...2003 Research Quarterly ❶y❸❹ Work/Life Balance Challenges and Solutions Nancy R. Lockwood HR Content Expert y SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SHRM Research ❶y❸❹ 2003 SHRM®Research Quarterly Abstract In organizations and on the home front, the challenge of work/life balance is rising to the top of many employers’ and employees’ consciousness. In today’s fast-paced society, human resource professionals seek options to positively impact the bottom line of their companies, improve employee morale, retain employees with valuable company knowledge, and keep pace with workplace trends. This article provides human resource professionals with an historical perspective, data and possible solutions—for organizations and employees alike—to work/life balance. Three factors—global competition, personal lives/family values, and an aging workforce— present challenges that exacerbate work/life balance. This article offers the perspective that human resource professionals can assist their companies to capitalize on these factors by using work/life initiatives to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Work/Life Balance: Challenges and Solutions I n a society filled with conflicting responsibilities and commitments, work/life balance has become a predominant issue in the workplace. Three major factors contribute to the interest in, and the importance of, serious consideration of work/life balance: 1) global competition; 2) renewed interest in personal...
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...decrease employer health related costs and loss of outputs while increasing the knowledge and buy in of employees. If employees have limited understanding of benefit programs and the programs themselves are obsolete to employee needs and current trends, the sponsoring organization is wasting financial resources and contributing to the potential decrease in employee productivity due to unmet health and wellness related needs. Martocchio (2014), discusses the responsibilities of benefit professionals as providing assistance to employees surrounding education on the various options of benefit programs as well as their need for expertise in designing and administering benefits programs. He further discusses the importance of benefit professionals remaining current on trends and innovative approaches to practices and development of benefit programs. The text additionally states that many employees have minimal understanding of the wordage and regulations attached to the components of the benefits packages. Traditional approaches to developing and marketing health and wellness benefit programs in the organizational culture can prove to be financially costly to employers and unbeneficial to employees. Traditional approaches have focused on the employee having to decipher things, read through thick packets and often times in a reactive manner due to an issue they were unable to address to due lack of clarity. Throughout this document, I will discuss alternative approaches to engaging...
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...As a teacher it is your responsibility to not only present new material to the student but to teach them and to verify and monitor what information they are actually obtaining and processing. There are many forms of assessments that teachers can use to evaluate students understanding of lesson material. I will suggest a few methods that I will use in my secondary education mathematics classroom. The first strategy of monitoring I will discuss will be quizzes. There are multiple advantages for this form of testing. First, is that it easily produces recorded data. I can quickly grade multiple choice questions and record the students’ grade. Being able to record this grade will allow me to present scores to the parents when I am asked for a student’s progress. Another advantage to a quiz is the ability to assess both the entire class and each individual’s understanding on a topic. I will be able to look at the overall measurement and decide whether there is a need to review the topic or lesson, or if the class is ready to advance in the given studies. Also, by presenting multiple quizzes through the term the students and I can create a set format, which can help ease classroom anxiety. Another form of monitoring students’ progression through a lesson is homework. Homework can be one of the most effective methods for tracking mathematical progress. Assigning, collecting and grading homework can be a very timely way to gather information on how each student is progressing through...
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...Journals and Scientific Documents The purpose of journals and professional papers is to inform the public on a specific subject matter. These writings relate directly to a broad spectrum dependent on the edition or publication specifics. Of professional papers, several types can provide a scope of information and credibility toward a purveyance of technical or detailed information. The structure is usually even flowing and organized with particular information segments set out about the constituency of the writing. These papers, intended for publication in special interest journals, enhance the writers research, writing, and documentation capabilities as some of the information, not being his/her own will need to be accredited as if it is not, than plagiarism will be extrapolated. Journals, usually published by or for a particular subject matter or client, are detailed and accurate. There may be a UCLA journal, National Geographic Journal, or even a mechanic’s journal. The particulars of this, geared toward a particular audience and each entry, will usually comprise two titles sharing a general viewpoint for the nonprofessional and an entry specific title for the professional. The purpose of journals is to inform a group or individual of the credible elements related to a curriculum or scientific, professional, or academic scope. The writings or information in a journal may be composed of professional papers but the opposite is not the same. ...
