Kubla Khan Essays (5570 words) - British Poetry,

Metrics and measurements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Measurements and estimations - Essay Example By and large, human asset measurements and estimations make an interpretation of HR abilities to quantifiable key worth, which encourages better comprehension of human asset information, and improves human asset association with the remainder of the association (Jamroq and Overholt 3; Strategy2Act). As per Strategy2Act, an association that creates answers for getting significant data out of documents made with mainstream office instruments, the most widely recognized human asset estimations and measurements are normally identified with representative mentalities, worker turnover, worker ability levels, just as redistributing costs, administration focus tasks, the number human asset exchanges prepared, staffing process, preparing programs use and viability, and advancements. These measurements and estimations are utilized by 25% to 75% all things considered (Strategy2Act). Worker turnover metric incorporates pointers, for example, cost per recruit, turnover cost, turnover rate, time to fill, and length of business. Cost per enlist incorporates estimation of publicizing expenses, work office charges, talent scout charges, worker referrals rewards, migration benefits, selection representative compensation and advantages costs, and the quantity of recruits. Turnover cost incorporates count of end, recently recruited employee, opportunity, and expectation to absorb information costs. Turnover rate is the rate at which representatives leave the association. Time to fill is the period from work demand endorsement to fresh recruit start date. Length of business considers the activity assignment, division, and so on (Strategy2Act). For instance, Carphone Warehouse found that each retail representative who left the organization inside a half year cost 4,875 in net overall revenues. On the off chance that they could decrease turnover by just 2% they could cut 58 5,900 in enlistment and preparing expenses and lost efficiency (Carrington 38). Enrolling metric incorporates empty period, fresh recruits execution evaluation, director fulfillment, turnover paces of recently recruited employees, and monetary effect of terrible recruit. Empty period is the quantity of by and large days the employments were empty. Recently recruited employees execution examination is the normal execution evaluation of fresh recruits, contrasted with past period. Administrator fulfillment is the fulfillment of recruiting chiefs, contrasted with past period. Turnover pace of recently recruited employees is estimated for a particular period. Money related effect of terrible recruit incorporates the expense per enlist and the turnover cost. For instance, Carphone Warehouse utilizes enlistment measurements to get the perfect individuals at the correct time - and first time. Maintenance metric incorporates by and large worker turnover, preventable turnover, decent variety turnover, and money related effect of representative turnover. Generally worker turnover accentuates the key positions. Preventable turnover considers the reasons why the representative left the association and what measures might be taken to forestall it. Decent variety turnover orders the turnover rate into three classifications dependent on proficient, administrative, and specialized positions. For instance, Scottish Power utilizes a scorecard framework to screen maintenance of its retail business that utilizes call focus staff, meter perusers, and salesman where consistency standard is low. Preparing and Development metric incorporates learning and development openings, hands on learning fulfillment, and open doors for recently recruited employees. Learning and development

How a Food Addiction Develops

How a Food Addiction Develops Addiction Addictive Behaviors Print How a Food Addiction Develops By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 22, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on October 02, 2019 Image Source/Getty Images More in Addiction Addictive Behaviors Caffeine Internet Shopping Sex Alcohol Use Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In a sense, we are all addicted to food. Think about what it feels like when you aren’t able to eat. You start to crave food, and become more physically and emotionally uncomfortable the longer the cravings go on for until eating becomes the most important thing for you to do. This is the constant experience of people struggling with food addiction, even if they have plenty to eat. Food is essential to survival, and unlike other addictive behaviors, it is normal to eat repeatedly every day and to look forward to eating for pleasure. But several characteristics separate normal or occasional binge eating from food addiction. Firstly, food addiction is maladaptive, so although people overeat to feel better, it often ends up making them feel worse and gives them more to feel bad about. Food addiction can threaten health, causing obesity, malnutrition, and other problems. Secondly, the overeating that people with food addiction do is persistent, so a person addicted to food eats too much food (and often the wrong kinds of food) too much of the time. We all overeat from time to time, but people with food addiction often overeat every day, and they eat, not because they are hungry, but as their main way of coping with stress. Then if they are unable to overeat, they experience anxiety or other painful emotions. The Controversy As a behavioral addiction, the concept of food addiction is controversial. The field is divided between those who think that overeating can be a type of addiction, and those who think that true addictions are limited to psychoactive substances that produce symptoms such as physical tolerance and withdrawal. Although this has been demonstrated in research with sugar and fat (the two most common obesity-causing constituents of food), and other studies show that food produces opiates in the body, many think that this does not necessarily constitute an addiction. However, the growing epidemic of obesity over the past 20 years has raised a public health concern. Over a third of US adults and approximately 17% of children are obese. Childhood obesity has been recognized as a major health concern. This concern, along with effective treatments for addictions, which are being successfully applied to more and more problematic behaviors, is contributing to a movement towards understanding over-eating, and the consequences of obesity and related health problems, in terms of addiction. Food addiction shares many features with diagnoses now included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), namely,  Binge Eating Disorder, which is categorized with the Feeding and Eating Disorders. Excessive eating is also a characteristic of another eating disorder outlined in the DSM, known as Bulimia Nervosa. Some controversy