Essay --

St. Augustine considers his mother as a crucial factor in his conversion to Catholicism. However through the analysis of his Confessions it leads me to believe that St. Augustine’s mother was not a decisive figure. Monica was in the background keeping him in thought and prayer however Augustine’s watershed moments came as a result of his own examination of readings as well as his conversations with his friends and mentors. Therefore I argue that Monica had delayed Augustine’s baptism and it was his own experiences that allowed him to come to God. Baptizing a baby at birth was this was a common practice during the time when Augustine was born. And Monica had decided to keep Augustine from being baptized. Monica’s reasoning is really just an unnecessary precaution. Whether or not your sins are wiped away now or later as long as you go to confession you are forgiven of your sins regardless. More importantly this precaution keeps Augustine from strengthening his relationship with God early on because it had kept him from truly being responsible for his actions and had stunted his involvement in the Church. In the first chapter alone he states â€Å"I was already a believer, as were my mother and all the household, with the exception of my father.†1 He was already a steady believer in God and was ready to be baptized however he was kept from it and was influenced by the other people as they said â€Å"Let him be, let him do as he likes, he is not baptized yet.† Without the proper reinforcement and teaching he progressively strayed away from his beliefs and eventually lost himself in sin. This leads to one the most important incidents in Augustine’s childhood. Augustine spends more time lamenting on the time he had stolen the pears than he does ... ...e so it may be fabrication or mayhap truly be Godly intervention Augustine had opened up to a passage that had told him to discard his lust for flesh and put on Jesus Christ. This was the last sign that he needed and Augustine converts immediately. Throughout Augustine’s Confession he describes his journey of coming to Christ. He is constantly thanking his mother and giving much credit to her. Many of his developments are not due to any of Monica’s doing. He had always kept her in his thoughts and that is probably why he feels that she was influential. However he was most influenced by his friends, preachers, and even perhaps divine intervention. Without these revelations he could possibly have strayed away from Christianity or even religion completely. Therefore I conclude that although subtly influential, Monica was not an integral part of Augustine’s conversion.

Music - Bonos Path Towards Spiritual Enlightenment Essay -- Explorato

Bono's Path Towards Spiritual Enlightenment While most celebrities keep their religious beliefs private, the music of the Irish rock group U2, with lyrics written by lead singer Bono, contains many religious references and ideas. A closer analysis of the song lyrics shows an evolution of the religious ideas contained within. The changing and development of these ideas corresponds to many psychological and sociological theories of faith evolution, including those of Alfred Adler and James Fowler. Adlerian theory posits that "Our ideas about God are important indicators of how we view the world. According to Adler these ideas have changed over time, as our vision of the world—and our place in it—has changed" (Nielson). There are two kinds of changes that may occur: those that advance the faith, and those that incite doubt or stagnation, as reported by Paul Fritz. Fritz, a minister, incorporated the ideas of sociologist Jean Merton into his theory of faith evolution. Fowler, in Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Hum an Development and the Quest for Meaning, states that faith evolves as individuals move through life, changing at each stage the way they make sense of existence. Commenting on Fowler's theory, John Testerman writes, "The stages of faith can be thought of as the different lenses through which we view the world as we journey through life." A careful study of Bono's lyrics can show what kind of "spiritual glasses" he wears at that stage of his life, and how his outlook on the world shapes the portrayal of his beliefs. While the evolution of faith and spiritual beliefs may be divided into stages, a person may be in between stages at any time, exhibiting the characteristics of more than one stage. In Fritz's model, a b... ... Cambridge Bible. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997. Fowler, James W. Stages of Faith: the Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning. Harper: San Francisco, 1995. Fritz, Paul. Home page. 10 Mar, 2002. "8 Stages of Faith." . Nielsen, Michael. Home page. 3 Nov. 2003. Psychology of Religion Pages. . "The Stages of Faith." The Journal of Religion and Society. Home page. 1 Nov. 2002. . 2 Nov. 2002. Testerman, John. Home page. Mar. 1995. The Stages of Faith. . U2. Achtung, Baby. Island, 1991. U2. All That You Can't Leave Behind. Island, 2000. U2. The Joshua Tree. Island, 1987. U2. October. Island, 1982. U2. POP. Island, 1997. U2. War. Island, 1980.