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...Difference between journals and diaries:- The difference between a diary and a journal is that a diary is where you can write down what happened during the day and keep a record of stuff. A journal is to write your own personal feelings in, and things that happened, and how they happened. A diary is a report of what happened during the day—where you ate, who you met, the details that what was happened in the office, and who took whose side. It is a like a newspaper about you. A journal is completely different. A journal is about examining your life. It’s a GPS system for your spirit. Journals lead to insight, growth, and sometimes, achieving a goal. You can keep a journal in anything that feels comfortable and that’s portable–a spiral notebook, a bind book you have put together with lokta paper, index cards held together with a rubber band. You can use a computer; keep a blog, although that doesn’t work as well for me. But things on the internet are simply not private, password protected or not. To keep a journal on paper, pick a time of day to write. Keep it regularly. It makes it easier. Try that you didn’t stuck to an exercise program because then it can nailed it into schedule at a certain time. Writing works the same way. First thing in the morning, last thing at night, while eating lunch at your desk. Write with a good pen that feels good and whose color you like. In the beginning, you may have to set a time limit. Three minutes is good. Just write whatever comes...
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...goals.These moments that I share in this special relationship shape me to grow from the past and prepare for the future. Unfettered,capabilities to share my innermost thoughts allowed captivated watch as I begin to blossom into a mature strong being able to stand back and marveled as the story unfolded. A connection so powerful that others long for the ability to have their words caressed and accepted. My aptitude to cope with the grind of life increased as the pages filled up. The ivory shelf above my bed cradled the secret books housing the foundation of character built over the years, strengthen by an everlasting, unbreakable, and irreplaceable bond.Each page of my journal is a connection that provides me with the ability to purge, enhances personal growth, and tells the world my story. Writing in a journal is a means to purge. The remembrance of hastening home knowing that serenity would come once Iexpelled the battle rampant in my head, enabled me to function and endure long hours bursting with the bile of sentiments blaring for discharge.When reflecting...
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...Since the very beginning of my days as a student, I have despised literature. English has always been a subject that I dreaded. I do not loathe literature solely for my lack of writing skills, because I do enjoy reading, rather it’s the fact that I tend to lose my train of thought while writing an essay or while brainstorming an idea I want to address. I struggle with organizing my thoughts and making concise relationsHIPS[?][CONNECTIONS?] between literary texts and the assignments given by my teachers. The only time I do enjoy writing is when I can write freely in my journal. By writing in a journal, I do not worry about the grammar and organized aspect of writingCOMMA and it clears my mind. I find that I am able to write what I feel [easier ]MORE EASILY in my private journal versus writing an essay that will be graded. [NICE INTRO – CONTRARY TO YOUR TITLE, THIS SEEMS AS THOUGH IT’S GOING TO BE ABOUT YOUR JOURNAL WRITING VS. ACADEMIC WRITING, NOT GRAMMAR? ALSO, YOU NEED TO GET RID OF THIS EXTRA LINE BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS.] During [my ]seventh grade, in middle school, I had a very tough English teacher. Mrs. Carson was a very nice person outside of class[,]SEMI-COLON howeverCOMMA her toughness really displayed itself when she graded papers. Her main focus[ed] was grammar and clean organization rather than THE ideas of the topic. The entire year I struggled with her; each assignment I struggled to form my papers the way she would want and failed to remember the grammar rules and...
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...The Dynamics of Writing and Family “Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand." -- Bruce Fairchild Barton, advertising executive and congressman Uncle would say, "There are certain inalienable truths you must accept." So when I raged about Atheists being disqualified for holding office in Arkansas or how it's illegal to carry a bible in Singapore, he'd say, "Write it down. Let it out." I've filled four journals. On an idle Thursday, when my mind was free of frustration, I read the crumpled, yellowed pages of my black leather journal and saw a natural progression from black to color. I had precisely captured all my experiences, but in an entirely aesthetic way. From then on, every time I opened my journal, I found myself in an unfamiliar environment writing to capture a mood or scene with creative language. It was my therapeutic getaway from reality. In the summertime, every Sunday, after taking a rattling cold bus, two smoky, humid subway trains, and picking up the best peanuts on 114th street, I would arrive at Riverside Park, New York. I wrote at least one piece every time I was there and shared my work with the same old man who perused the New York Times and the same skinny college student who sunbathed in her bikini. After noting any criticism they gave, I would return home, edit and embellish each piece. ...