remains over whether eating disorders are actually addictions, but many experts believe that they are. How Its Like Other Addictions There are several similarities between food addiction and drug addiction, including effects on mood, external cues to eat or use drugs, expectancies, restraint, ambivalence, and attribution. Neurotransmitters and the brains reward system have been implicated in food and other addictions. In animal studies, for example, dopamine has been found to play an important role in overall reward systems, and binging on sugar has been shown to influence dopamine activity. Food, drugs and other addictive substances and behaviors are all associated with pleasure, hedonism, and social, cultural or sub-cultural desirability. When advertising or the people around us tell us that food, drug, or activity will feel good, it sets up a self-fulfilling prophecy. We are more likely to seek it out, and we are more likely to experience pleasure when we indulge. Underlying Problems May Cause Food Addiction Similarities between food addiction and other addictions suggest a universal process underlying food and other addictions. Some experts go further, theorizing that overlaps, similarities, and co-occurrences of mental health problems, including addictions, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders, and the phenomenon of a new addiction or mental health problem developing when an old addiction is treated, indicate that they are expressions of related underlying pathologies. It has been argued that viewing these conditions separately hinders the development of a comprehensive view of addictions. More evidence is needed to support these proposed ideas, and at present, professionals differ in the extent to which they see these problems as related. The 9 Best Online Therapy Programs

The Concept and Nature of Outsourcing Logistics Free Essay Example, 2500 words

To many firms, logistics outsourcing is a means of reorganizing their distribution networks thus increasing their competitive advantages. In the last several years, there has been a dramatic growth of logistics outsourcing by use of a third party logistics (3PL) provider for all or part of an organization s logistics operations (Regan Wang, 1). Sometimes, an organization decides on outsourcing when it is hard to handle all aspects of the business. In addition, another reason for outsourcing logistics is that there are a few processes limited for a short time and are therefore not practical to hire experts for a short period (Mehta, 1). However, in most cases, it is difficult handling the high demand of every department within an organization especially the call center services and sales services. Additionally, many of the cases are temporary and it is not ideal for the company to appoint an in-house department to manage this work. It is the duty of the outsourced company to accompl ish the necessary actions once they have received the duties (Inso. A decade ago, the third party logistics was just surfacing in many parts of the world. We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept and Nature of Outsourcing Logistics or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

An Investigation of the Gender Gap of Boys Underachieving...

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the gender gap, especially of boys’ underachievement in literacy, and discover if there are particular strategies that schools can implement in order to raise the attainment levels of boys. As the issue of the gender gap is so wide I selected literature to review which covered a wide range of theorists and existing studies. Specifically I wanted to identify some of the suggested causes for the underachievement of boys and any already proposed effective strategies which I could execute in my own study. The data I collected from the study was both qualitative and quantitative in order to give a more valid outcome; these included an open-ended, semi-structured interview, which I†¦show more content†¦Regardless of Gorard’s (2001) analysis, there are many who still feel that the performance gap is a concern. In 1993 the Ofsted report offered some insight into differing perspectives and explanations for boys’ und erachievement, including the lack of male literacy role models, classroom strategies, curriculum literacy content, perceptions of behaviour, social class and ethnicity (cited in Bearne, 2004). Solsken (1995, cited in Bearne, 2004) added to this list claiming that literacy is associated more with females and femininity and believes that this possibly has a negative effect on boys and their attitudes towards reading. Solken’s (1995) argument links very closely with Watson et al.(2007) who proposed that popular explanations often focus on boys’ ‘biological make-up’. They claim that evidence shows that ‘hegemonic masculinity is central to ... the struggles boys face as literacy learners’ (Watson et al. 2010: 357). Rowan et al (2002) also believes that ‘boys are biologically different to girls and that this biologically difference is the cause of behavioural differences’ (Rowan et al. 2002, cited in Watson et al. 2010:357). He belie ves that due to these biological differences, boys and girls are defined by inherent masculinity and femininity characteristics and in order for educational success this must be acknowledged and accommodated for. This is an important assertion to consider forShow MoreRelatedTackling Gender Underachievement in Literacy and Numeracy Essay2036 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction In recent years there has been much research into gender learning issues and the apparent learning disparity between boys and girls. Such research has included investigations into boys underachievement in literacy and girls underachievement in mathematics. The aim of such research is to recognise key reasons why such trends are occurring and perhaps more importantly, to address these within the classroom. Since the introduction of the National Curriculum, national testing Read MoreA Critical Review of a Senco Essay4380 Words   |  18 Pagesturn, compromises the ability to learn the grapheme–phoneme mappings that underpin competence in an alphabetic system†. Snowling et al’s (2011) research underpins the classic definition of dyslexia that it is a specific reading difficulty whereby literacy under achievement is apparent and falls below the accepted level given the intelligence of the learner. This study is important: it goes beyond recounting dyslexia at the behavioural level (i.e. incorrect spelling and reading) to taking into consideration

The Vampire Diaries The Awakening Chapter Fourteen Free Essays

