Is Workplace Drug Testing a Wise Corporate Policy Research Paper

Is Workplace Drug Testing a Wise Corporate Policy - Research Paper Example Why companies enforce drug testing It can not be denied that drug use has substantially changed the norms of behavior among all sectors of society, particularly in the workplace (Carpenter 795; Godfrey and Parrott 30; Walsh 120; Harris 357). Latest available government data showed that 73.8% of full-time workers who use illicit drugs came from only seven industries, namely: accommodation and food services (16.9%); construction (13.7%); arts, entertainment, and recreation (11.6%); information (11.3%); management of companies and enterprises, administrative support, waste management, and remediation services (10.9%); retail trade (9.4%); and other services, except public administration (8.8%) (SAMSHA n. pag.). Violence in the workplace is a serious concern for both workers and employers (Chappell, and Di Martino 15). Interestingly, studies revealed that drug use is a common catalyst of workplace violence (Hanson, Venturelli and Fleckenstein 41). The following reasons summarize employer s’ reasons for implementing drug testing policies: to discourage drug use among employees; negate chances of hiring drug users; identify employees with drug problems and provide assistance for medical intervention; keep the workplace safe; protect the public interest and gain consumer confidence pertaining to workplace safety of their employers; abide by drug testing regulations both on the state and federal levels; and benefit from such programs as the Workers’ Compensation Premium Discount (US Department of Labor par 3). These are the circumstances surrounding the decision of many companies to enforce mandatory drug testing to new recruits and random drug testing to tenured employees. While it is apparent that drug testing is management’s way of adjusting to the changing norms precipitated by drug use among employees, the practice is not readily acceptable for most employees. Management believes that imposing such policy is a necessary evil. Godfrey and Parrot t explained the necessity of curbing drug use among employees on the basis of drug use in the workplace resulting to incurred costs for both management and the employees. This cost is measured according to the impact of drug use on the company productivity. Cost is further broken down into the effect of an employee’s availability to contribute to productivity and the actual productivity of labor while the employee is at work (21). Prevalence of drug testing in the industry Van Fleet and Van Fleet considered safety as the primordial concern of practically all companies especially those working in the assembly line and in medical jobs (74). The trucking industry also conforms to mandated drug testing to ensure the safety of the highways from drug use-related accidents (Jacobson 131). Likewise, transportations companies also police their ranks by complying with the Department of Transportation policy on drug testing (Draper 308). To date, some 40 per cent of companies included i n the Fortune 500 are already enforcing drug screening. These companies, however, revealed that their drug testing policy is more of requirement compliance than admittance that drug use

The story develops Essay Example for Free

The story develops Essay The author of Frankenstein is Mary Shelley. She was born on August 30th 1797 in London. Then later died on February 1st 1851 when she was 53. Her father was William Godwin, he was a radical philosopher and a novelist. Her mother was Mary Wollstonecraft, she is still known today as a feminist. Her mother died in September 10th 1797 of a disease called puerperal fever. Mary Shelley was married to Percy Shelley. She eloped with Percy Shelley at the early age of 16, the reason for this is that Percy Shelley was already married. They eloped to France. Percy Shelley was an important figure in his own right because he was a poet and good friends of her parents. Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley had four children, but sadly only one survived. Shortly after the death of Mary Shelleys first child she had a dream about her dead child being held before a fire and then being restored to life by someone breathing into her. Mary Shelleys husband Percy Shelley drowned when he was 29 years old on a boat trip. The book was written because of a ghost challenge set by Lord Byron. At the time Mary Shelley was only 19, which made her the youngest in the challenge. There were other people who were set the challenge as well but when Lord Byron saw Mary Shelleys book he was deadly serious about trying to get it published. Mary Shelleys life is the key thing that influenced her in writing the novel. One influence in her life was her mother dying when Mary Shelley was only 10 days old. Also three of Mary Shelleys children died in infancy. When one of her children died, shortly after she had a dream of breathing life back into the child. This is said to have been influential towards the novel. The time when Mary Shelley wrote the novel, in the early 19th century, was a very exciting time for scientific and industrial development. It was known as the age of endless possibilities, simply because they thought they could do anything and nothing could stop them. This is thought of to have been another reason why Mary Shelley wrote about Frankenstein because it would appeal to a lot of people at the time it was written.