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...How to Find Specific Journal Articles: (by Mark James) This is a step-by-step guide to finding specific research articles that you have been given the complete reference for (e.g. for seminar readings listed on Moodle, or for articles cited in lectures). To find articles when you do not have a full reference for (e.g. when you’re looking for research on a topic/theory/model generally) please refer to the slide “Finding Sources” of the Study Skills slides provided on Moodle. All seminar readings are available to download via the University of Kent library website using the following steps. Example - how to find: Poropat, A.E. (2009). A meta-analytic analysis of the five-factor model of personality and academic performance. Psychological Bulletin, 135 (2), 322-38. Step 1: Go to http://www.kent.ac.uk/library/ - click ‘Search for journals” and enter title of the journal (e.g. Psychological Bulletin) here: Step 2: Click on one of the search results: Some journals are accessible through multiple providers (e.g. PsycARTICLES, Academic Search Complete, Wiley-Blackwell Full Collection), with varying levels of access. Check the date of the article you’re searching for was published and select a provider which holds the journal published that year. Step 3: A new window will pop up, and you will be asked to input your Kent username and password. Once provided you will be taken to the journal providers website. Select the year the reading was published (e.g. 2009)...
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...their qualified dependents. An EAP is a confidential counseling service, paid for by the employer that is designed to help employees and family members who have personal problems as well as work problems that can interfere with their work and family life (Attridge, 2010). Employees and family members will be eligible to receive free counseling for (Attridge, 2010): • Stress • Alcohol and drug problems • Legal and financial problems • Emotional problems • Child/Elder care • Grief and traumatic events The objective of the EAP will be to (Attridge, 2010): • Reduce cost of medical benefits • Reduce turnover • Reduce absenteeism • Increase productivity • Improve efficiency • Reduce lost-time accidents • Increase overall wellness of employees We propose to contract this service out to an outside vendor that will be more qualified to handle the counseling. Benefits, implementation and costs of this program will be thoroughly presented within this proposal. Scope What the company would like to accomplish with implementing an Employee Assistance Program is to protect the health and safety of our workforce; attract and maintain talent; and achieve positive financial performance (Christe, Kirkharlow, 2007). We want to be able to catch a problem before it becomes too big and negatively impacts productivity. The majority of large U.S. companies offer EAP to their...
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...MEMORANDUM DATE: November 29, 2010 TO: James Martin, Director of Human Resources FROM: Name, Assistant Director of Human Resources SUBJECT: Wellness Program Recommendations for Technicraft, Inc. Attached is the report on the implementation of corporate wellness programs. Due to rising health benefit costs and a rising number of health benefit claims, you requested that I investigate the implementation of corporate wellness programs as a way to reduce company costs. In order to determine whether it would be possible to improve employee health and lifestyle habits, while also cutting company costs, I analyzed the results that several companies had after launching their own wellness programs. I also considered and researched the potential disadvantages of implementing a wellness program. After a thorough investigation of all of these factors, I recommend that Technicraft, Inc. implement a corporate wellness program in order to improve employee health and productivity and reduce or stabilize company health benefit costs. I have enjoyed researching this topic and would like to meet with you to discuss my recommendation. I will call you early next week in order to schedule a meeting time or you may contact me at extension 5555. WELLNESS PROGRAM RECCOMMENDATIONS FOR TECHNICRAFT, INC. Prepared for James Martin, Director of Human Resources Technicraft, Inc. 4501 West 92nd Street Indianapolis, IN 46260 Prepared by Name, Assistant Director of Human...