Policing Functions Paper

Individual Policing Functions Paper The police departments have come a long way from the way they were many years ago. The police have changed for the better but there is still room for improvement. In policing today there are a lot more officers, detectives, and other law enforcement officials accounted for then there was in the past years. When we have all of these people in the criminal system, it has made the government to be able to provide better protection for the people in the communities. Policing in the past and in the present there are many different outlooks of how the policing functions..These functions stem from different levels of law enforcement which includes the local, state, and federal organizational levels. These are very important parts of the criminal justice system, because every individual within these levels must be sure to protect citizens, enforce law, and perform the duties that are required of them in order to keep the United States safe from criminals a nd terrorist attacks from other foreign countries that might try to attack the United States. As years have passed on within policing, there are many possible future changes that will have an effect in the field of policing.Within each level of policing there are many different roles in which every individual in the policing field must take part in if they are going to be on the law enforcement team. I say this because this is a very serious 24/7 operation and the duties are never ending for each of the levels. The local law enforcement agencies were put in place to do routine patrol within the communities that are within their jurisdiction. Local police officers are also able to assist with emergency services, upholding traffic enforcement, and conduct criminal investigations.These local police officers overall role is to ensure that all citizens are safe within their communities. To ensure residents in their community, officers will ensure that they are safe by communication. Back in time officers were not to friendly with the residents they came in contact with, but that has also changed because law enforcement need residential help. Officers that work within the state level also have different functions that they must fulfill while working under the state level. State police will sometimes work with the local police officers, if need be.The state officer’s main function within the criminal justice system is ensuring that the main state highways and any rural areas within the particular state are safe. State officers are also in charge of inspecting suspicious vehicles. Under the federal government there are different agencies that have different functions. There are three popular organizations that are within the federal government in which they are Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), The United States Marshal Service, and the United States Border Patrol, in which all three organizations have different functions that must be completed correctly. The functions of the FBI are responsible for major criminal investigation such as major drug organization, and any other high profile crimes. The United States Marshal Service function is to apprehend suspects that may be on the run because of their high profile case. The Us Marshal must also transport criminals/prisoners from state to state if needed. In addition the United States Border Patrol function is to ensure that even individual that enters or exist the United States have the proper documents in order to re-gain entrance into the United States.The Border Patrol also will have the right to check for any illegal good or drugs that individuals might try to smuggle into the United States. All there organizations work hand in hand in order to protect the citizens of the county and the county as a whole. All three level of the criminal justice system have many different functions within each level organizations, but they all serve for the same purpose in which is to protect citiz ens from illegal acts, and to ensure that the United States is free from different attacks.The levels of the criminal justice system have faced many changes in the past and still more changes to come for the near future. Since the attacks on the United States occurred on September 11, 2001 it damaged the United States in the worse way. There were changes that occurred after this attack, in which affect every level in the criminal justice system. At first the levels of the criminal system were out looking for individuals that commit misdemeanors and felonies, now the main function and role of the local, state, and federal levels is to ensure that the United States is protected from terrorism.In the near future there will be more effective technology, such as upgraded computer system, radar system, and different technology features that can help pinpoint and suspect. Lastly, all three levels in the near future may become one whole. I say this because in the near future every helping h and and every set of eyes is what the government is going to need. Reasons behind this are; as the world continues to change the crimes in the near future may be worse in what it has been in the past, and how it is at this current moment.These changes may have affected each level of law enforcement but the positive outcome of the change for all levels is that all local, state, and federal agencies now have the ability to share and use information with each other. This is a great choice because all levels will always be on the same page, and will all be alerted if something arises in the United States. All missions, functions, and roles within all levels still remain the same. The local, state, and federal level must learn how to maintain the crime level at the same time while protecting the country from for highly dangerous terrorist attacks.Thus the criminal justice system and the levels local, state, and federal level are always going to face different situations and will always e ncounter changes within the system. At all time the local, state, and federal level must still maintain all functions that are required from them. As stated in this paper it has examined the various perspectives of the policing function from the local, state, and federal organizational level. In this paper it has addressed the possible future changes in laws and the overall impact that these levels must face in the field of policing.