A Good Neighbor Essay -- Public Relations Essays

A Good Neighbor When it came time to write a Presentation paper for my Comm 235 course on a company's public relations program, I was able to write on the one I've played a key role in developing for my company. Needless to say, I liked the opportunity to brag a little. U.S. Group, Inc. is a general contractor managing residential, commercial, and road construction projects across South Carolina. In a field not known for having good community relations, U.S. Group has developed a public relations program to keep the public informed about its five multi-million dollar road construction projects: State Route 802 in Beaufort, the interchange of U.S. Route 378 and I-26 in Columbia, College Park Road in Ladson, State Route 219 in Newberry, and the interchange of U.S. Route 17-A and I-26 in Summerville. The company’s public relations program centers around three approaches: direct public communications, media communications, and the use of the Internet to supplement its public and media communications, and is overseen by an on-staff public relations specialist working out of the company’s Lowcountry regional office in Summerville. With a background in advertising, political, and Internet communication, Earl Capps, the company’s public relations specialist, manages the company’s public and media communications program. Greg Cook, the company’s Lowcountry Regional Manager, describes the program as part of the company’s â€Å"Good Neighbor† philosophy towards community relations, whose objective at to â€Å"keep the public more informed, reduce conflicts by being more pro-active in the release of information, and improve the image of U.S. Group (Cook).† Direct public communications ... ...ys Austin (Austin). While U.S. Group’s approach to public relations may not yet be the norm in the road construction industry, the motoring public can rest assured the company remains committed to its public relations program as part of its â€Å"Good Neighbor† philosophy. SOURCES CITED Austin, Robin. South Carolina Department of Transportation, Traffic Engineering office. Email interview on 20 June 2003. Capps, Earl. Media Coordinator, U.S. Group, Inc. Personal narrative. Cook, Greg, P.E. Regional Manager, U.S. Group, Inc. Email interviews on 19 June 2003, and follow-up in-person interview on 20 June 2003. Hicks, Jim. Chairman, Beaufort County Planning Commission. Email interview on 17 June 2003. RCIO: Road Construction Information Online. http://www.collegeparkroad.com, http://www.sc802.com, and other project websites. U.S. Group, Inc. A Good Neighbor Essay -- Public Relations Essays A Good Neighbor When it came time to write a Presentation paper for my Comm 235 course on a company's public relations program, I was able to write on the one I've played a key role in developing for my company. Needless to say, I liked the opportunity to brag a little. U.S. Group, Inc. is a general contractor managing residential, commercial, and road construction projects across South Carolina. In a field not known for having good community relations, U.S. Group has developed a public relations program to keep the public informed about its five multi-million dollar road construction projects: State Route 802 in Beaufort, the interchange of U.S. Route 378 and I-26 in Columbia, College Park Road in Ladson, State Route 219 in Newberry, and the interchange of U.S. Route 17-A and I-26 in Summerville. The company’s public relations program centers around three approaches: direct public communications, media communications, and the use of the Internet to supplement its public and media communications, and is overseen by an on-staff public relations specialist working out of the company’s Lowcountry regional office in Summerville. With a background in advertising, political, and Internet communication, Earl Capps, the company’s public relations specialist, manages the company’s public and media communications program. Greg Cook, the company’s Lowcountry Regional Manager, describes the program as part of the company’s â€Å"Good Neighbor† philosophy towards community relations, whose objective at to â€Å"keep the public more informed, reduce conflicts by being more pro-active in the release of information, and improve the image of U.S. Group (Cook).† Direct public communications ... ...ys Austin (Austin). While U.S. Group’s approach to public relations may not yet be the norm in the road construction industry, the motoring public can rest assured the company remains committed to its public relations program as part of its â€Å"Good Neighbor† philosophy. SOURCES CITED Austin, Robin. South Carolina Department of Transportation, Traffic Engineering office. Email interview on 20 June 2003. Capps, Earl. Media Coordinator, U.S. Group, Inc. Personal narrative. Cook, Greg, P.E. Regional Manager, U.S. Group, Inc. Email interviews on 19 June 2003, and follow-up in-person interview on 20 June 2003. Hicks, Jim. Chairman, Beaufort County Planning Commission. Email interview on 17 June 2003. RCIO: Road Construction Information Online. http://www.collegeparkroad.com, http://www.sc802.com, and other project websites. U.S. Group, Inc.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder & Autism in the Classroom Ess