string(85) " voice rose and broke in unimaginable horror-â€Å"but Katherine isn’t in it\." Elena felt her flesh creep at the words. â€Å"You don’t mean that,† she said shakily. She remembered what she had seen on the roof, the blood smeared on Stefan’s lips, and she forced herself not to recoil from him. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Fourteen or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Stefan, I know you. You couldn’t have done that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He ignored her protestations, just went on staring with eyes that burned like the green ice at the bottom of a glacier. He was looking through her, into some incomprehensible distance. â€Å"As I lay in bed that night, I hoped against hope that she would come. Already I was noticing some of the changes in myself. I could see better in the dark; it seemed I could hear better. I felt stronger than ever before, full of some elemental energy. And I was hungry. â€Å"It was a hunger I had never imagined. At dinner I found that ordinary food and drink did nothing to satisfy it. I couldn’t understand that. And then I saw the white neck of one of the serving girls, and I knew why.† He drew a long breath, his eyes dark and tortured. â€Å"That night, I resisted the need, though it took all my will. I was thinking of Katherine, and praying she would come to me. Praying!† He gave a short laugh. â€Å"If a creature like me can pray.† Elena’s fingers were numb within his grasp, but she tried to tighten them, to send him reassurance. â€Å"Go on, Stefan.† He had no trouble speaking now. He seemed almost to have forgotten her presence, as if he were telling this story to himself. â€Å"The next morning the need was stronger. It was as if my own veins were dry and cracked, desperate for moisture. I knew that I couldn’t stand it for long. â€Å"I went to Katherine’s chambers. I meant to ask her, to plead with her-† His voice cracked. He paused and then went on. â€Å"But Damon was there already, waiting outside her rooms. I could see thathe hadn’t resisted the need. The glow of his skin, the spring in his step, told me that. He looked as smug as the cat who’s had the cream. â€Å"But he hadn’t had Katherine. ‘Knock all you like,’ he said to me, ‘but the female dragon inside won’t let you past. I’ve tried already. Shall we overpower her, you and I?’ â€Å"I wouldn’t answer him. The look on his face, that sly, self-satisfied look, repelled me. I pounded on that door to wake†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He faltered, and then gave another humorless laugh. â€Å"I was going to say, ‘to wake the dead.’ But the dead aren’t so hard to wake after all, are they?† After a moment, he went on. â€Å"The maid, Gudren, opened the door. She had a face like a flat white plate, and eyes like black glass. I asked her if I could see her mistress. I expected to be told that Katherine was asleep, but instead Gudren just looked at me, then at Damon over my shoulder. † ‘I would not tellhim ,’ she said at last, ‘but I will tell you. My lady Katerina is not within. She went out early this morning, to walk in the gardens. She said she had much need of thought.’ â€Å"I was surprised. ‘Early this morning?’ I said. † ‘Yes,’ she replied. She looked at both Damon and me without liking. ‘My mistress was very unhappy last night,’ she said meaningfully. ‘All night long, she wept.’ â€Å"When she said that, a strange feeling came over me. It wasn’t just shame and grief that Katherine should be so unhappy. It was fear. I forgot my hunger and weakness. I even forgot my enmity for Damon. I was filled with haste and a great driving urgency. I turned to Damon and told him that we had to find Katherine, and to my surprise he just nodded. â€Å"We began to search the gardens, calling Katherine’s name. I remember just what everything looked like that day. The sun was shining on the high cypress trees and the pines in the garden. Damon and I hurried between them, moving more and more quickly, and calling. We kept calling her†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena could feel the tremors in Stefan’s body, communicated to her through his tightly gripping fingers. He was breathing rapidly but shallowly. â€Å"We had almost reached the end of the gardens when I remembered a place that Katherine had loved. It was a little way out onto the grounds, a low wall beside a lemon tree. I started there, shouting for her. But as I got closer, I stopped shouting. I felt†¦ a fear-a terrible premonition. And I knew I mustn’t-mustn’t go-† â€Å"Stefan!† said Elena. He was hurting her, his fingers biting into her own, crushing them. The tremors racing through his body were growing, becoming shudders. â€Å"Stefan, please!† But he gave no sign that he heard her. â€Å"It was like-a nightmare-everything happening so slowly. I couldn’t move-and yet I had to. I had to keep walking. With each step, the fear grew stronger. I could smell it. A smell like burned fat. I mustn’t go there-I don’t want to see it-† His voice had become high and urgent, his breath coming in gasps. His eyes were wide and dilated, like a terrified child’s. Elena gripped his viselike fingers with her other hand, enfolding them completely. â€Å"Stefan, it’s all right. You’re not there. You’re here with me.† â€Å"I don’t want to see it-but I can’t help it. There’s something white. Something white under the tree. Don’t make me look at it!† â€Å"Stefan, Stefan, look at me!† He was beyond hearing. His words came in heaving spasms, as if he could not control them, could not get them out fast enough. â€Å"I can’t go any closer-but I do. I see the tree, the wall. And that white. Behind the tree. White with gold underneath. And then I know, I know, and I’m moving toward it because it’s her dress. Katherine’s white dress. And I get around the tree and I see it on the ground and it’s true. It’s Katherine’s dress,†-his voice rose and broke in unimaginable horror-â€Å"but Katherine isn’t in it. You read "The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Fourteen" in category "Essay examples"† Elena felt a chill, as if her body had been plunged into ice water. Her skin rose in goose-flesh, and she tried to speak to him but couldn’t. He was rattling on as if he could keep the terror away if he kept on talking. â€Å"Katherine isn’t there, so maybe it’s all a joke, but her dress is on the ground and it’s full of ashes. Like the ashes in the hearth, just like that, only these smell of burned flesh. They stink. The smell is making me sick and faint. Beside the sleeve of the dress is a piece of parchment. And on a rock, on a rock a little way away is a ring. A ring with a blue stone, Katherine’s ring. Katherine’s ring†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Suddenly, he called out in a terrible voice, â€Å"Katherine, what have youdone ?† Then he fell to his knees, releasing Elena’s fingers at last, to bury his face in his hands. Elena held him as he was gripped by wracking sobs. She held his shoulders, pulling him to her lap. â€Å"Katherine took the ring off,† she whispered. It was not a question. â€Å"She exposed herself to the sun.