifying different from the set of other women in her era, in that she participates in the illicit relationship. Another aspect that existed between these different classes of lives is the double standard existing in relation to sex. According to the social norms of the community, adultery was forbidden in the Florence play. Both the secular and religious laws also forbid and even punished adultery, such as the same case that Lusanna portrayed while married to Andrea. There is also an aspect of influence in the justice system following the class difference. For instance, Lusanna was the one who filed a case against Giovanni for attempting to marry another woman while they are married. In this society, rich people had the capacity of bribing the justice system, something that would have made Giov anni walk free. Archbishop Antoninus was the only leader with the capacity of rejecting such bribes and influence from the rich class in this society, thus suiting him to preside over this case. However, the author states that the same judge would have known of Giovanni’s influence and financial power, leading him to uphold the complaint filed by Lusanna. The status difference that was separating Lusanna and Giovanni is

Response writing to a chart Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Response writing to a chart - Assignment Example chart, it is evident that female students have a negative attitude towards subjects that have been retrospectively male dominated; these are mathematics and sciences. Nonetheless, from the figure one can understand why Canada was declared the first country to have  a majority of women in the work force (Women economics, n.d). This is clearly because of the higher enrolment figures for women in schools resulting in their increased viability, in the skilled labor market. Despite the fact that, in Canada, the number of female students enrolled in universities is higher than that of male ones, the number of males taking sciences and Mathematics is greater (Parsons and McMullen, 2009). As such, women should be encouraged to take up sciences and Mathematics since they have already proven they can win in the battle for numbers, and the idea of men being better in Mathematics is just a stereotype. The same case should apply in sciences female students need to be made aware of the fact that there are no â€Å"masculine† subjects, and they can tackle physics just as well as men if they put their minds to the task. Women economics. Canada: Officially the First Country with Majority Female Workforce. Retrieved from

Regulatory Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Regulatory Issues - Essay Example A basic regulatory principle is that regulation should not be more restrictive than is necessary for public protection and regulation should not hamper the growth of the nursing profession. The focus of registered nurse regulation is public protection. This regulation assures the public that they are receiving safe and ethical care from competent, qualified registered nurses. It defines the practice and boundaries of the nursing profession, including the requirements and qualifications to practice. Boards fulfill their public protection mission by establishing, endorsing, and monitoring nursing education standards in programs leading to licensure and licensing qualified candidates who complete education programs and successfully pass a licensing examination that measures entry-level competency. Boards also monitor practice changes that impact scopes of practice and issue policy statements or support legislative passage of statutes or rules that support current practice needs and discipline or remove from practice those nurses who fail to meet standards. The public and agencies that educate, represent, or employ nurses are all considered customers of boards of nursing, and it is important that boards are responsive to their needs. Relationships that boards in turn rely on for reporting of violations to Nurse Practice Acts. Best practices related to discipline are vetted in guiding principles for nursing regulation: public protection, practitioner competence, ethical decision making, and due process based on our national standard that all who are accused have a right to a speedy hearing, shared accountability, strategic collaboration, evidence-based regulation, environment and marketplace responses in forming regulations, and ethical interactions within the global nursing arena. The public is best served when nurses are given the legislative mandate to regulate nursing in the

The short and long term financial strategy of a listed company of your Essay

The short and long term financial strategy of a listed company of your choice - Essay Example The impression gained by lenders and investors have a direct bearing on the movement of stock prices of a company and, as is commonly known, any downward movement of stock prices immediately generates negative sentiments in the market that have a direct adverse effect on the goodwill of the organization (Arnold 2005). No organization of repute can afford to accept a smear on its goodwill as that has a very great impact on its turnover and profitability. Moreover, a company that does not have goodwill in the market is very rarely is able to gather funds from the market when it is need of it and always has to struggle with high interest rates that it has to pay if it wishes to borrow from commercial banks or institutional lenders. Thus, this report is of vital importance to any corporate entity as it can make or mar its future. To prevent any manipulation of figures, authorities all over the world have made it mandatory that such accounts must be vetted and audited by statutory auditor s and submitted to registrar of companies in prescribed formats (Pike and Neale 2009). This assignment examines in detail Annual Report of Accenture and draws important and vital conclusions about the company. Accenture – background details of the company (Oliveira 2008) Accenture is a global management consulting company that has firmly established itself in the Fortune 500 list of companies. It was in 394th position in 2007 and has steadily gained since then in stature and prominence in the global competitive arena as it became a force to reckon with in the field of technology and outsourcing services. This company has a rather checkered past as in its earlier incarnation, Anderson Consulting, it got inextricably smeared in black as the Enron scandal unfolded with all its murkiness and deceit. So before the company went for initial public offering in 2001 it had changed its name to Accenture to get rid of an unenviable past association. This company is an acclaimed global s ervice provider having a highly decentralized organization structure and services clients of international repute and global footprint in areas of increasing productivity, turnover or returns on capital employed. In order to serve a worldwide client base the company had no other option but to decentralize its operations and that is evident when one comes to know that it operates from more than 150 locations in about 50 countries. The company, like most other service providers, values its human resources as its most productive asset and goes to great lengths to maintain it properly. With more and more companies investing heavily in Information Technology to cut costs and increase productivity, one of the core businesses of Accenture has become IT consulting. This is a highly competitive market and the only way to survive and stay ahead of competition is to continuously innovate and provide cutting edge solution to clients especially with competitors as Cap Gemini SA and Atos Origin h eavily breathing down Accenture’s neck. Accenture has also built corporate alliances with other leaders as SAP and Oracle and also formed a joint