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder & Autism in the Classroom When teaching it must be expected that there will be students that have behavioral disorders. These disorders must be taken into consideration when giving these students the best education possible. Teachers must accommodate to these children and incorporate them into the daily classroom. Every teacher has their own methods of doing this and can use their creativity to come up with these strategies for teaching. Some strategies may not work, so instructors must put much thought into how they are going to accommodate to these particular students. A very common disorder in children is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. These students have a difficult time holding attention due to the lack of the ability to concentrate. These students tend to act impulsively, have attention deficits, and sometimes exude hyperactive behaviors. Children that have ADHD do not qualify for special education unless they also have another disability. Approximately 7.8 percent of children from the ages of 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, research also shows that males are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD over women. These ratios vary from 4:1 to 9:1. These students with ADHD can be impulsive, which means they act before they think or before considering the situation that they are currently in. They also have a hard time concentrating and find it difficult to sit still. There are medications for ADHD, and they are prescribed often, there are also a variety of drugs that have been proven to make a child with ADHD more a ttentive and improve their academic performance. Unfortunately, these drugs have side effects such as weight loss, blood pressure chan... ...ed or wanted. I would also encourage parents to enroll their child in to sensory therapy such as occupational therapy, sensory integration, and developmental optometry therapy to help with possible vision issues. Medication wise I would encourage parents to prescribe their child to Prozac to assist in lowering anxiety, I would encourage this in older aged students. Both ADHD and autism are disorders that all teachers must be educated in before going into this profession. It is important to know the different strategies that can be used to be the most helpful instructor to these students. It is also very important to incorporate these students into the classroom and encourage good social skills with peers. By paying close attention to these students instructors are able to come up with the best strategy to provide the best education to these individuals.

Market Segments Essay

Three good ways to define market segments: (1) Who the customers are; (2) Where they are; (3) How they behave. How does each of these definitions apply to you? Name three market segments of which you could belong. Why? What products or services are you being targeted for? Some of the best ways to define a market segment are: Identifiable: The process should identify one or more relatively homogeneous groups of prospective buyers with regard to their wants and needs and/or their likely responses to differences in the elements of the marketing mix—the 4 Ps (product, price, promotion, and place). (Mullins, 2010) Accessible: The segmentation criteria should measure or describe the segments clearly enough so that members can be readily identified and accessed, in order for the marketer to know whether a given prospective customer is or is not in the tar- get market and in order to reach the prospective customer with advertising or other marketing communication messages. (Mullins, 2010) Sizeable: the segmentation process should determine the size and market potential of each segment for use in prioritizing which segments to pursue. (Mullins, 2010) A part of analyzing market segments is to understand who and where are the customers and why do they differ. Market segments should be formed in that way that difference between buyers within each segment is as small as possible. Segmentation helps marketers’ distinguish one customer group from another within a given market which is geographic area, demographic characteristics, social class, and stage in family life cycle, personality, self-image or benefits. Since every buyer has their own individual needs, preferences, resources etc, it may become a challenge if marketers are looking to cater every customer’s needs. Since I am an athlete, I can be targeted for running shoes of a particular style that provides me with the support and stability that I need when I run. Based on my needs, I am most segmented to be a prospective buyer that is moved by price and promotion, making sure I am getting the best deal for the product that I am interested in. In the end, the product that provides the best bundle of benefits—given the customer’s particular needs— is most likely to  be purchased (Mullins, 2010). Reference Mullins, J. W., Walker, Jr., O. C., & Boyd, H. W. (2010). Marketing management: A strategic decision making approach (7th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin.