The Big Sleep: Analytically Breakdown

The Big Sleep: Analytical breakdown The big sleep represents our class’s first exploration into what is known as â€Å"Hardboiled† fiction. The advent of Hardboiled literature means an escape from classic detective novels where all we find are ingenious investigators and mind numbing puzzles designed to impress and surprise us. In such novels, the protagonist is often observed from a third person point of view; where insight into the (genius) mind of the protagonist isn’t revealed till the end of the novel.Instead, hardboiled literature takes us on a more realistic route; solving crimes in first person with brute force investigators, rather than â€Å"Sherlock Holmes† like characters. Detective Philip Marlowe of The Big Sleep is an example of such a character. Clever, but no Sherlock Holmes; Marlowe takes on cases with good old fashion leg work and tenacity. Such is the way things are done in the real world, where all Hardboiled novels take place. The Big Sleep is no exception. A common theme often portrayed in Hardboiled novels is that of corruption.This corruption is often seen through the eyes of the protagonist, who is usually cynical and jaded because of which. The real world in The Big Sleep is a post WW1 Los Angeles, right around the time of the great depression. The effects of this time in history are clearly illustrated in many of characters represented in The Big Sleep. Here we have a world of money hungry people, who will do anything to escape such realities. This is how corruption starts. Everyone is dirty; politicians’ takes bribes, police can be bought and newspapers lie.People no longer have faith in promising futures, so they do what they have do to survive. In this sort of world, characters like Philip Marlowe are rare. At 25$ a day, Marlowe works for cheap, proving that he is above the common desire of wealth. Marlowe is depicted as man full of integrity and honor, and works simply because he feels it’ s the right thing to do. However, such a job requires him to delve into the all too real word, and so corruption is no stranger to him. Because of this, Marlowe is often jaded towards those he meets, and tends to expect the worst of people.However, this doesn’t stop him from doing what he feels is right, even if he feels that those he helps don’t deserve it. The plot of The Big Sleep revolves around a family that has become rich due an advantageous connection with oil. Marlowe is hired by General Sternwood, a bed ridden oil baron, who although is not free from corruption, has some honest qualities. The general tasks Marlowe with the task of discovering the whereabouts of Terrance Reagan, husband of the Generals daughter, Vivian Reagan. Here is where we find another common theme in Hardboiled novels, that is, the depiction of the rich.While most of America at the time is suffering due to the depression, some, such as the Sternwoods, are doing very well. However, we come to find that they too are suffering. Not physically, of course, but psychologically. It is not uncommon for Hardboiled novels to depict the rich as spoiled and often morally absent. Carmen Sternwood, for example, has grown up having everything she could possibly want, yet this leads her to becoming prone to drinking, drugs, and sexual behavior. Since their money was not earned, the Generals Daughters do not have the same respect for money as their father who earned does.Hence, they are prone to wasting their money on trivial pursuits and negative outlets. Instant gratification is their main concern. The juxtaposition of the rich is best displayed with the imagery of the old and dirty abandoned oil pumps that made the General rich in the first place. Although the exterior display of the rich is that of cleanliness (clean house, cars, clothes, etc†¦), their truer and deeper nature is closer to that of the oil fields, dirty and desolate. It is ironic that the General, owner of th e money and the closest in the family to any form of morality, is bed ridden an unable to utilize his fortune.Again, emphasizing the unworthiness of the rich. Despite the unworthiness of the rich, Detective Marlowe still agrees to help them. Although they may be unworthy of recusing, Marlowe still feels the need to rescue them, and in that way Marlowe is somewhat of a â€Å"Shinning Knight† archetype. This is hinted towards the beginning of the novel when Marlowe stares in the stain glass window which shows a knight rescuing a lady. In a way, Marlowe is tasked with saving them from the external corruption (The blackmail of Eddie Mars) of the world and the internal corruption the daughters grew up with.Marlowe maintains his knight hood by always taking the high road, and refusing to give into the seductive and nymphomanic behavior of Carman, who is constantly throwing herself at him. Detective Marlowe is very successful because of his â€Å"Knights Code†, and will even continue towards the truth even when he is not being paid. Marlowe’s tenacity for the truth takes him deeper and deeper into the dirty underworld of Los Angeles where he finds all different sorts of scum. Here we find two types of Criminal, the petty and the big time. The petty criminal is Joe Brody. Joe represents a causality of society.He isn’t one to go around killing people, in fact if things were better in the world he might have made an honest man of himself. Brody is no crime lord; he can barely feed himself; as he puts it â€Å"I’ve been shaking  two nickels  together for a month, trying to get  them  to  mate. † Eddie Mars, however, is a different man entirely. Eddie is at the top, the