A Pair of Tickets by Amy Tan Essay -- American Literature

A Pair of Tickets by Amy Tan In the story A Pair of Tickets, by Amy Tan, a lady by the name of Jing-mei battles with her way of life as a Chinese female. All through her adolescence, she vivaciously denied (857) that she had any Chinese under her skin. At that point her mom kicks the bucket when Jing-Mei is in her 30's, and just three months after her dad gets a letter from her twin girls, Jing-Mei's relatives. It is when Jing-mei hears her sisters are alive, that she and her father travel abroad to meet her family members lastly joins with her sisters. This story centers around a lady's philosophical battle to acknowledge her actual personality. The hero of the story is Jing-mei. She is a level character who ends up being dynamic. For an incredible duration, she has been obstinate about tolerating her personality. A case of this is the point at which she clarifies, I was 15 and had an overwhelmingly denied that I had any Chinese at all under my skin (857). She gives her dynamic trademark toward the finish of the story when she at last accepts her legacy. The fundamental clash of this story is Jing-mei's battle between tolerating her character dependent on her legacy and not on an individual picture. There is no genuine request where this contention is explained, on the grounds that the peak and goals come to fruition simultaneously. The contention is interior because of the way that she can't acknowledge her actual personality. The peak comes when she at last meets her twin sisters and says, I get past the entryway, we run toward one another, each of the three of us grasping, all waverings and it slipped desires' mind (870). It is then that the goals becomes possibly the most important factor and After so long, it can at long last be given up (870). It is by then, when she can at last a... ...Likewise a significant statement is the point at which she says, Yet today I understand I've never truly realized being Chinese. I am thirty-six years of age (857). Despite the fact that she was in her 30's and still had that character emergency, it was inspiring realizing that all it took for her to determine that contention was one gathering with her sisters. The story A Pair of tickets looks at a lady who has grown up with American impact for her entire life and battles to acknowledge her actual personality. Through the story you can see Jing-mei battles with her personality for more than 30 years, yet it at long last is settled once she can meet her twin sisters that have been absent from her life for more than 30 years. Works Cited Tan, Amy. â€Å"A Pair of Tickets.† The Longman Anthology of Short Fiction. Smaller Version. Ed. Dana Gioia and R.S. Gwynn. New York: Longman, 2001.

MGMT 4370 Organizational Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MGMT 4370 Organizational Design - Essay Example In the money related year finished December 2010 the organization had made incomes of US$ 99.9 billion and had utilized 426,751 workers around the world. Throughout the years IBM has kept on moving its business blend, leaving commoditized fragments while expanding its quality in higher-esteem zones, for example, administrations, programming and incorporated arrangements (IBM, â€Å"International Business Machines Corporation SEC Form 10-K† 1).Currently, the organization gives coordinated arrangements that use data innovation and the company’s information on business procedure to offer a different arrangement of administrations running from big business programming to counseling to usage of administrations to financing. To empower it to offer every one of these administrations seriously, IBM has isolated its significant activities into five significant business sections: Global Technology Services, Global Business Services, Software, Systems and Technology and Global Financing. IBM’s plan of action is worked to help two head objectives: first is to enable its customers to prevail with regards to conveying busines s esteem by getting progressively imaginative, effective and serious using business understanding and IT arrangements; and besides, is to give long haul an incentive to its investors (IBM, â€Å"International Business Machines Corporation SEC Form 10-K†