† His harsh sobs went on and on, as she held him to the full skirts of the blue gown, stroking his quivering shoulders. She murmured nonsense meant to soothe him, pushing away her own horror. And, presently, he quieted and lifted his head. He spoke thickly, but he seemed to have returned to the present, to have come back. â€Å"The parchment was a note, for me and for Damon. It said she had been selfish, wanting to have both of us. It said-she couldn’t bear to be the cause of strife between us. She hoped that once she was gone we would no longer hate each other. She did it to bring us together.† â€Å"Oh, Stefan,† whispered Elena. She felt burning tears fill her own eyes in sympathy. â€Å"Oh, Stefan, I’m so sorry. But don’t you see, after all this time, that what Katherine did was wrong? It was selfish, even, and it washer choice. In a way, it had nothing to do with you, or with Damon.† Stefan shook his head as if to shake off the truth of the words. â€Å"She gave her life†¦ for that. We killed her.† He was sitting up now. But his eyes were still dilated, great disks of black, and he had the look of a small bewildered boy. â€Å"Damon came up behind me. He took the note and read it. And then-I think he went mad. We were both mad. I had picked up Katherine’s ring, and he tried to take it. He shouldn’t have. We struggled. We said terrible things to each other. We each blamed the other for what had happened. I don’t remember how we got back to the house, but suddenly I had my sword. We were fighting. I wanted to destroy that arrogant face forever, to kill him. I remember my father shouting from the house. We fought harder, to finish it before he reached us. â€Å"And we were well matched. But Damon had always been stronger, and that day he seemed faster, too, as if he had changed more than I had. And so while my father was still shouting from the window I felt Damon’s blade get past my guard. Then I felt it enter my heart.† Elena stared, aghast, but he went on without pause. â€Å"I felt the pain of the steel, I felt it stab through me, deep, deep inside. All the way through, a hard thrust. And then the strength poured out of me and I fell. I lay there on the paved ground.† He looked up at Elena and finished simply, â€Å"And that is how†¦ I died.† Elena sat frozen, as if the ice she’d felt in her chest earlier tonight had flooded out and trapped her. â€Å"Damon came and stood over me and bent down. I could hear my father’s cries from far away, and screams from the household, but all I could see was Damon’s face. Those black eyes that were like a moonless night. I wanted to hurt him for what he had done to me. For everything he had done to me, and to Katherine.† Stefan was quiet a moment, and then he said, almost dreamily, â€Å"And so I lifted my sword and I killed him. With the last of my strength, I stabbed my brother through the heart.† The storm had moved on, and through the broken window Elena could hear soft night noises, the chirp of crickets, the wind sifting through trees. In Stefan’s room, it was very still. â€Å"I knew nothing more until I woke up in my tomb,† said Stefan. He leaned back, away from her, and shut his eyes. His face was pinched and weary, but that awful childlike dreaminess was gone. â€Å"Both Damon and I had had just enough of Katherine’s blood to keep us from truly dying. Instead we changed. We woke together in our tomb, dressed in our best clothing, laid on slabs side by side. We were too weak to hurt each other anymore; the blood had been just barely enough. And we were confused. I called to Damon, but he ran outside into the night. â€Å"Fortunately, we had been buried with the rings Katherine had given us. And I found her ring in my pocket.† As if unconsciously, Stefan reached up to stroke the golden circlet. â€Å"I suppose they thought she had given it to me. â€Å"I tried to go home. That was stupid. The servants screamed at the sight of me and ran to fetch a priest. I ran, too. Into the only place where I was safe, into the dark. â€Å"And that is where I’ve stayed ever since. It’s where I belong, Elena. I killed Katherine with my pride and my jealousy, and I killed Damon with my hatred. But I did worse than kill my brother. I damned him. â€Å"If he hadn’t died then, with Katherine’s blood so strong in his veins, he would have had a chance. In time the blood would have grown weaker, and then passed away. He would have become a normal human again. By killing him then, I condemned him to live in the night. I took away his only chance of salvation.† Stefan laughed bitterly. â€Å"Do you know what the name Salvatore means in Italian, Elena? It means salvation, savior. I’m named that, and for St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. And I damned my brother to hell.† â€Å"No,† said Elena. And then, in a stronger voice, she said, â€Å"No, Stefan. He damned himself. He killedyou . But what happened to him after that?† â€Å"For a while he joined one of the Free Companies, ruthless mercenaries whose business was to rob and plunder. He wandered across the country with them, fighting and drinking the blood of his victims. â€Å"I was living beyond the city gates by then, half starved, preying on animals, an animal myself. For a long time, I heard nothing about Damon. Then one day I heard his voice in my mind. â€Å"He was stronger than I, because he was drinking human blood. And killing. Humans have the strongest life essence, and their blood gives power. And when they’re killed, somehow the life essence they give is strongest of all. It’s as if in those last moments of terror and struggle the soul is the most vibrant. Because Damon killed humans, he was able to draw on the Powers more than I was.† â€Å"What†¦ powers?† said Elena. A thought was growing in her mind. â€Å"Strength, as you said, and quickness. A sharpening of all the senses, especially at night. Those are the basics. We can also†¦ feel minds. We can sense their presence, and sometimes the nature of their thoughts. We can cast confusion about weaker minds, either to overwhelm them or to bend them to our will. There are others. With enough human blood we can change our shapes, become animals. And the more you kill, the stronger all the Powers become.† â€Å"Damon’s voice in my mind was very strong. He said he was now the condottieri of his own ‘ company and he was coming back to Florence. He said that if I was there when he arrived he would kill me. I believed him, and I left. I’ve seen him once or twice since then. The threat is always the same, and he’s always more powerful. Damon’s made the most of his nature, and he seems to glory in its darkest side.† â€Å"But it’s my nature, too. The same darkness is inside me. I thought that I could conquer it, but I was wrong. That’s why I came here, to Fell’s Church. I thought if I settled in some small town, far away from the old memories, I might escape the darkness. And instead, tonight, I killed a man.† † No,† said Elena forcefully. â€Å"I don’t believe that, Stefan.† His story had filled her with horror and pity†¦ and fear, too. She admitted that. But her disgust had vanished, and there was one thing she was sure about. Stefan wasn’t a murderer. â€Å"What happened tonight, Stefan? Did you argue with Tanner?