summation of corruption, and the direct opposite of everything that Marlow represents. As Marlowe puts it, â€Å"You think he's just a gambler. I think he's a pornographer, a blackmailer, a hot car broker, a killer by remote control, and a suborner of cr ooked cops.He's whatever looks good to him†¦he never killed anybody, he just hires it done. † A character like Joe Brody represents what happens to good people under bad influences, whereas Eddie represents the bad influence itself. One way Hardboiled novels communicate to the reader is through use of the weather and setting. In movies, it is often the music that adds dramatic flair, but in books, authors must rely on visual imagery. In The Big Sleep, for example, thunder and rain is mentioned before many of the major plot happenings.The darkness of rainclouds and cold of rain is symbolic of what Marlowe is going though as he treads through the underworld of LA, search for the truth. If you really pay attention, you might notice that pleasant weather is also used for the plot, a symbol that worst of things are over or at least getting better. Although the Major themes of this book are that of corruption and cynicism, there are also good vs. evil themes. A way of saying th at no matter how bad things are there is always hope in the form of characters like Philip Marlowe.There are people out there are willing to do what is right despite the consequences these action might inflict upon themselves. We call these types of people heroes, and I believe it is important for people like Raymond Chandler to write about characters like Detective Marlowe, especially considering the era that he wrote it in. When the world around you is dark, depressive, and inhospitable, it is important to have something or someone to idolize. Characters like Philip Marlowe help support the idea that you can still succeed with an honest heart.

A New Beginning †Employment Relationships Essay

All relationships require a beginning. Employment relationships can be as challenging and rewarding as personal relationships. It is therefore important to ensure that your recruitment process analyses all elements that may affect future relationships and its adherence to employment law legislation. It is assumed that both parties enter this contract at any stage verbally, written or implied voluntarily. Employment law legislation helps employers meet the minimum standards required for a healthy relationship. Internal factors As a prospective/ new employee it is important to understand the Company Strategy. A transparent strategy allows you to promote your business as it enables new employees to see the direction the company is working towards and the potential growth and job security that this offers. It also gives potential candidates an indication of development programmes that are offered and therefore what career opportunities are available. The feeling of belonging is an important emotion of increasing loyalty. Hierarchical Structures give an insight of potential movement within a Company regardless of size. If your desire is to move your way up the company ladder, you need to know there are going to be roles available. External factors A review of your Companies Demographics will help you understand where your employees come from and then what type of workforce is available to you. From this you will understand any challenges that you will face when recruiting and what plans you will need to put in place to recruit the right person to the right job. Market Influences: An evaluation of what is happening within your area with similar business may assist you with tracking your business growth and potential issues. Do you have any new  competitors on the horizon that may attract your employees which could leave with a labour force issue? Equally a business that is struggling may go into receivership and then give you a situation where you have the opportunity to recruit some key and highly trained employees. Importance of determining Employment statuses The differences – 3 Examples Type of Employment Status Worker A contract of employment in place either written or verbal Payment is received for work. It would be agreed on what interval at the point of agreeing the contract Work has to be completed, by the agreed worker, however they would be able to provide an alternative worker if agreed in advance. There is a set period of time that the work is expected to last. Often if works overrun then penalty clauses are built in as part of agreed contract. Employee Employed under an employment contract The contract details: Rights, responsibilities and duties. Regular payments on agreed Company terms i.e. 4 weekly, Monthly. Guaranteed minimum wage protection Statutory paid holiday entitlement Working time directive on rest periods and number of hours worked per week Protection from discrimination Self Employed Is an individual who takes sole responsibility for whether their business is a success or fails They are responsible for paying on tax and NI contributions and receiving wages They do not receive paid holiday leave or sickness benefits They have no employment rights They can be both employed and self employed at the same time. Why? To ensure they know their employment rights if they are entitled to them. Such as maternity/paternity leave, sick leave, holiday leave entitlements. Ensure correct payment of tax and National Insurance. If unchecked and incorrectly paid then the employer is liable for mispayment of tax and it would be expected that the employer resolves this. Causing unnecessary expense and reduced levels of trust. Ensure