What to Do When You Have Too Much Medical Debt

What to Do When You Have Too Much Medical Debt What to Do When You Have Too Much Medical Debt What to Do When You Have Too Much Medical DebtIf you are suffering from crushing medical debtâ€"something that is all too commonâ€"try talking directly to your provider to get your bills under control.Recent reports that one-third of GoFundme’s campaigns are dedicated to medical expenses are a reminder that America’s medical debt problem is only getting worse. But if you’re struggling with medical debt, you certainly didn’t need any reminder. You probably can’t go more than a day or two without thinking about it.There’s lots of talk about what the future of the American medical system could look like, but whatever it is, that won’t make a difference to you if you have too much medical debt right at this moment. That’s why we spoke to the experts to find out what you should do when you’re dealing with too much medical debt (other than start a GoFundMe campaign). Talk to your provider.As is the case with many debts, talking won’t always help, but it likely won’t h urt either. Generally, anyone who is owed a debt would rather get a portion of that debt than none. Unless you’re dealing with an unbelievably spiteful collections agency, their ultimate goal isn’t too hurt you. It’s too recoup as much of the money you owe them as they’re able to. Which is why they might be more open to discussion than you might originally assume.“Call your providers,” recommended Holly Wolf, Director of Customer Engagement for SOLO Laboratories (@SOLO_labs). “Your providers have no idea of your financial situation until you tell them about it. Many will offer a sliding scale or payment plans. The key is being HONEST about what you can afford. Call for every bill and every service.”Financial Lifeguard Christine Luken (@FinLifeGrd) shared her own personal example of how reaching out to your medical provider about your financial difficulties can be worthwhile: “See if you qualify for income-based assistance. When my mother-in-law was going through he r bladder cancer treatments, she only had social security income. The hospital granted her an almost 90% reduction in her medical bills because of her low income.”Just be aware that you might have to provide some documentation to back up your case.“When someone has substantial medical debt, I recommend seeing what programs the doctor or the hospital have for helping with balances,” bankruptcy attorney Ashley F. Morgan (@AFM_Law) told us. “Sometimes the medical groups have programs for donations or will reduce your fees due to your income (or even due to really high balances). This often will require submitting income and financial statements to show a substantial hardship.The next option is often a payment plan. A medical facility may allow you to pay off debts over months or years, depending on the circumstances. If you have substantial other debts, this option may only provide minimal relief. If neither of those two options will help, then I recommend considering bankruptc y.”But as you’re probably aware, bankruptcy isn’t exactly a lucky “get out of debt free” card.File for bankruptcy.As is the case with most (but not all) kinds of debt, one way to handle your medical debt is by declaring bankruptcy. But it’s not an option that should be taken lightly.“Bankruptcy should never be your first option, but with substantial debts, it may be your best option,” advised Morgan. “A Chapter 7 bankruptcy would help you wipe away the medical debt and a Chapter 13 would allow you to restructure payments to all creditors over the course of 3 to 5 years. Chapter 13 payments are based on many factors including income and assets.“If you are considering bankruptcy and have substantial medical debt, then it is important to try and time your bankruptcy filing for after your medical treatment is stable. If you file bankruptcy and then need more medical treatments, you may find yourself in more debt and the bankruptcy was for not. This is often the most complicated factor for individuals who need on-going medical help.”But of course, the best way to handle having too much medical debt is to minimize what you rack up in the first place.Preventative medicine.While the following advice may not be very helpful for your current debt, it could help you limit additional medical debt in the future.“Be your own medical debt advocate,” suggested Wolf. “Many people shy away from revealing their situation. When my husband and I BOTH had $16K deductibles, I always said ‘Were paying out of pocket, what can we do to reduce our expense?’ Its amazing how people worked with us to find the lowest cost MRI. They offered HUGE discounts. A $1,200 procedure cost us $400 in cash just for asking. Call around and compare drug prices.”And that’s not the only question Wolf recommends asking: “Ask the questions ‘What will we learn from that test/procedure?’ ‘ Whats the worst that will happen if I dont take this medicine?’ ‘What woul d you do if you were guaranteed not to be sued?’ I know someone who got the answer ‘I wouldnt recommend chemotherapy.’ Three doctors recommended it for fear of being sued. But when the option of being sued was removed, the answer changed because they said chemo wasnt going to improve the outcome.”Finally, Wolf reminds you to: “Take personal responsibility for your health. Are you doing all the things you can to improve your health? If youve got COPD and are still smokingâ€"that doesnt make sense. Have heart issues? Are you watching your diet and getting some exercise? As a gastroenterologist told me, ‘Id lose 70 percent of my business if patients just made the lifestyle changes I recommend.’ He said maybe five percent actually make the changes.”Unfortunately, illness is part of the mortal condition, so you can’t just hope for perfect health forever. But with these tips, you can hopefully keep medical debt from taking over your life.Too much debt of any sort  can ta nk your credit score and drain your savings, leaving you with limited options in a financial emergency. This is why people end up relying on bad credit loans, which can be a fine way to go if you choose the right lender. (Hint, look for a safe, affordable installment loan.) But many other folks end up getting saddled with predatory no credit check loans like cash advances, payday loans, and title loans. Dont let debt bury your financial future. Learn more about handling your debts responsibly with these related posts and articles from OppLoans:Financial Priorities: Which Debts Should You Pay Off First?Does Medical Debt Really Go Away After Seven Years?Are Balance Transfers a Good Way to Pay Down Debt?Have you had to dig yourself out from underneath a pile of medical debt? We want to hear from you! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.ContributorsChristine Luken (@FinLifeGrd) is a Certified Financial Coach, speaker, and author of Money is Emotional: Prevent Your Heart from Hij acking Your Wallet.  She’s an active member of the Financial Therapy Association, and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.Ashley F. Morgan (@AFM_Law) is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is also authorized and admitted to practice law in the United States District Court and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. She has dedicated the majority of her legal career helping clients file Chapter 7, 11, and 13 in the Eastern District of Virginia. Ashley works with both individual and business debtors to find the best solution to their debt problems. She is regularly in bankruptcy court in Alexandria, VA or attending 341s with our clients.Holly Wolf is an executive with over 30 years experience in banking and healthcare.