Why the Department of Homeland Security Was Created

Why the Department of Homeland Security Was Created The Department of Homeland Security is the primary agency in the U.S. government whose mission is to prevent terrorist attacks on American soil. Homeland Security is a cabinet-level department  that has its  origins in the nations response to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when members of terrorist network al-Qaeda hijacked four American commercial airliners and intentionally crashed them into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania. Unified, Effective Response to Terror President George W. Bush  initially created Homeland Security as an office inside the White House  10 days after the terrorist attacks. Bush announced the creation of the office and his choice to lead it, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, on Sept. 21, 2001. He will lead, oversee and coordinate a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard our country against terrorism and respond to any attacks that may come, Bush said. Ridge reported directly to the president and was assigned the task of coordinating the 180,000 employees working in the nations  intelligence, defense and law  enforcement agencies to protect the homeland. Ridge described the daunting role of his agency in a 2004 interview with reporters. We have to be right a billion-plus times a year, meaning we have to make literally hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of decisions every year, or every day, and the terrorists only have to be right once, Ridge said.   One lawmaker, citing the biblical story of Noah, described Ridges  monumental task as trying to build an ark after the rain has already started falling. Creation of Cabinet Department Bushs creation of the White House office also marked the beginning of a debate in Congress to establish a Department of Homeland Security in the broader federal government. Bush initially resisted the idea of moving such an important responsibility into the Byzantine bureaucracy, but signed onto the idea in 2002. Congress approved the creation of The Department of Homeland Security in November 2002, and Bush signed the legislation into law that same month. He also nominated Ridge to be the first-ever secretary of the department. The Senate confirmed Ridge in January 2003. 22 Agencies Absorbed  By Homeland Security Bushs intention in creating the Department of Homeland Security was to bring under one roof most  of the federal governments law-enforcement, immigration and anti-terror-related agencies. The president moved 22 federal department and agencies under Homeland Security, as one official told The Washington Post, so we are not doing things in stovepipes but doing it as a department. The move was portrayed at the time as the largest reorganization of the federal governments responsibilities since World War II. The 22 federal departments and agencies absorbed by  Homeland Security are: Transportation Security AdministrationCoast Guard  Federal  Emergency Management Agency  Secret Service  Customs and Border ProtectionImmigration and Customs EnforcementCitizenship and Immigration ServicesCritical Infrastructure Assurance Office of the Department of CommerceNational Communications System of the Federal Bureau of InvestigationNational Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis CenterEnergy Assurance Office of the Department of Energy  Federal Computer Incident Response Center of the General Services AdministrationFederal Protective Service  Office of Domestic PreparednessFederal Law Enforcement Training Center  Integrated Hazard Information System of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNational Domestic Preparedness Office of the FBIDomestic Emergency Support Team of the Department of JusticeMetropolitan Medical Response System of the Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Disaster Medical System of the Department of Health and Human ServicesOffice of Emergency Preparedness and the Strategic National Stockpile of the Department of Health and Human Services Plum Island Animal Disease Center of Department of Agriculture Evolving Role Since 2001 The Department of Homeland Security has been called on numerous times to handle catastrophes other than those caused by terrorism. They include cyber crimes, border security and immigration, and human trafficking and natural disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The department also plans security for major public events including the Super Bowl and the presidents State of the Union Address. Controversies  and Criticism The Department of Homeland Security came under scrutiny almost from the moment it was created. It has endured stinging criticism from lawmakers, terrorism experts and the public for issuing vague and confusing alerts over the years.   Terror alerts: Its color-coded alert system, developed under Ridge, was widely ridiculed and criticized for not being more specific about how the public should respond to elevated threats. The system used five colors - green, blue, yellow, orange and red - to inform the public in real-time about the threat of terrorism.Appearing on the  Tonight Show  with Jay Leno in November 2002, Ridge was pressed by the comedian:  Im sitting at home in my underpants watching the game and, boop, were in yellow. What do I do now?  Ridges response: Change shorts. Nonetheless, the color-coded alerts were a source of frustration among Americans who were being told  to be on alert, but werent sure about what to look for.Duct tape: So, too, was the departments 2003 directive that Americans stock up on  duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal the windows and doors of their home in the event of a terrorist attack.Harold Schaitberger, general president of the  International Association of Fire Fighters, told the  Chicago Tribune: Most of the suggestions, I dont believe, are effective at all in really helping to protect anyone from many of these biological and chemical threats.  I mean, duct tape and plastic? Wheres the good air coming from? Hows it going to be recirculated? Beyond the fact that we already know, for nerve gas and other elements, the plastic is totally ineffective.Quipped Leno: This means the only people who are going to survive an attack are serial killers. Who else has duct tape and plastic sheeting in their car? Going global: Homeland Security has also caused friction between the United States and some European countries for deploying about 2,000 special agents and immigration workers to more than 70 countries, as The New York Times reported in late 2017. The United States under President Donald Trump was accused of trying to export its immigration laws, the newspaper reported.Katrina: Homeland Security came under the most intense fire, however, for its response to and handling of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the costliest natural disaster in American history. The agency was hammered for not developing a national response plan until two days after the storm hit.If our government failed so utterly in preparing for, and responding to, a disaster that had been long predicted and was imminent for days, we must wonder how much more profound the failure would be if a disaster were to take us by complete surprise, said Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who called Home land Securitys response  alarming and unacceptable.   Department of Homeland Security History Here is a timeline of key moments in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Sept. 11, 2001: Members of the terrorist network al-Qaeda, acting under the direction of Osama bin Laden, orchestrate a series of attacks on the United States after hijacking four airplanes. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people.Sept. 22, 2001: President George W. Bush creates the Office of Homeland Security in the White House, and chooses then-Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge to lead it.  Nov. 25, 2002: Bush signs the Congress-passed bill creating the Department of Homeland Security in the federal government. We are taking historic action to defend the United States and protect our citizens against the dangers of a new era, Bush said at the ceremony. He nominated Ridge to be secretary.Jan. 22, 2003:  The U.S. Senate, in a  unanimous, 94-0 vote, confirms Ridge as the first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Bush issued a prepared statement afterward that read: With todays historic vote, the Senate has demonstrated our shared commitment to doing everything we can to s ecure our homeland. The department initially has about 170,000 employees. Nov. 30, 2004: Ridge announces he plans to step down as secretary of Homeland Security, citing personal reasons. I just want to step back and pay a little more attention to personal matters,  he told reporters. Ridge served in the position through Feb. 1, 2005.Feb. 15, 2005: Michael Chertoff, a federal appeals court judge and former assistant U.S. attorney general credited with helping investigators link the terrorist attacks to al-Qaeda, takes over as the second Homeland Security secretary under Bush. He departed at the end of Bushs second term.Jan. 20, 2009: Janet Napolitano, the governor of Arizona, was tapped by incoming President Barack Obama to serve as Homeland Security secretary in his administration. She resigned in July 2013 to become the head of the University of California system after becoming embroiled in the debate over immigration; she was accused both of being too harsh in deporting those living in the United States illegally and not acting forcefully enough to sec ure the nations borders. Dec. 23, 2013: Jeh Johnson, a former general counsel to the Pentagon and the Air Force, takes over as the fourth Homeland Security secretary. He served through the remainder of Obamas tenure in the White House.Jan. 20, 2017: John F. Kelly, a retired Marine general,  and incoming President Donald Trumps pick, becomes the fifth Homeland Security secretary. He served in the position through July 2017 and became chief of staff to Trump.Dec. 5, 2017: Kirstjen Nielsen, a  cybersecurity expert  who worked in the Bush administration and as a deputy to Kelly, is confirmed as Homeland Security secretary to replace her former boss. The department has grown to 240,000 employees, according to published reports.