that the individual is fully aware of what type of benefits they would be entitled too. During – Employment Relationship Importance of a Work Life Balance This is about how an individual combines work with the other areas of their lives, such as children, family, friends and hobbies. There is no definitive answer or formula, and this will range greatly for each individual. It may also change on a daily basis depending on impacts outside work. Just as impacts inside work can affect an individual’s home life. Is there an answer? No – not just one. As each person is individual so a flexible number of options available will suit a diverse workforce. The Working Time Directive covers Rest periods, Night working, Working hours and Holidays. Rest Periods: Workers are entitled to a rest period of 11 hours in a 24 hour period, and must receive one weekly rest period of 24 hours in a 7 day period. Shifts of 6 hours or more also entitle workers to a 20 min rest break. It is worth making note that there are different rules applied for young works and night workers. And therefore legislation will need to be adhered to if employment is undertaken in these areas. Night Work: A night workers hours should be based on the principle of an average 8 hours within 24 hours over a 17 week rolling period. For businesses that use an electronic tracking of hours for example Tesco, whereby an employee clocks in and out. A review of the night teams working hours over a 17 week period would be accurate. Manual processes would be more difficult to maintain and  analyse, but it is imperative that a secure process is built in order to manage this. Working Hours: It is an employer’s responsibility to ensure that an employee or contract worker do not work more than an average of 48 hours per week over a 17 week period, unless the employee or contract worker has made the decision to opt out of the Working Time Directive. As mentioned before it is an employer’s responsibility to ensure that adequate records are kept to show adherence to this legislation. Some roles can be excluded from this measure and those are roles that are unmeasured such as executives or family workers i.e. nannies/au pairs. Holidays: Workers are entitled to a minimum of 28 days or 5.6 weeks paid annual leave per year. This entitlement must also be applied pro rata, and is not able to be rolled over into a new holiday year. Workers continue to accrue their holiday entitlement whilst on maternity leave or long term sick and this will need to be taken before the end of the holiday year. Family/Parent – related legal support There are a number of pieces of legislation that support families and parents. These include the following: Maternity Leave: There is a great amount of information relating to maternity leave, and a wealth of sites and government documentation that will assist employers on how to best support members of their workforce who are pregnant. Employees are entitled to the following- Time off for antenatal care – an employer can ask for proof of appointments. A maximum of 52 weeks maternity leave. This is made up of 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave (OML) and 26 weeks additional maternity leave (AML) AML is dependent on length of service and length of leave should be discussed at regular meetings with the employee. Maternity leave can commence any time after the 11th week before her expected week of childbirth (EWC) I find it useful to use the Government website that allows employers to enter key dates supplied to guide you when the key weeks are.  (https://www.gov.uk/employers-maternity-pay-leave/entitlement) A mother is legally unable to return until two weeks after the birth of her baby. After OML a woman is entitled to return to the same job she held prior to leave with all the rights and benefits she had including any annual pay raises. After returning from AML she may only come back to the same job if reasonably practical, otherwise an alternative must be offered. Maternity pay is paid for the first 6 weeks at 90% of average earnings and then 33 weeks at  £138.18(April 2014) It is worth noting that the average weekly earnings can be increased by increasing wages in the 8 weeks leading up to the 15th week before the EWC. A woman is also now able to transfer some of her maternity leave – Please see notes on Paternity leave for further details. Throughout the duration of her pregnancy a woman must not be financially worse off, and a full understanding of the Equality and Diversity act will assist you from making any decisions which would treat a woman unfairly. Paternity: Ordinary Paternity leave allows a man to take two weeks leave. This has to be taken within 56 days of the birth. If only one week is used the second week will be lost. This period of leave cannot be extended for multiple births. Paternity pay is paid at  £138.18 (April 14) or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. Additional paternity leave APL can be taken once a mother returns from Maternity leave and take up to 26 weeks leave. An employee is entitled to return to the same job they held before and any pay increases, benefits whilst they have been off. Adoption Leave: Employees will need to have 26 weeks length of service ending in the week that they are due to go on adoptive leave. A thorough recruitment process will ensure that a newly employed member of staff will have advised you of an ongoing application. They are then entitled to take up to 52 weeks leave. Within this period they may be entitled to 39 weeks statutory adoption pay. In turn a partner may also be entitled