Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Essay

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - Essay Example For those that do, OSHA enforces workplace standards, regulations, and subsequently conducts inspections in relation to chemical exposure, injury vulnerability, safety procedures, protective gear requirements, and certain information availability to employees (Reese and James 71). Workplaces that do not fall under the jurisdiction of OSHA are regulated by other relevant agencies. Most importantly, violation of OSHA regulations attracts fines and/or jail time based on the safety and health provisions violated. Over the last four decades, OSHA has had to deal with many different criticisms that cut across the administration’s operations. One of the most criticized areas of OSHA’s activities is the ever-rising number of inspections in workplaces that fall under its jurisdiction. The number of inspections has kept rising, but the outcomes of such inspections have had little positive results to show. The idea of inspections failing to reflect improved results in workplaces often spur controversy over the effectiveness and efficiency of the agency. Accompanying the inspection criticism is the argument that follow up practices are lacking in OSHA’s system of executing its mandate. In this respect, many workplaces change little, if any, aspects of OSHA’s concerns. In the same regard, majority of workplaces correct their safety and health practices only in anticipation of inspection. Once these inspections are undertaken, employees could end up facing working conditions that are unsafe and unfit for their health for years. Even as OSHA strives to be as effective and efficient as possible, the workload of its mandate is simply overwhelming. (Mayer 145) contends that it would take the administration over one hundred years to inspect and ensure regulatory compliance in all workplaces that fall under OSHA’s jurisdiction. What this shows is that OSHA will hardly account

Employee stress in the work place Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Employee stress in the work place - Essay Example Managers need to create a stress-free environment at the workplace for employees in order to ensure sustainable organizational performance. In this paper, we will discuss some of the main factors that can contribute to employee stress in the workplace, as well as the possible measures that managers can take to reduce stress in employees. 2. Factors That Cause Stress in Employees There are many individual, administrative, job concerning factors that can cause stress in employees. Some of those factors include discrimination, keeping employees away in decision-making processes, less promotional opportunities, rotating shifts, work overload, role conflict, team-based conflicts, excessive managerial control, increased job timings, lack of confidentiality, unsafe working conditions, and less salary (Akrani 2011). Let us discuss some of these issues in detail to know the way they cause stress in employees. 2.1 Discrimination Discrimination is one of the main factors that make employees str essed. Discrimination occurs when managers give preference to a particular individual or a group of individuals while taking any important decision. Such preference is usually based on racial, ethics, social, religious, and gender differences. For example, promoting a male employee to a higher position even when his performance is low than his female counterparts. Such decisions put a negative impact on the productivity and performance of other employees. 2.2 Keeping Employees Away In Decision-Making Processes Employees also feel stressed and depressed when they are not involved in decision-making processes related to their jobs. Employees want some recognition and value for the performances that they show for their companies. Involving them in decision-making processes is one of the best ways to do so. However, when employees are neglected during critical decision-making processes, they feel inferior and their level of commitment to their jobs decreases. 2.3 Less Promotional Opport unities If there are less opportunities of employee promotion in a company, employees may not like to work there because of less chances of career development. Working in a company where there are less progress opportunities and job enrichment is a main factor of stress in employees. 2.4 Increased Job Timings The balance between work life and family life is very important for every employee. In situations where employees do not find enough time to spend with their families due to longer working hours is also a reason of stress in employees. 2.5 Work Overload As Akrani (2011, p. 1) states, â€Å"excessive work load leads to stress as it puts a person under tremendous pressure†. Employees feel stressed when their managers give them huge amounts of work to complete in a single day. Similarly, giving less or very simple work also causes stress in employees. Doing work of simple nature leads to boredom that eventually leads to stress and depression. 3. Strategies for Managing Stre ss in Employees As Manley (n.d.) states, â€Å"stress in the workplace is bad for an employee's health and also causes distractions, making it harder for the stressed individual to perform their job† (p. 1). It is the responsibility of managers to take effective measures and strategies to offset those negative effects