Evolution Just More Proof of God - 1178 Words

Evolution: Just More Proof of God The world around us changes. This simple fact is obvious everywhere we look. Streams wash dirt and stones from higher places to lower places. Untended gardens fill with weeds. - National Academy of Sciences Humans are inquisitive creatures. Throughout the centuries, we have thought, Why are we here? This one question has brought thousands of answers. Once Gods and Goddesses reigned. The many hands of Tishri and Buddha, Tao, Confucius, Muhammad, Huitzpotcly of the South Americas, Re of Egypt, and countless others have been worshiped. From these gods comes the creation of man. In our local, modern society, Christ is present in the vast majority of homes, and behind Christ,†¦show more content†¦This leaves lots of room for error. A severe problem for evolutionists is the absence of transitional forms in the fossil record. By transitional forms, we mean intermediate forms of life appearing in the fossil record that are in-between existing types of organisms found today or in the past, says davidll@cit-tele.com of the Evolution vs. Creation Resource Center about the probability of fossil evidence. This fact is the proverbial speed-bump in evolution. To examine one fossi l, or a group of fossils such as a hand, next to another, find similarities, and proclaim them to be of relation, requires an amount of faith (Bethel 170). Stop to think about it. A human hand has five fingers; a chimpanzee hand has five fingers. What within those bones proves that thousands of years ago, humans either were chimpanzees, or that chimp family A left chimp family B for some inexplicable reason, and grew to be humans? What disproves this? No one can go back and decide either way. It is a theory, nothing more nothing less. Some may say apparently harmless in comparison to the great religions of the world. Other creation theories provide more answers, regardless of their probability. Evolutionism, as a school of thought, does not discuss other facets of life. Beyond the origin of specific species, what of the solar system, of the universe? If our ancestors were primates, fish, or single-celledShow MoreRelatedUsing Proofs to Establish a Case for Gods Existence: McCloskey1374 Words   |  6 Pagesusing â€Å"proofs† to establish a case for Gods existence I would first agree with McCloskey that we should not use â€Å"proofs† for Gods existence since â€Å"proofs† cannot be a 100% proof of Gods existence. But there are two arguments that can help explain the existence of God. The first is the best explanation approach which is the best explanation for the things we witness. Another classical argument is cumulative case approach, in this approach we use more than one argument to make a case for Gods existenceRead MoreThe Argument Of God s Existence1737 Words   |  7 PagesBEST EXPLANATION Does God exist? This question has been in debate for centuries with many opposing views, some arising from philosophers on the same side while others refute Gods existence altogether. However for this particular paper I will be taking the best explanations approach. What I mean by this is I do not have proof of God’s existence but the existence of God is the best explanation for the universe around me. With this statement in mind we will discuss arguments in support of God’s existenceRead MoreThe Question Of God s Existence1575 Words   |  7 Pagesquestioned Gods existence myself. Arguments that have been used to support the existence of a divine being includes; the cosmological argument and the theological argument. However, there are some who oppose these arguments and philosopher H.J. McCloskey is among this group. In the article â€Å"On Being an Atheist† written by H.J. McCloskey, he argues that both these arguments are false and insufficient as it rela tes to â€Å"proof† of God’s existence. McCloskey believes that without proper proof, we must completelyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article On Being An Atheist 1290 Words   |  6 Pagesinsufficient as it relates to â€Å"proof† of God’s existence. McCloskey believes that without proper proof, we must completely dismiss the idea of God’s existence. In his well-written article he offers a few reasons why he believes that atheism is a much more comfortable belief verses a belief in a God who allows the suffering of his people. He suggested that the problem of evil and the fact that evil exist, means that God could not exist. McCloskey urges that people should just help each other rather thanRead MoreThere Is No Scientific Proof That A God Or God?1280 Words   |  6 PagesThere is no scientific proof that a god or gods exist; therefore god is but a myth. There are many different types of beliefs in this huge world. No one is quite sure what will happe n after I die. They say that this will happen, or that, but at the end of the day, are those beliefs false? This is where atheists come in. