About the U.S. Department of Labor

About the U.S. Department of Labor The United States Department of Labor is a cabinet-level department in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government headed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor as appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of the U.S. Senate. The Department of Labor is responsible for workplace safety and health, wage and hour standards, racial diversity, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and maintenance of key labor-related economic statistics. As a regulatory department, the Department of Labor has the power to create federal regulations deemed necessary to implement and enforce labor-related laws and policies enacted by Congress. Department of Labor Fast Facts The United States Department of Labor is a cabinet-level, regulatory department in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government. The Department of Labor is headed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor as appointed by the President of the United States with the approval of the Senate.The Department of Labor is primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of laws and regulations relating to workplace safety and health, wage and hour standards, racial diversity, unemployment benefits, and re-employment services. The purpose of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners of the United States, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment. In carrying out this mission, the Department administers a variety of federal labor laws guaranteeing workers rights to safe and healthful working conditions, a minimum hourly wage and overtime pay, freedom from employment discrimination, unemployment insurance, and workers compensation. The Department also protects workers pension rights; provides for job training programs; helps workers find jobs; works to strengthen free collective bargaining; and keeps track of changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements. As the Department seeks to assist all Americans who need and want to work, special efforts are made to meet the unique job market problems of older workers, youths, minority group members, women, the handicapped, and other groups. In July 2013, then Secretary of Labor Tom Perez summarized the purpose of the Department of Labor in stating, â€Å"Boiled down to its essence, the Department of Labor is the department of opportunity.† Brief History of the Department of Labor First established by Congress as the Bureau of Labor under the Department of the Interior in 1884, the Department of Labor became an independent agency in 1888. In 1903, it was reassigned as a bureau of the newly-created cabinet-level Department of Commerce and Labor. Finally, in 1913, President William Howard Taft signed a law establishing the Department of Labor and the Department of Commerce as separate cabinet-level agencies as they remain today. On March 5, 1913, President Woodrow Wilson appointed William B. Wilson as the first Secretary of Labor. In October 1919, the International Labour Organization chose Secretary Wilson to chair its first meeting, even though the United States had not yet become a member nation. On March 4, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt appointed Frances Perkins to be Secretary of Labor. As the first female cabinet member, Perkins served for 12 years, becoming the longest-serving Secretary of Labor. Following the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the Department of Labor made the government’s first concerted effort to promote racial diversity in the hiring practices of labor unions. In 1969, Secretary of Labor George P. Shultz imposed the Philadelphia Plan requiring Pennsylvania construction unions, which had previously refused to accept black members, to admit a certain number of blacks by an enforced deadline. The move marked the first imposition of racial quotas by the U.S. federal government.

Publicly traded corporation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Publicly traded corporation - Assignment Example By doing so, when customers go for shopping, they get quality products and quality assistance from the attendants thereby making the customers feel delighted and satisfied (Karen, 2001). With this vision, Woolworth ensures that the customers make repeat sales. The organizations vision is â€Å"to continue to drive its retail business, bring to customers greater convenience, quality, lower prices and better value, range, freshness and service.† The whole reason for an organization to have a vision is to remain relevant in the industry and to ensure its sustainability in the future. With this vision, Woolworth has embarked on industry and market research in order to ensure its survival in the industry. Its survival depends on the growth of the company, the growth of its employees, satisfaction of its customer base, quality and durable products, affordable and competitive prices, innovation, creativity and better customer service. (Comyns, 2000). The stakeholders also have an imp act on the success of any organization. Stakeholders are people who have interests in an organization. Stake holders in an organization include investors, shareholders, staff suppliers, customers, governing bodies and suppliers, business partners, trade associations and the community that surrounds the organization. All these stakeholders have to be satisfied by the company, thus Woolworth as an organization with stakeholders has to work hard towards the satisfaction of its stakeholders, and when they are satisfied, it means that the business is successful. Stakeholders play an important role in the success of the company, thus Woolworth aims at appreciating the importance of the stakeholders in the organization. Apart from this, the organization involves the stakeholders in the development, implementation and managing of business goals and objectives. Woolworth also informs the stake holders of culture associated with the company. Furthermore, Woolworth ensures a good relationship with the stake holders to avoid any disruption of the business. When a section of the stakeholders demand a resource, the company plans for the particular resource, ensures the particular stake holder is satisfied and that the business continues with its smooth operation. Woolworth also ensures flow of communication between the company and the stakeholders at all times when something happens. Lastly, Woolworth arranges for community development projects, medical camps and educational sessions for the stakeholders (Anderson, 2005). All these are done to satisfy the stakeholders as they are important to the success of the company. Five forces of competition to determine how they impact the company Rivalry in the industry Woolworth faces competition from four major competitors namely Sears, Wal-Mart, Kmart and Kholac Corporation. These are the main players in the industry each with a large customer base. Since these five companies are the main players, the industry has been slow in gro wth because the market has been dominated by these retail giants. Woolworth has to compete with these other equally successful organizations. It therefore has to up its game in terms of employee satisfaction and motivation, customer delight and satisfaction and innovation (Institution, 2011). Woolworth has to ensure that the products it holds in its shelves

Product development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Product development - Assignment Example Product development process is basically an introduction of a new product which every company has to go through at a certain point of time. Individual’s needs and wants change with time, therefore it is essential for the organization to tailor an existing product or develop a new product in accordance to those needs. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the research would be to find out whether product development is the best way to gain competitive advantage and in doing so achieve the following objectives: Impact of product development in the current fast-moving environment. Identify how product development can result in higher market share. Background and Methodology Presently, competition has increased so much that it has become essential for every company to gain a competitive edge over its competitors by adopting various strategies and methods. The purpose of this study is to find out the role of product development in achieving competitive advantage and increasing companyâ⠂¬â„¢s market share. This research will be based on secondary data, where I would be going through various research reports, working papers and publications on product development. Literature Review: Though developing a new product is not at all an easy task to do, but to succeed and maintain your position in the industry, it is essential to build up a new product line. To do this, it is important to conduct a detailed survey in order to come up with a product that perfectly meets the requirements of your target market. Mark Abraham has defined product development as a process of creating and altering products delivered to the consumers and doing variations that are significant and demanded by the customers. He further said that an item can never be considered a product until it is not delivered properly. Therefore, the process of product development also includes various departments like marketing, testing, technical, quality service and many others within the organization. As ment ioned earlier product development is a complicated process and the positive result can only be achieved if this process is broken down into various steps and each step is successfully completed. New product development not only helps meet the needs and wants of an individual which in turn increases company’s overall sale but also helps maintain its competitive position. (Mark Abraham, 2011) In another study which was conducted by Khade and Alan it is said, companies in order to gain competitive advantage should offer customers with what they demand and at a cost they are willing to pay for it. Competitive advantage can be gained by different means but two most feasible methods include: utilizing experience curve and through product development or innovation. The intelligent use of both these methods can help in achieving a competitive advantage. When does a company have competitive advantage? It is when a company is ahead of its competitors in terms of quality products, profi t and attracting consumers. This can be done by producing superior products, providing excellent customer service and attaining lower cost. All this come under the process of product development. In today’s fast changing environment, it is difficult for the organizations to cope up with the growing needs of the people. Therefore, only organizations that are successfully able to meet these needs by developing new products are able to sustain their position in the market. (Khade, Alan S,2003) Presently, there are so many companies in a single industry that it has become difficult to compete. Competing on services and price is not enough in current