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...Seven Categories of Work-Life Effectiveness Successfully Evolving Your Organization’s Work-Life Portfolio • Caring for Dependents • Health and Wellness • Workplace Flexibility • inancial Support F for Economic Security • Paid and Unpaid Time Off • Community Involvement • liciting Management E Buy-In and Transforming Organizational Culture C1 Defining Work-Life Effectiveness Work-life refers to specific organizational practices, policies and programs that are guided by a philosophy of active support for the efforts of employees to achieve success within and outside the workplace. These employersponsored initiatives comprise a strategic framework referred to as the worklife portfolio, a key element of the organization’s total rewards strategy to attract, motivate and retain employees. Career Build Your Portfolio Step One: Assess your present work-life situation It is easy to construct the outline of your organization’s existing work-life portfolio by performing a simple inventory of the policies, practices and programs currently offered within each category of the work-life portfolio. A useful resource for this activity is the Work-Life Audit, available on the Alliance for Work-Life Progress website. www.awlp.org/pub/selfaudit.pdf he term “work-life” refers to the T intersection of self (the worker), career (work), family and community. Self Life Family Community Creating and Sustaining a Successful Portfolio Building...
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...Instructor: Professor Kathleen Milburn Class: HRIS- HR530 Date: December 11, 2011 Report #1 Shows the numbers and percentages of late performance evaluations for several departments within the county with late performance evaluations could cause several problems. First, they affect employee motivation when employees are waiting on evaluations to be completed for pay raises. This, in turn, may affect morale, productivity, and turn-over rates. The evaluation of employees’ job performance is an important personnel function and is critically important to the organization. Appraisals give the employees an opportunity to contemplate their performance at work. It is the time when employees look forward to a raise in the salary and a promotion. For the managers, appraisals are about reviewing the past performance of their employees and providing them with feedback along with some tips to improve. Performance appraisal is the means by which the work performance of employees is evaluated. Employee performance is assessed in terms of the quality and quantity of work he/she has put in. It is calculated in terms of the time and efforts contributed by the employees in achieving an assigned task. Reviews of employee performance taken within an organization are known as performance or employee appraisals. They aim at analyzing employee performance, identifying their potential and inabilities, in order to determine the employee training needs. They also aim at taking...
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...Abstract The HR practices of Aflac were examined in the context of its effect on employee satisfaction. In 2015, Aflac made the list of 100 best companies to work for as it has done for the past ___years. The team examined the benefits provided to the employees and the workplace culture at Aflac in order to determine why the organization enjoyed a low-rate of employee turnover and why surveys showed that its employees were highly satisfied with working at Aflac. Aflac “strives to deliver quality services to its 4,500 employees while staying competitive in the insurance market” (Reed, 2015). The team determined that part of the employee satisfaction resulted from Aflac’s decision to not lay off its employees during economic downturns. Furthermore, employees are provided with growth opportunities because Aflac promotes from within. We also explored the salary structure and opportunities to earn a higher income Employees are positively impacted by policies that helps them balance their personal and work lives. Aflac has made it very easy for its employees to have a growing professional life while at the same time, enjoy their personal life. Aflac understands the importance of keeping its employees happy and has implemented policies that pushes the company towards those goals. In return, it has an employee base that considers it a great place to work and who works hard to maintain the company’s positive image to its customers. Introduction For 17 consecutive years...
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...A PROJECT REPORT ON “TALENT RETENTION AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT” FOR RING + AQUA A SUBSIDARY OF RAYMOND LTD. SUBMITTED TO UNIVERSITY OF PUNE IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT OF MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA) SUBMITTED BY KAVITA M. PAWAR UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF PROF. AMOL KARE SIR VISVESVARAYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CHINCHOLI, NASHIK- 422 101. 2012-2013 STUDENT’S DECLARATION I undersigned myself declare that, the project entitled, “ TALENT RETENTION AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT” is executed as per the course requirement of two year full time MBA program of University of Pune. This report has not been submitted by me or any other person to any other University or Institution for a degree or diploma course. This is my own and original work. Place: NASHIK Sign of student Date: Kavita M. Pawar ACKNOWLEDGEMENT A project can’t be said to be the work of an Individual. A project is a combination of views, ideas, suggestions & contribution of many people. I am extremely thankful to my project guide Prof. Amol Kare who gave me the opportunity to do this project on subject “A Study of Employee Engagement with Special Reference to Ring Plus Aqua Ltd; Sinnar” as a major part of curriculum. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my Ring Plus Aqua Human Resources & engineering...
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