Should companies engage in Corporate Social Responsibility programs Essay

Should companies engage in Corporate Social Responsibility programs Why or why not - Essay Example All the efforts of the companies meant for this purpose meet the merit of bringing up positive results as they reflect on improved concerns for environment and the public as a whole. The essence of CSR is growingly promising as the world market turns rapidly competitive with the inevitability of consideration for global communities in the wake of emergence of multinational companies in corporate business. Whether companies should engage in corporate social responsibility programs is a one-sided debate in which there can possibly be no opposition. In recent years, many CEOs and heads of major corporate business groups identify that ‘a strong CSR program is an inevitable thing’ for achieving effective business leadership (â€Å"Corporate social responsibility..†). However, it is a challenge before many companies to meet the global social responsibilities on par with the struggle for excellence in achieving the traditional goal of economic profit. In this regard, according to a thought of Lawrence and Weber, social responsibility requires companies to balance the benefit to be gained against the costs of achieving those benefits (46). As such, the managers of the organizations are responsible for meeting the desired fields of credit for both the owners of the business and the consumers of the product of the company without letting the firm any decrease in its profitability. From every angle, the stability of a company is guaranteed by the willingness of its employees to offer optimum worth to it. It is also undoubted that they chose to work in a company that claims high regards of social reputation. As Lawrence and Weber point out, social reputation is a major intangible asset that adds to the organization’s wealth (53). With days passing, the thought of business giants changed from merely making profit to being committed to social responsibilities as the majority of world population wanted their basic needs to be attended by the rich. As a result of the

Study of chemical vapor deposition CVD grown transparent conducting Dissertation

Study of chemical vapor deposition CVD grown transparent conducting oxides (TCO) - Dissertation Example The results show that samples AGC-U and TEC 8 are both fit for use as semiconductor materials though the electrical conductivity of TEC 8 is better than that for AGC-U. Moreover when it comes to samples 198-219 the electrical properties (such as sheet resistance, mobility, resistivity and carrier concentration) tend to change as the doping levels are varied. The best electrical properties can be attributed to Sample 200 (with a doping level of 0.6 M) as it has the highest conductivity. It was also found out that fluorine doped samples had higher resistivity and that the mean transmission and mean reflection change as the doping levels of fluorine are changed. The mean transmission varies between 46.95% and 63.21% while the mean reflection varies between 2.21% and 4.25%. Sample 198 had the highest transmission while Sample 213 had the lowest transmission and reflection. It was also found out that the peak position did not vary as the levels of fluorine doping were changed. However the intensity (Lin count) tends to change as fluorine doping levels are changed. Sample 213 (0 M) had the lowest intensities while Sample 198 (0.4 M) had the highest peak.

Apple's Balance Sheet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Apple's Balance Sheet - Essay Example Assets From the provided financial information for Apple for the two six months operating periods taken in 2008 and 2009, it is clear that the company experienced an upward movement in different items regarding assets. Initial cash and its equivalents for the two specified periods represent a significant level of reduction from USD 11.875b in 2008 to USD 4.466b in 2009 (Apple, 2009). Whereas cash and similar cash items growth could not necessarily represent growth in view of liquidity practicality issues, it is appropriate to make the assumption that the materiality of the difference did not affect the overall reflection of business operations as cash flow values indicate. This argument is also supported by the observation of increased short-term marketable securities over the same period by double from USD 10.236b to USD 20.547b which could explain the reflected liquidity difference. Despite the fact that the accounts receivable after relevant reconciliation adjustments give a reduc tion in 2009, the difference does indicate a huge difference in terms of operations. Held inventories also indicate a reduction that would be explained by operations at a time when demand projections would be scaled downwards amidst financial crisis. However, overall liquid assets reflected a growth of USD 1.542b (from USD 32.311b to USD 33.853b), which gives a better reflection that the company grew its liquid assets. Investment in form of long-term securities gives detail of fixed assets and the increase from USD 2.379b to USD 3.865b (37 per cent) confirms the current assets trend as a growth trajectory (Apple, 2009). Other fixed assets elements such as buildings and properties owned increased from USD 2.546b to USD 2.455b, a reflection also reflected in the category of other assets that rose from USD 2.498b to USD 1.935b. To confirm this trend, the overall asset figure was a growth of 9.3 percent (USD 43.237b from USD 39.572b). In support of this information, perhaps the company can consult certain incidental information of cash flow nature to highlight the apparent growth in assets and operation level. The value of income and other operating activities indicate upward movements in net income (USD 2.81b from USD 2.626b) as was the reconciliation movements for income generating activities. Certain operating concepts such as depreciation and amortization illustrate a rise in the charged values, which translates in growth of the associated assets. An increase in the value of these operation costs for instance for depreciation from USD 222m in 2008 to USD 330m a year later reflects a huge hike of related asset base to support operations of the corporation. In other movements, increased stock-based compensations cost by 45 per cent (USD 242m to USD 351m) is an indication of growth in operations that occasion stock-based compensations, translated as growth by the company. It is evident that this information reflects a powerful suitability of Apple as an investmen t destination. Despite the fact that such increase in compensation could also indicate inefficiency in operations at the same operating capacity, the reduction of disposition losses from USD 10m in 2008 to USD 8m in 2009 as well