Information Searches Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Information Searches - Term Paper Example A low involvement product can also be one that requires less effort in decision making because it is constantly bought. A regular buying behavior normally occurs if the involvement is low and there is a small brand difference. (Sandhusen, 2000) In this case therefore, the consumer of the product selects it because it is familiar to him or her. A man’s perfume is a good example of a product in this category. Medium involvement purchase is defined as a situation whereby the consumer would not care when selecting a product for purchase. For instance when booking a holiday hotel room, the consumer may not mind about the nature of services at the hotel because he or she there for a short time. Most products and services in this category are normally impulse because there is normally no prior consideration to buy them. An example is the purchase of new dresses, blouse and jewelry for a night out. High involvement purchases are those whereby the buyer spares much time and effort in s earching for the products. Involvement in any type of purchase gets high for those products that are costly and are much significant to ones’ life. (Evans, 1982). Consumer behavior is the study of individual or groups and how they choose, secure and dispose products and services in order for them to get satisfied. ... (Kotler,1986). Consumers normally carry out both internal and external search. Internal search is normally a psychological process that involves a buyer’s perception about a certain product. The consumer may want to know about their direct experiences about a certain product in the market: The feelings, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors about a certain product in the market. For instance, a lady may not want to use certain soap because it dries her skin. Information search is also a tool to determine consumer behavior which is affected by the buyer’s learning, attitude, perceptions and risk.(Kotler,1986). Manufacturers of products will normally come up with the necessary actions which make consumers search for information about their purchases. These include processes such as, standardization of prizes for the products, advertising which creates awareness to customers for them to make the appropriate decision about a product. Again, they can offer promotions and free sam ples in order to motivate the buyers. Thirdly, manufacturing companies of these products should at times brand their products so that the customers can notice something new about the products and buy them. In the production of a lady’s perfume for instance, makers need to pay attention to the above marketing strategies. (Kotler,1986). Problem recognition helps consumers feel a discrepancy about the number of brands of a product in the market. The principles regarding problem recognition and reaching the consumer’s desired state include the following. First is the issue of product analysis. This is whereby makers of products look keenly in to the product before selling it to consumers. Again, the makers need to