to paternity leave or additional paternity leave. Proof from an adoption agency must be provided and leave will commence from the date the child comes home to the family. Adoptive leave pay is paid at  £138.18 as with other statutory pay. (Ref: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1828) Dependents Leave: An employee is entitled to have time off to deal with a ‘family emergency’, or someone that they look after. There is no set list of what a dependant could be this something that would be discussed at a return to work. However a list within your Companies staff handbook or intranet would be a useful resource. Persons covered (this list is not exhaustive): Spouse Child Partner Grandchild Grand parent Someone that depends on you for their care. This leave covers emergencies and not for events that you have notification of, such as cover for school holidays. There is no set limit for how much time an employee can take, however an emergency is not an ongoing event and alternative policies, such as holiday, sickness or unpaid leave may need to be arranged if the situation is not easily resolved. In these situations an employer does not have to pay the employee for time off, however a fair approach should be adopted and again transparency through guidelines within staff handbooks and company intranet is advisable. A supportive and easy to access policy will underpin your Company ethos and values, and send out positive message to would be employees. Why should employees be treated fairly in relation to pay? To pay employees who: Complete similar work Through job evaluation is deemed to be of an equivalent level Produce the same amount of skill, decision making/own initiative and effort, Whilst this may morally be wrong, and be in breach of the Equality Act 2010. Allowing your business act in this manor without safe guards and checks to prevent this will allow you to be liable if found guilty. Firstly, financially this could be devastating. One claim may lead to another, and publication of findings and court cases will be damaging to your Companies reputation. This  in turn will lead to probable issues in recruiting new personnel and increasing/continuing current business. Secondly issues may arise through misguided reactions to other individual cases, which is why a periodic review of payroll is important. Any amendments in salary for an individual or team should be sense checked with a member of the HR function or with your employment law specialist. The Equality Act 2010 has been put in place to assist ‘employed’ individuals or persons classed as ‘workers’ to work in a safe and fair environment. Some parts of the legislation protect certain characteristics that would be vulnerable in the work place. Protected Characteristics Sex Race Gender reassignment Disability Sexual Orientation Marriage/Civil Partnership Pregnancy Age Religious beliefs (Ref: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4614) These protected characteristics would prevent an individual from being treated less favourably than another person would be. Direct Discrimination i.e. Turning an employee down for promotion because they were undergoing Gender reassignment. Indirect Discrimination occurs when a policy or procedure treats someone without a protected characteristic less favourably. I.e. advertising and recruiting for a Handyman, when a woman could do the job also. Harassment Occurs when a person/s treat you in a manner that makes you feel threatened, humiliated or distressed. This can be over a sustained period of time or sporadic/individual events. This is based and measured solely on the individual in receipt of the unwanted behaviour and should be investigated fully, following company guidelines. Employees should receive dignity at work training and understand your company values to prevent any behaviours being judged as the norm’ Victimisation ‘Picking on someone’ for any reason, including protected characteristics, can also come under harassment. It may be because of where they live or what colour hair they have or how large they are. It can be sustained over a period of time or on an individual occurrence such as being blamed for an error. The way this makes a person feel is equally as damaging as forms of harassment, therefore a quick and prompt resolve is important. What is a psychological contract? This an element of an employee’s contract of employment which may not actually be documented, but is what is ‘implied’ to an individual either at interview or from ways of working within your organisation. I.e. Contracted hours state 9-5 but it is expected that to finish the job, you stay until it is done. To go on time will be frowned upon. Or working Sundays is not in your contract, but you would be putting your team under pressure by not taking your turn. These are the things that actually happen on the ground. Clear statements of terms and conditions with updated and relevant staff handbook allow staff to see all the policies. Good training of managers and team leaders will demonstrate the company values. Challenging any decisions and what the snow ball effect would be is also a key way to see how policies will be interpreted. The end of an employee relationship There are three main ways an employment relationship can come to an end: Dismissal Choice Redundancy When looking at dismissing someone both the reason and the process must be fair. Dismissal is deemed fair when under the following headings: Capability – ill health or performance Conduct / Misconduct – a different process for gross misconduct Redundancy – less staff required Legality – breach of right to work Any other substantial reason – Resignation/Retirement/Death/TUPE or End of fixed term contract. As long as your process is solid and well documented. This process becomes unfair when the way in which it is handled is deemed unfair or poorly executed. If one of the 9 protected characteristics is proven to have been a contributing factor. Importance of Exit Interviews It is recommended that a member of the HR function conducts any interview with a member of staff that is leaving. The function of that representative should be at least an equal of the person being interviewed. Employee: It gives them an opportunity to discuss the real reasons for leaving. It will help you understand if there is something that can be changed. However it is worth noting that by this stage it is very difficult to change someone’s mind; however they will feel that they have a voice. Employer: Helps you to understand any key management weakness’s that you may have or issues with bullying. It will be like a puzzle, building up a picture if you have a high level of turnover from one specific area. You will be able to build a training programme and invest time through mentoring when establishing the facts. It will also allow you to prevent where possible any constructive dismissal claims. Redundancy When looking at starting redundancy an organization should first ensure that it looks at the reasons why? Is it going to benefit the business as negativity at starting a process such as this will create a high amount of negativity? Review your company’s formal policy and procedure on redundancy. Also have you a formal agreement a trade union or employee representatives? A clear plan should be evident and look at the following areas: Planning Keep your plan up to date and flexible Identify the Pool for Selection Area of the business that needs to be reduced Are the alternatives e.g. – reduction in working week / pay Consult employees Timely notification Treat people like human beings Transparent communication Criteria for Selection Length of Service Attendance records Disciplinary records Performance records Work experience Skill and qualification Competencies At the beginning of the process the business should establish how these criteria will be weighted. Documented scoring programme Appeals and Dismissals A clear process should be place to assist the appeals/dismissal process Right to be accompanied at meetings Continue with meetings if it is felt that there are more questions to be answered. Suitable alternative employment Can you replace somewhere else within organization or sister company Alternative job within same area using job matching skills Redundancy payment To receive must have worked for the company for two or more years Based on age, weekly pay and length of service Counseling and Support Assist with building a new CV Training on interview skills Use contacts within the business to identify job opportunities (Ref:http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/factsheets/redundancy.aspx#link_2) The Impact on those left behind can be substantial. There is something called ‘Survivors syndrome’ where they do not feel lucky to still have a job, but guilty for those that have gone. It creates unease and lack of job security with may incur unseen increases in key skills labour turnover. It is important to keep all employees communicated too with relevant and update information on the company’s prospects. Continue to talk to them, offer reassurance where needed to continue to support morale issues. This will help those that are left feel valued and more secure. Bibliography CollinsonGrant – Employment Law for managers -5th Edition June 2014. Martin,Whiting &Jackson – Human Resources Practice – 5th Edition.

Hyundai Motor Company

Background of the Organization Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is the world’s fifth largest automobile company. It is the South Korea based global manufacturer of automobiles, and operates as a unit of Hyundai Motor Group.The company along with its subsidiaries and affiliates is involved in the design, development and manufacturing of passenger cars under the brand names of Equus, Genesis, Genesis Coupe, Azera, Sonata, Elantra, Accent, Getz, i30, i30cw, i20, i10 and recreational vehicles under the brand names of Veracruz/ix55, Santa Fe, Tucson/ix35, ix20, and H-1 and commercial vehicles which include medium and heavy duty automobiles and relevant parts. The company maintains a global production system consisting of manufacturing plants and operational facilities in Korea, the US, China, India, Turkey, Czech Republic, Russia, and Brazil.It maintains a global base of technical research centers in Korea, the US, Germany, Japan, and India. The company market its products in more t han 180 countries through its operational network of 32 overseas production and sales subsidiaries, and more than 6,000 dealers. Hyundai is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. The company’s strategic intent focuses on maintaining its leading position in the global automotive market. The company recently adopted a new management concept to focus on the development of a global production system with emphasis on emerging markets such as China India, and Brazil.Recently, the company in collaboration with KOICA and PLAN Korea, planned to launch a project related to the development of technical training centre for automobile repair in several African nations. Key Recent Developments of Hyundai Motor Company Nov 21, 2011: Hyundai Joins European Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program