Smart Answers to 10 Stupid Interview Questions

Smart Answers to 10 Stupid Interview Questions We’ve all been there. You’re in an interview and expecting to be asked intelligent questions so you can show off your excellent preparation. But all of a sudden, you get a question so stupid that it throws you off your pins. Here are a few of the silliest  questions we have heard- and ways to answer them gracefully.1. â€Å"Why do you want this job?†It is possible to have a good answer to this that talks about your passion for the company and the position and the field, but it’s also a pretty stupid way to phrase it- and not particularly nuanced. Get your revenge by quickly explaining your keen interest and then deflecting by ending your answer with another question. Such as: â€Å"I’d really love to hear more about what you’re currently working on here†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 2. â€Å"Tell me a little bit about yourself†Keep your response here short and sweet. Don’t actually talk about your life story. Instead, have an elevator pitch r eady to encapsulate your career story- where you’re coming from and why you’re a perfect fit. Focus on the professional and finish it off painlessly and quickly.3. â€Å"Why should we hire you over all our other applicants?†You can’t compare yourself to the other qualified applicants. You have no idea who they are or what their resumes look like. All you can do with this question is sell yourself. I.e. â€Å"I don’t know about the others, but I can tell you why you should hire me.† And then just pivot to your talents and value.4. â€Å"What should we know that isn’t on your resume?†This is a curveball, and there are a lot of stupid ways to answer it, but it can also be a gift. Here’s your opportunity to explain gaps in employment, or to emphasize skills or experiences that would be relevant to this job but maybe didn’t make the cut on your documents. Frame your answer to show how you’d be great at this job. 5. â€Å"How honest are you?†This one is a real doozy. Who in their right mind would say: â€Å"Not at all; I’m a total liar.†? Get out of this one by giving a short and straightforward statement about your high ethical standards and remind your interviewer about your available references.6. â€Å"Describe yourself in three words.†This is an invitation to put yourself in a box. It won’t be particularly illuminating for either of you. Try to think of qualities that show you off in a particularly good light. And refrain from saying: â€Å"Ask better questions.†7. â€Å"If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?†The biggest trick here is to not make a face. Come up with something related to your professional strengths, then move on.8. â€Å"What was your salary at your last job?†Most applicants will feel compelled to answer this- and you really don’t have to. Fire it back this way: â€Å"I’m currently l ooking for jobs with an annual salary of around $X. Does that correspond with your salary range?†9. â€Å"What would your former manager say about you?†If they really wanted to know, they could call and ask for a reference. Also, your former manager might not be someone worth asking! The answer here depends entirely on the kind of person/employer your former boss was. Ignore the inanity of the question and say something positive and truthful.10. â€Å"How badly do you want this job?†Ugh. Answer honestly and you might sound desperate. Play it cool, and you might sound indifferent. Try to keep it in the middle. Say how confident you are that you would be an asset there, and then voice your enthusiasm and passion for the company or position and reassert your eagerness to move forward in their hiring process.