† â€Å"I†¦ don’t remember,† he said bleakly. â€Å"I used the Power to persuade him to do what you wanted. Then I left. But later I felt the dizziness and the weakness come over me. Asit has before.† He looked up at her directly. â€Å"The last time it happened was in the cemetery, right by the church, the night Vickie Bennett was attacked.† â€Å"But you didn’t do that. Youcouldn’t have done that†¦ Stefan?† â€Å"I don’t know,† he said harshly. â€Å"What other explanation is there? And I did take blood from the old man under the bridge, that night you girls ran away from the graveyard. I would have sworn I didn’t take enough to harm him, but he almost died. And I was there when both Vickie and Tanner were attacked.† â€Å"But you don’t remember attacking them,† said Elena, relieved. The idea that had been growing in her mind was now almost a certainty. â€Å"What difference does it make? Who else could have done it, if not me?† â€Å"Damon,† said Elena. He flinched, and she saw his shoulders tighten again. â€Å"It’s a nice thought. I hoped at first that there might be some explanation like that. That it might be someone else, someone like my brother. But I’ve searched with my mind and found nothing, no other presence. The simplest explanation is that I’m the killer.† â€Å"No,† said Elena, â€Å"you don’t understand. I don’t just mean that someone like Damon might do the things we’ve seen. I mean Damon is here, in Fell’s Church. I’ve seen him.† Stefan just stared at her. â€Å"It must be him,† Elena said, taking a deep breath. â€Å"I’ve seen him twice now, maybe three times. Stefan, you just told me a long story, and now I’ve got one to tell you.† As quickly and simply as she could, she told him about what had happened in the gym, and at Bonnie’s house. His lips tightened into a white line as she told him how Damon had tried to kiss her. Her cheeks grew hot as she remembered her own response, how she had almost given in to him. But she told Stefan everything. About the crow, too, and all the other strange things that had happened since she had come home from France. â€Å"And, Stefan, I think Damon was at the Haunted House tonight,† she finished. â€Å"Just after you felt dizzy in the front room, someone passed me. He was dressed up like-like Death, in black robes and a hood, and I couldn’t see his face. But something about the way he moved was familiar. It was him, Stefan. Damon was there.† â€Å"But that still wouldn’t explain the other times. Vickie and the old man. Idid take blood from the old man.† Stefan’s face was taut, as if he were almost afraid to hope. â€Å"But you said yourself you didn’t take enough to harm him. Stefan, who knows what happened to that man after you left? Wouldn’t it be the easiest thing in the world for Damon to attack him then? Especially if Damon’s been spying on you all along, maybe in some other form†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Like a crow,† murmured Stefan. â€Å"Like a crow. And as for Vickie†¦ Stefan, you said that you can cast confusion over weaker minds, overpower them. Couldn’t that be what Damon was doing to you? Overpowering your mind as you can overpower a human’s?† â€Å"Yes, and shielding his presence from me.† There was mounting excitement in Stefan’s voice. â€Å"That’s why he hasn’t answered my calls. He wanted-† â€Å"He wanted just what’s happened to happen. He wanted you to doubt yourself, to think you were a killer.But it isn’t true, Stefan . Oh, Stefan, you know that now, and you don’t have to be afraid anymore.† She stood up, feeling joy and relief course through her. Out of this hideous night, something wonderful had come. â€Å"That’s why you’ve been so distant with me, isn’t it?† she said, holding out her hands to him. â€Å"Because you’re afraid of what you might do. But there’s no need for that any longer.† â€Å"Isn’t there ?† He was breathing quickly again, and he eyed her outstretched hands as if they were two snakes. â€Å"You think there’s no reason to be afraid? Damon may have attacked those people, but he doesn’t control my thoughts. And you don’t know what I’ve thought about you.† Elena kept her voice level. â€Å"You don’t want to hurt me,† she said positively. â€Å"No? There have been times, watching you in public, when I could scarcely bear not to touch you. When I was so tempted by your white throat, your little white throat with the faint blue veins beneath the skin†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His eyes were fixed on her neck in a way that reminded her of Damon’s eyes, and she felt her heartbeat step up. â€Å"Times when I thought I would grab you and force you right there in the school.† â€Å"There’s no need to force me,† said Elena. She could feel her pulse everywhere now; in her wrists and the inside of her elbows-and in her throat. â€Å"I’ve made my decision, Stefan,† she said softly, holding his eyes. â€Å"I want to.† He swallowed thickly. â€Å"You don’t know what you’re asking for.† â€Å"I think Ido . You told me how it was with Katherine, Stefan. I want it to be like that with us. I don’t mean I want you to change me. But we can share a little without that happening, can’t we? I know,† she added, even more softly, â€Å"how much you loved Katherine. But she’s gone now, and I’m here. And I love you, Stefan. I want to be with you.† â€Å"You don’t know what you’re talking about!† He was standing rigid, his face furious, his eyes anguished. â€Å"If I once let go, what’s tokeep me from changing you, or killing you? The passion is stronger than you can imagine. Don’t you understand yet what I am, what I can do?† She stood there and looked at him quietly, her chin raised slightly. It seemed to enrage him. â€Å"Haven’t you seen enough yet? Or do I have to show you more? Can’t you picture what I might do to you?† He strode over to the cold fireplace and snatched out a long piece of wood, thicker than both Elena’s wrists together. With one motion, he snapped it in two like a match stick. â€Å"Yourfragile bones,† he said. Across the room was a pillow from the bed; he caught it up and with a slash of his nails left the silk cover in ribbons. â€Å"Yoursoft skin.† Then he moved toward Elena with preternatural quickness; he was there and had hold of her shoulders before she knew what was happening. He scared into her face a moment, then, with a savage hiss that raised the hairs at the nape of her neck, drew his lips back. It was the same snarl she’d seen on the roof, those white teeth bared, the canines grown to unbelievable length and sharpness. They were the fangs of a predator, a hunter. â€Å"Your white neck,† he said in a distorted voice. Elena stood paralyzed another instant, gazing as if compelled into that chilling visage, and then something deep in her unconscious took over. She reached up within the restraining circle of his arms and caught his face between her two hands. His cheeks were cool against her palms. She held him that way, softly, so softly, as if to reprove his hard grip on her bare shoulders. And she saw the confusion slowly come to his face, as he realized she was not doing it to fight him or to shove him away. Elena waited until that confusion reached his eyes, shattering his gaze, becoming almost a look of pleading. She knew that her own face was fearless, soft yet intense, her lips slightly parted. They were both breathing quickly now, together, in rhythm. Elena could feel it when he started to shake, trembling as he had when the memories of Katherine had become too much to bear. Then, very gently and deliberately, she drew that snarling mouth down to her own. He tried to oppose her. But her gentleness was stronger than all his inhuman strength. She shut her eyes and thought only of Stefan, not of the dreadful things she had learned tonight but of Stefan, who had stroked her hair as lightly as if she might break in his hands. She thought of that, and she kissed the predatory mouth that had threatened her a few minutes ago. She felt the change, the transformation in his mouth as he yielded, responding helplessly to her, meeting her soft kisses with equal softness. She felt the shudder go through Stefan’s body as the hard grip on her shoulders softened, too, becoming an embrace. And she knew she’d won. â€Å"You will never hurt me,† she whispered. It was as if they were kissing away all the fear and desolation and loneliness inside them. Elena felt passion surge through her like summer lightning, and she could sense the answering passion in Stefan. But infusing everything else was a gentleness almost frightening in its intensity. There was no need for haste or roughness, Elena thought as Stefan gently guided her to sit down. Gradually, the kisses grew more urgent, and Elena felt the summer lightning flicker all through her body, charging it, making her heart pound and her breath catch. It made her feel strangely soft and dizzy, made her shut her eyes and let her head fall back in abandon. It’s time, Stefan, she thought. And, very gently, she drew his mouth down again, this time to her throat. She felt his lips graze her skin, felt his breath warm and cool at once. Then she felt the sharp sting. But the pain faded almost instantly. It was replaced by a feeling of pleasure that made her tremble. A great rushing sweetness filled her, flowing through her to Stefan. At last she found herself gazing into his face, into a face that at last had no barriers against her, no walls. And the look she saw there made her feel weak. â€Å"Do you trust me?† he whispered. And when she simply nodded, he held her eyes and reached for something beside the bed. It was the dagger. She regarded it without fear, and then fixed her eyes again on his face. He never looked away from her as he unsheathed it and made a small cut at the base of his throat. Elena looked at it wide-eyed, at the blood as bright as holly berries, but when he urged her forward she did not try to resist him. Afterward he just held her a long time, while the crickets outside made their music. Finally, he stirred. â€Å"I wish you could stay here,† he whispered. â€Å"I wish you could stay forever. But you can’t.† â€Å"I know,† she said, equally quiet. Their eyes met again in silent communion. There was so much to say, so many reasons to be together. â€Å"Tomorrow,† she said. Then, leaning against his shoulder, she whispered, â€Å"Whatever happens, Stefan, I’ll be with you. Tell me you believe that.† His voice was hushed, muffled in her hair. â€Å"Oh, Elena, I believe it. Whatever happens, we’ll be together.† How to cite The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Fourteen, Essay examples

Unethical business practices and their effects

Introduction In the contemporary world, businesses that comply with the rightful ethical conducts are decreasing drastically. In most businesses, at least one business practice is done in an unethical manner. The unethical practices in businesses are adversely affecting governments through the loss of taxes (George Jones, 2010). Consequently, the world economy is facing a crisis as businesses evade from paying taxes.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Unethical business practices and their effects specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With globalization, companies are trying their best to reap maximum profits and outweigh their competitors’ profits at the expense of the global economy. Transparency and accountability is outdated as companies are aiming at one thing; to reap maximum profits at all cost. Cases have occurred where companies that had been involved in unethical practices clear their names in cour ts through bribery. The executives of such companies protect their brand names, and they fight to maintain the company’s reputation through corruption. At the end of the day, the government, employees, investors, competitors, and the customers suffer while the crooks enjoy the fruits of their unethical business practices. This paper will give a stringent analysis of the various unethical business practices and the effect that they have on the organization. The paper will bring in ideas, information, and examples of unethical business practices in major organizations. Unethical business practices and their effects on the organization Manipulation and exploitation of employees Employees are very essential stakeholders in any company because they determine the level of productivity of the company. However, some managers take advantage of defenseless employees to exploit them in one way or another. The vulnerable employees have no choice but to be submissive. Some unethical pract ices that harm the employers include low wages and unsafe working environment. Some employers have made it a routine to have their private cloakrooms while the other employees use unsanitary cloakrooms. Essentially, any practices that make the employees uncomfortable in the work place are unethical, as they do not comply with the federal working standards. We take an example of G4S Company, which is one of the largest private companies in the world. The company has a motto of delivering excellent services and maintaining the highest level of ethical standards. However, in the recent past, reports indicated that G4S did not adhere to its motto, and its ability to control its worldwide operations failed considerably.