Produce a Market Entry Proposal of of Xiaomi (a fast growing Chinese Essay

Produce a Market Entry Proposal of of Xiaomi (a fast growing Chinese smartphone company) in A specific country - Essay Example These strategies particularly associate with the goods and services delivery in to a foreign country. It facilitates an organization to increase its market share while building an international brand reputation. Moreover, it helps in long term growth and organizational sustenance. Following are the most important market entry strategies which are discussed in this proposal (Schermerhorn, 2011): The company should pursue the wholly owned subsidies market entry strategy particularly for Singapore. This is justified on the basis of research and analysis, for instance, Singapore acts as the regional headquarter of Xiaomi whereas the management is now considering opening a regional distribution center, customer support center, retail outlet and a corporate office (Yu, 2014). Hence the proposed market entry strategy will actually facilitate the organization in achieving the company’s strategic goals. Research indicates that Xiaomi is now recognized as the fastest growing smart phone market in the China (Olson, 2013).. On the basis of its increasing market share and customer services in the homeland the company has decided to enter in to the global market. This will eventually help the organization in improving its profit margins while also gaining a significant global image in the smart phone industry. Xiaomi has a strong corporate management whereas the global expansion project is handed over to the former Google employee, Hugo Barra (Yu, 2014). Following recommendations are made for Xiaomi’s market entry into Singapore while considering its strategic position, customer attractiveness etc. 2. Subsequently the organization would have to develop a comprehensive market entry strategy which must be consistent with its business approach, corporate values and the smart phone’s feature preferences of the regional customers. 3. Since the company is aiming to establish a distribution centre in Singapore therefore it would have to consider

Autonomous Vehicles and Software Architectures Essay

Autonomous Vehicles and Software Architectures - Essay Example Thus, this is a challenge since one cannot predict whether or not the system will fail. In addition, such vehicles are unreliable. For instance, when the control system is affected or rather fails completely, the vehicle cannot be operational. This is a challenge because it inconveniences the owner of the vehicle for he or she cannot use it for daily businesses. There is a difference between designing distributed architecture and non-distributed architecture since the distributed architecture tend to split the middle and presentation tiers logically and physically to perform in several servers whereas in non-distributed architecture, the middle tier and the presentation tier perform in one server. The following reasons explain why there is a difference in designing the two architectures: To start with, the distributed architecture permits distribution of the application elements across various physical servers whereas the non-distributed architecture permits the application to run in only one server and its elements are freely allocated. Secondly, the distributed architecture’s design is complex for web application since it affects performance of the remote calls. On the other hand, the non-distributed architecture’s design is the simplest in web applications since it has no effect on remote calls. Moreover, the distributed architecture is more expensive to design because more materials and procedures are involved in setting up several servers whereas the non-distributed architecture is less costly since it entails a number of stable and easy procedures in setting up a single server. Lastly, in the distributed architecture, the applications are difficult to test and debug for it is fully dependent on the container server. In non-distributed architecture, the application is easily developed, tested and