Fall of Malacca Empire

Fall of Malacca Empire FALL OF MALACCA EMPIRE The golden age of Malacca ended in 1511. Empire Malacca who called to an end after the Portuguese attack Malacca under the rule of Sultan Mansur Shah. Internal Factors WEAK LEADERSHIP OPPRESSIVE ADMINISTRATION Weak ruling government is the root cause to the fall of the Malacca Sultanate. They were overdependence on Tun Perak until they can’t find a capable leader to replace him. After the death of the Bendahara Tun Perak, Malacca lacked an efficient leader as the replacement of Tun Perak which is Tun Mutahir as a Bendahara was a weak leader because he more concern on his personal welfare and biased during his administration. Many of the ministers expressed their dissatisfaction with this aspect of the way of his management style. As a result, there were often struggles for power. Besides, Sultan Mahmud who paid only a little attention to the administration consider as a weak leader too. He enables the officers to act as they pleased. Bribing and defamation were rife and inevitably result in economic instability and discontent among the people. Corruption in administration to gain personal wealth had caused the imposed of high taxes on citizens and traders forced merchants to shift t heir attention to Acheh, the other trading ports. At the same time, Bendahara Tun Mutahir being accused that he attempted to overthrow the king. He evoked the anger of Sultan Mahmud so without further investigation Sultan Mahmud executed Bendahara Tun Mutahir and his family. Raja Ahmad the inheritor was also weak and inefficient. When Sultan Mahmud realized he was wrong, he handed reign to his son which was unable to help him to rule his empire. Whereas Bendahara Tun Perpatih, the successor which is also weak, ill and old. Son of Sultan Mahmud DISUNITY Malacca’s weak position caused the disunited of people and spilt into factions. Bendahara Tun Mutahir is and Indian-Muslims. His weak administration and practiced favoritism had caused the Malays to become hostile towards them and develop into racial tension. Bendahara Tun Mutahir been appointed had caused the jealousy among Malays and the evident was when Sultan Mahmud commanded Bendahara Tun Mutahir and Tun Ali to be sentence to death at the betrayal by Raja Mandaliar and Laksamana Khoja Hassan, an Indian native. Bendahara Tun Perak’s son, Tepok been appointed as Bendahara but he was too old. All of these factors had causes the disunity among the residents of Malacca. THE WEAKNESS OF MALACCA MILITARY AND DEFENCE Continued misunderstanding caused segregation and disunity among the people. The situation became worse and critical when the Portuguese, led by Alfonso d’Albuquerque attacked Malacca. For Malacca soldiers, they are losing of skills because they not involved in war for a long time. They had been using traditional weapons such as creese, arrow and spear during the war with Portuguese. Whereas, Portuguese used modern weapons such as cannon that clearly different from Malacca in term of range and mobility. Portuguese armed forces have well-equipped weapons and good strategic planning with the guidance of Alfonso d’Albuquerque. Before Portuguese attack Malacca, they had conquered Goa India so they have support of army from Goa India. But for Malacca, the mercenary soldiers from Jawa abandoned state during the war. DISLOYALTY OF FEREIGNERS AND MERCHANTS Due to the political instability, merchants who came and stay at Malacca did not believe to the government of Malacca. They even backed and supported Portuguese during their attack. For Chinese merchant, they provided huge barges on loan to Portuguese. Tamil merchant provided information regarding Malacca defense system. External Factors THE DISCOVERY OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (TAAJUNG HARAPAN) It is a naval passage in Southern Africa that discovered by Bartholomew Diaz in 1488. The successful of crossing of the Cape of Good Hope allowed the sailor to sail from the west which is Portugal to the East. While Prince Henry eager to locate their trading in the East that lead to the encouragement of his people to sail to East with the slogan of ‘ Gospel, Gold, Glory ‘. The expansion of Portuguese sea exploration was pioneered by Vasco da Gama. He was the first to discover the east coasts of India that help in the establishment of Portuguese. EMERGENCE OF OTHERS TRADE CENTERS Due to the oppressive administration and the high taxes, traders started to looked for other port such as Acheh and Brunei. They had finally switched to the other ports where they can be treated fairly. PREACHING Lopez de Sequeira was assigned by Prince Henry to analyze the trade potentials in Malacca. He arrived at Malacca carrying with him a letter offer from the King. His job was to establish trade with Malacca. Bendahara Tun Mutahir and the officer who were powerful in the court were hostile towards the Christian. The merchants from Gujarat, who got the news the Portuguese planned to preached a holy war against those Muslims infidels. Unfortunately, because of the argument between Bendahara Tun Mutahir and Sultan Mahmud Shah, de Sequeira managed to get known a plot was planned to kill him and his is managed to escape from Malacca with his fleet, leaving behind several of his assistants as captives. Conclusion From the research we had make, we conclude that Malacca Sultanate Empire had gone through three eras which are the beginning and the rise, the middle and the fall of the empire at the same time it contributes a special slots in Malaysian history, because it is said to be the origin of the present sultanate of Malaysia. From the process that Malacca gone through we summarize that effective and systematic administration had lead Malacca to the best outcome. The leader himself must be a role model to make the empire grow and unite the citizen. Citizens’ power can’t be neglected because it influenced the development of any empire in the world including merchandise and traders. We are reminded that in whatever time and place unwise leadership, corruption, disunity and weak defense must be avoided or otherwise turmoil history happens again. Referencing History of Melaka Lonely Planet Travel Information. 2015. History of Melaka Lonely Planet Travel Information. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/peninsular-malaysia-west-coast/melaka/history. [Accessed 22 January 2015]. The fall of Malacca. 2015. The fall of Malacca. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.malaysiahistory.net/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=26:the-fall-of-malaccacatid=46:early-history. [Accessed 22 January 2015]. Fall of Civilizations Malacca Sultanate (Revised Version). 2015. Fall of Civilizations Malacca Sultanate (Revised Version). [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/105111287/Fall-of-Civilizations-Malacca-Sultanate-Revised-Version#scribd. [Accessed 22 January 2015]. The Fall of Melaka. 2015. The Fall of Melaka. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/port1.htm. [Accessed 22 January 2015].