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The executives of the company have turned up to be violent towards their junior employees. The executives confront the employ ees; they pay then low wages, and increase pressures in the work environment (Hill Plimmer, 2013). Unethical business practices are likely to have adverse consequences to the organization. G4S is at the risk of destroying its reputation; therefore, the future of the company is at risk. The G4S Company has existed for decades and it has expanded globally, however, the company can collapse within a short period if its reputation is disputed. Currently, G4S’s has slipped in its ability to manage its global empire. It was so embarrassing that G4S was unable to supply enough security guards in a contract that would earn it massive profits during the 2012 Olympics. It is noteworthy that G4S operates in third world nations that have rampant corruption and fraud cases. There is a very high possibility of the G4S executives in such nations to be drawn into unethical practices that may further portray the company’s incompetency. Essentially, there are numerous fraud cases in th e management of the company, and those practices are driving G4S into the grave. Unfair competitive practices All business people aim at gaining a competitive advantage over their competitors to win the trust of many customers. Companies would spend millions of dollars to employ strategies that would enable them to enhance their sales. However, there are those business people who opt to employ unfair and unethical business practices that result into unfair competitive practices. Wal-Mart was a victim of unfair business practices in the recent past. The multinational company invested heavily to investigate and determine the extent to which its competitors adhere to the anti-bribery law. Wal-Mart did the investigation in Mexico, Brazil, China, and India, which are its major international markets. In its investigations, Wal-Mart discovered that its competitors were indeed violating the corruption act that guides foreign investors. One of the Mexican subsidiaries that happen to be Wal-M art’s major competitors had indeed paid bribes to be allowed to open new stores in Mexico (Clifford Barstow, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Unethical business practices and their effects specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To make the matters worse, the subsidiary’s parent company suppressed the investigations through bribery. With regard to the mentioned allegations, there is a high possibility that the competitor company evades many other compliance payments to the government though bribery. The unfair competitive practices would only earn a company massive profits in the short run. However, upon investigation and publicity of the matters, the company will have its reputation destroyed. Unethical business practices as those practiced with Wal-Mart’s competitors will result into bad publicity, and the company may never win the publicity trust in the future even though it struggle s to employ ethical conducts. Moreover, if the courts decide to be very strict with such companies, they may be fined heavily. The executive may receive merciless jail terms and finally, the company may end up becoming bankrupt because of the high costs associated with unethical business practices. Bending the company rules In many companies, employees are obliged to submit to their supervisors and managers. They have to obey the authority and perform all their commands. In fact, junior employees have a tendency of alleging to their supervisors in every aspect. Therefore, regardless of how wrong an instruction is, the junior employees are sometimes obliged to abide by the rules of their supervisors and managers. It is noteworthy that performing unethical practices in the work environment is wrong regardless of where the orders came from. Some junior employees are obliged to withhold information regarding the unethical practices of their bosses for the fear of intimidation, which tha t is also unethical. In July 2 2010, the New York Times revealed the case of GlaxoSmithKline Company. The company’s director agreed to pay fines amounting to $3 billion because of promoting a drug for unapproved uses, and improper marketing for other drugs (Thomas Schmidt, 2012). Further investigations indicated that the company lured the doctors by enticing them with luxury trips and spa treatments. The company would meet the full payments of hunting excursions and all sorts of luxuries to win the doctors, and force them to promote some unapproved drugs. Moreover, GlaxoSmithKline financed the publishing of a medical journal that had manipulated clinical trial data to promote the use of the Paxil drug in children.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The highly sensitive information was very essential for the prosecutors to file charges against the GlaxoSmithKline Company, and it was very controversial to find out who disclosed those unethical practices. Sure enough, the whistle blowers were some of the employees of the company. Companies have to be warned that there is a whistle blower policy that rewards employees with substantial rewards. Essentially, whistle blowers earn a great share of the amount that the federal government recovers from the unethical business practices that they report. In fact, a policy guiding taxpayers against fraud has set aside about $10 billion to compensate the whistle blowers. Therefore, managers and supervisors should be warned that employees would be submitting to their unethical orders to set them up. Lack of transparency Companies are always obliged to portray transparency in all their activities. However, cases have occurred where company executives hide some controversial information from th e most important stakeholders of the company. Some companies will present false statements to the investors to clarify why they cannot afford to pay the dividends. Whenever the investors resolve to have the company investigated, the company managers and other executives resist the investigations. The executives of some companies have taken advantage of humble investors to mishandle their propriety. Some executives are even sued for creating false financial statements to deceive the investors. Moreover, company executives evade form paying the taxes using the false statements. Cases have occurred where auditors are bribed to certify false financial statements so that powerful companies can evade from paying the rightful amounts of taxes to the government. Company executives ought to know that legal lawsuits have adverse consequences to the company. Firstly, the court can impose heavy fines to the company, which can declare it bankrupt. The court can order the suspension of the compan y’s activities for a considerably long period. In the case of molesting the investors, the company places itself at a high risk of lacking investors in the future. Of course, new investors would never buy the shares for such companies, and the company’s activities may come to a spontaneous halt because of the lack of funds. Unethical treatments to suppliers and customers Every business must have suppliers of raw materials and customers who purchase their finished products. Essentially, the relationship between the company, its suppliers, and its customers ought to have mutual benefits. However, some businesses are too greedy to allow the other parties to enjoy some good profits. Some companies pay their suppliers so low, such that the suppliers lack the value of the efforts that they input in their work. As if that is not enough, some companies go ahead to produce low quality or unsafe products. In case