Oct 04, 2011: EU Officials to Drive Fuel-cell Hyundai ix35 Sep 28, 2011: Hyundai to Expand EV Development Sep 06, 2011: Hyundai to Come Out With New Electric Vehicle Brand For China May 31, 20 11: SK Innovation Commences Construction On EV Batteries Facility HistoryChung Ju-Yung as a small engineering and construction company founded the Hyundai in 1947. In 1965 Hyundai began its operations outside South Korea, expanding production to Thailand, Vietnam and Guam. The name Hyundai is a Korean word meaning ‘Modernity’. The Hyundai motor company was founded in 1967. This famous company has been involved in construction, electronics, chemicals, shipbuilding, heavy industry and financial services. The company’s first model was released with the cooperation with Ford motor company, the Cortina in 1968. In 1967, they began exporting to Ecuador and Benelux countries.In 1991, Hyundai successfully developed its own proprietary gasoline engine. Hyundai Motors India Limited was established in 1996 with its production plant in Irrungattukatoi near Chennai, India. In 1998, Hyundai became a world class brand. During 1999, Chung Mong Koo, son of Chung Ju Yung was given leadership of Hyundai Motors. In 2004 a survey by Power and Associates ranked Hyundai the second in initial quality. In 2006 Chung Mong Koo was arrested for embezzlement of 100 billion SKW, and Vice chairman and CEO Kim Dong-Jin took over as head of Hyundai.Philosophy and Objectives of the Organization The Hyundai Motor Company’s Philosophy represents the values and the principles that are the core of the organization. ‘Realize the dream of mankind by creating a new future through ingenious thinking and continuously challenging new frontiers. ’ Core Values Promotes a customer driven corporate culture by providing the best quality and impeccable service with all values centered on their customers. Embrace every opportunity as greater challenges and achieve the goals with unwavering passion and ingenious thinking.Creates synergy through a sense of togetherness that is fostered by mutual communication and cooperation within the company and with their business partn ers. They believe the future of the organization lies in the hearts capabilities of individual members, and will help them develop their potential by creating a corporate culture that respects talent. Respects the diversity of cultures and customs, aspire to be the world’s best at what we do, and strive to become a respected global corporate citizen.

The Simpsons vs South Park

By contrast South Park relies on our knowledge of subjects outside the realm of elevation. South Park's humor is heavily dependent on the fact that its audience is consuming media and observing culture outside of traditional television shows. The Simpson family is, literally, a middle American family. The town in which they live, â€Å"Springfield† Is constantly shown to be In the center of the country in any of the shows maps. The family consists of Homer and Marge, he's an overweight, undereducated couch potato and she's the long suffering loving wife.Together they have three children Bart, Lisa and Maggie. The trouble-maker, straight a student and doodler respectively, just the composition of this family shows that the creators are seeking to lampoon the average American family. The stupidity of Homer and the children's antics and the ridiculous nature of the world around them are strictly for laughs. In show advertisements mock sexism and religion in American culture. With in the show, the television often reflects criticism of news and popular action movies and issues of children and violence.But for all this satire, there is not much bark to the Simpson bite. The show itself must depend on advertisement revenue. Its network, FOX, Is one of the Top 4 networks In the country. In the late ass's, the Image of Bart Simpson was synonymous with Butterfingers candy bars. There were two music Cad's released with official music videos, that would play at the end of the episodes. It's parody too point. And Its parody that many American's are well aware of already. It's as if the creators wink and nudge at the audience and say ‘You're smart and we know it.Now please, buy our products. † South Park attempts to do something beyond just simple parody of our consumption and violence. Trey Parker and Matt Stone attempt to create new meaning out what we have already viewed. The very meaning of the parody is derived from what you already know of the target of ridicule. This is what Jerkiest and Fiske refer to as intellectuality. They attempt to relate the Simpson to this dynamic but I believe this realm is where South Park is actually operating.The Simpson may use this intellectuality when playing with genre, but South Park uses it when conveying the very meaning of the parody. Even this season alone, South Park had covered the topics of social media sites Like Faceable, celebrates and sex scandals and the hypocrisies of the media concerning such events, and marijuana legalization debate. All of these topics are lampooned by critiquing the media's covered and both sides of the social and political debate on TV.You have to be critically aware to understand the finer points of South Parks humor that lies beneath the crude language and crass Jokes. The irony is that those that think Homer Simpson is a cutting edge satire of American life, are most likely a carbon copy of Homer himself. It's easy to criticize South Park on the surface, b ut those that are media literate will â€Å"get the Joke† more than its critics. The Simpson are entertaining but ultimately, too safe.