William Goldings Lord of the Flies :: Essays Papers

Lord of the Flies In the midst of a raging war, a plane evacuating a group of English boys from Britain is shot down over a deserted tropical island. Marooned, the boys set about electing a leader and finding a way to be rescued. They choose Ralph as their leader, and Ralph appoints Jack to be the leader of the hunters. Ralph, Jack, and Simon set off on an expedition to explore the island. When they return, Ralph declares that they must light a signal fire to attract the attention of passing ships. The boys begin to do so, using the lens from Piggy's eyeglasses to ignite dead wood, but they are more interested in playing than in paying close attention to their duties, and the fire quickly ignites the forest. A large swath of dead wood burns out of control. One of the youngest boys disappears, presumably having burned to death. At first, the boys enjoy their life without grown-ups. They splash in the lagoon and play games, though Ralph complains that they should be maintaining the signal fire and building huts for shelter. The hunters have trouble catching a pig, but Jack becomes increasingly preoccupied with the act of hunting. One day, a ship passes by on the horizon, and Ralph and Piggy notice, to their horror, that the signal fire has burned out; it had been the hunters' responsibility to maintain it. Furious, Ralph accosts Jack, but the hunter has just returned with his first kill, and all the boys seem gripped with a strange frenzy, reenacting the chase in a kind of wild dance. When Piggy criticizes him, Jack hits him across the face. Ralph blows the conch shell used to summon the boys and reprimands them in a speech intended to restore order. Yet there is a larger, more insidious problem than keeping the signal fire lit and overcoming the difficulties of hunting: the boys have started to become afraid. The littlest boys (known as "littluns") have been troubled by nightmares from the beginning, and more and more boys now believe that there is some sort of beast or monster lurking on the island. At the meeting, the older boys try to convince the others to think rationally: if there were a monster, where would it hide during the daytime? One of the littluns suggests that it hides in the sea, a proposition that terrifies the whole group.

In the country or in the city Essay

Where is the best place to raise a child, in the city or in the country? I would rather live and raise my family in the country, because of the clean environment, peaceful atmosphere, and smaller schools. My primary reason for choosing the country instead of the city is the clean environment. The air smells fresh and clean, because there are less cars creating pollution. In the city, there are busses, taxis, and cars on all the streets contributing harmful chemicals into the air. While automobiles are not the only cause of pollution, there are also more factories and plants to pollute the air. In the country, the only major industry would be farming, which does not pollute the air in any way. There are more people in the city breathing the air and less forest area to help control the pollution. Since there are less people in the country than in the city, the amount of littering on the roads is also less. The polluted air is very harmful to the human body and that is why I will choose to raise my family in the country where there is less pollution. The clean environment is not the only reason that I will choose to live in the country. Another reason for my decision to live in the country is the peaceful atmosphere. There are many more crimes committed in the city than in the country, because there is more drug use there. People with drugs are probably not going to sell them in the country, because they know they can sell more in the city. Drugs are not the only reason for the high crime rates in the city. There are shopping malls and businesses that are not in the country, which leads to more theft in the city. Also, the atmosphere in the country seems to be a much slower pace, because there are fewer people and jobs. The peacefulness in the country is very soothing and calming after a hard day at work. Also, I hope that my children will grow up to be good people, and I believe that the odds of that are much better if they are raised in the country rather than in the city. My last reason for choosing to live in the country instead of the city is that the schools in the country are much smaller than in the city. I believe  that smaller schools are better for the students. The schools in the city are much larger to accommodate the larger population of students that live there. I feel that the advantages of attending a smaller school are many. They have smaller classes, which gives the students more one-on-one time with their teacher. The teacher can really get to know each of their students and learn how they can help them be successful. In larger schools, teachers have too many students to have the chance to know each one personally, and they do not have the time to help them as much as a teacher in a smaller school. I also think it is easier for the students in a smaller school to make friends, because they get used to the same faces and know each other well. There are more students in larger schools, which will make it harder for them to get to know one another. City schools are also known for having cliques, which makes it hard for some students to be accepted by others. I believe that the smaller schools in the country are more beneficial than the larger schools in the city. In my opinion, the country is the best place to live and raise a family. I have discussed the three main reasons I chose the country rather than the city: the clean environment, peaceful atmosphere, and smaller schools. I hope others will agree that the country is the land of the free.

Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare

Josh tests positive for hepatitis C. DR. Smith who ordered the labs is also Josh’s brother-in-law. When Dr. Smith informs Josh that his results will be reported to the public health department, asks Dr. Smith not to report him as a favor since they are family and he promises to get treatment somewhere else. Josh is embarrassed by the way he contracted the disease. Not only is Dr. Smith asked to break the law by his brother-in-law, his wife, Josh’s sister, who is concerned for her brother expects Dr. Smith to share the test results of his patient.If he tells her anything without Josh’s consent he will violate HIPPA. Dr Smith is worried about being accused of malpractice if he gives in and doesn’t ensure Josh’s results are not only reported but also that he receives proper care for the diagnoses. This case is legally and ethically sensitive. The doctor faces issues with relationships, confidentiality, consent, legal requirements of treating communicab le diseases, as well as malpractice. Legal and â€Å"Ethical issues in healthcare are common. Nearly every decision that’s made has ethical implications–for patients, for providers and for healthcare leaders.â€Å" (Larson, 2013).The first ethical violation that Dr. Smith is guilty of is having a personal relationship with a patient. â€Å"Relationships with patients are forbidden by both the medical and nursing code of ethics. Such actions are considered serious misconduct and can result in expulsion from the profession and losing the license to practice† (Greenwood, 2013). Because of the relationship with the patient, Dr. Smith is being asked to violate the patient’s confidentiality. â€Å"Confidentiality is both an ethical and a legal issue.Keeping information about a patient confidential is a way of showing respect for the person’s autonomy; releasing information can damage the patient. † (Greenwood, 2013). Dr. Smith’s wife asks him to share medical information about her brother, She feels she has the right to this information but does not understand the position she is putting her husband in. he understands her concerns for her brother, however if this were any other patient Dr. Smith would never consider discussing a patient with her. â€Å"There are also specific laws regarding the release of information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA.The laws define exactly what information can be released and to whom. † (Greenwood, 2013). Dr. Smith needs to ensure he keeps the confidentiality of his patient and doesn’t violate HIPPA. Josh is also asking Dr. Smith to break the law by not report the test results to the public health department. There is a legal requirement for reporting and treating communicable diseases. â€Å"Reporting of cases of infectious diseases and related conditions has been and remains a vital step in controlling and preventing the spread of communicable disease. † (CDC, 1990).Dr. Smith must report the positive test results according to the law; however he does have a close relationship with his brother-in-law and does not want to lose his trust, especially with his current medical condition. Although Dr. Smith does not need consent to report the case of hepatitis C, he will need the patient’s consent to begin any treatment for the disease. â€Å"Patients must provide informed consent for treatment to be legal. † (Greenwood, 2013). â€Å"Health care practitioners of all sorts face the risk of being sued for malpractice.A lawsuit may be brought from an injury related to surgery, defective equipment or medical products, care that was omitted or a deliberate act that caused harm to a patient. † (Greenwood, 2013). Dr. Smith can be sued for malpractice by anyone who contracts hepatitis C from Josh if he does not report the case and give Josh the proper treatment. By choosing to not report or tr eat Josh’s case, Dr. Smith will be guilty of omitting care. A kind act by a caring doctor has quickly turned into a legally and ethically nightmare. Dr.Smith chose to make his brother-in-law a patient by ordering labs that gave a positive result for hepatitis C. Dr. Smith can now face charges and lose his license to practice medicine. This whole situation could have been handled differently and the weight of violating medical law and ethics would not be on Dr. Smith’s shoulders. There is still a way for out of the doctor to correct the situation. All he has to do is report the case of hepatitis C, and hand off his brother-in-law to another provider with no connection to ensure he does in fact receive the proper care.