the company faces strict regulations in the country of production, the unsafe products are shipped into third world nations. This very sad incidence affects innocent individuals who purchase such products unknowingly. Some companies are used to offering the intermediaries with kickbacks so that they can continue purchasing their products. Companies that practice unethical business conducts that harm the suppliers and the consumers should know that their practices might have adverse consequences than anticipated. Once the suppliers find other places where they can sell their products at fair prices, they would stop supplying raw materials for such companies with immediate effect. Unethical business practices that involves the offering of kickbacks to win customers could have costly legal repercussions. Finally, the consumers have all the rights to file lawsuits in case they consume unsafe products. Such cases may have adverse consequences to the business, which may end up paying heavy fines, or even being ordered to close down because of their unet hical practices. The destroyed reputation of such companies may cause their sales to reduce drastically, and the company may end up being bankrupt. Deceptive sales practices Companies’ sales managers are obligated to try all possible ways of making massive sales. However, that does not mean that the companies should involve themselves in deceptive sales practices. In the GlaxoSmithKline case, the company promoted its unapproved antidepressants for human consumption (Thomas Schmidt, 2012). The unethical business practice clearly indicated that the executives of the company were extremely selfish. No amount of fine can compensate for the unethical practice of selling unapproved drugs to humans. Further, the company distorted the data of a diabetic drug that recorded very high sales, and it marketed other drugs improperly. Genuinely, drugs are meant to enhance human life, and the named unethical practices concerning drugs are so inhumane. Even after paying the fine amounting to $3 billion, GlaxoSmithKline does not tremble because their sales exceeded that amount by far. While GlaxoSmithKline may not feel the pain of paying such a huge fine, the company executives should know that its publicity reputation was destroyed. The company may never gain the huge profits that it made in the past. Regardless of how effective their drugs would be, informed customers will tend to shy away from purchasing their drugs. Once consumers know that a company employs unethical business practice in their operations, the effects are inerasable. A company like GlaxoSmithKline that has had some good reputation for many years can have its brand name torn down because of a single unethical incident. Therefore, companies that are practicing deceptive and unethical sales practices should know that their practices would tore the company down in a matter of seconds. Harming the environment All companies ought to adhere to the pollution norms set by the government. Moreover, the compan ies should adhere to the corporate social responsibility policy that obliges companies to honor the surrounding environment and the people in it. However, cases have occurred where companies are involved in unethical behaviors that harm the environment. Some companies release chemical pollutants into the air or into water bodies. Such companies do not care about the repercussions of their ill deeds. The companies release toxics that harm the lives of the living things around their locality. They evade the expenses that are associated with the treatment of toxics before they are released into the environment. This sad incidence clearly indicates that the greedy executives of such companies care less about those individuals and other living things that are affected in one way or another. One thing that companies harming the environment without caring ought to know is that some individuals who lived in the past cared about the people in the current generation. They should make it their obligation to think about their descendants who will need a safe environment. Moreover, the affected individuals would be junior employees of the company who may suffer from lifestyle diseases. Of course, the company will have to cater for their Medicare bills, and pay fines if employees decide to sue the company. It is noteworthy that the worst repercussion of unethical behaviors regarding the destruction of the environment is the lowered organizational credibility. The company’s partners, customers, and all other stakeholders will feel intimidated to be associated with a company that does not value the environment. Further, the courts can even order the company to be closed down. Conclusion Indeed, unethical business practices harm a series of people, whereas; only a few greedy incumbents enjoy the fruits of their ill deeds. Essentially, if the global economy is to be on the safe side, companies must adopt ethical business practices. Business executives must ensure that th eir businesses spend their investors’ monies in worthwhile projects. They should ensure that the investors obtain their dividends in time. As discussed, some vulnerable employees suffer in silence, and it is upon the business managers to ensure that they treat all their employees equally. The managers have a responsibility of offering a favorable working environment for all their employees. They have to ensure that the employees’ salaries are disbursed at the right time. In the case of customers, the involved stakeholders of the company must ensure that the customers obtain quality products and services. Business managers should never take advantage of their might to disadvantage their competitors. Moreover, company managers should understand that the government depends on taxes to develop the nations. Therefore, company executives are obliged to ensure that the company pays taxes exclusively. Finally, companies are requested to have a corporate social responsibility. Polluting the environment should be outdated, as companies ought to employ practices that are environmental friendly. Companies should comply with the government’s rules of conserving the air, water, and the general environment. Certainly, if all companies adopt the above named ethical practices, every individual in the world would be very comfortable, whereas, companies will be making honorable profits. References Clifford, S. Barstow, D. (2012). Wal-Mart inquiry reflects alarm on corruption. The New York Times. Web. George, J.M. Jones, G.R. (2010). Understanding and managing organizational behavior (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Hill, A. Plimmer, G. (2013). G4S: The inside story. Financial Times. Web. Thomas, K. Schmidt M.S. (2012). Glaxo agrees to pay $3 billion in fraud settlement. The New York Times. Web. This term paper on Unethical business practices and their effects was written and submitted by user Camryn Campos to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.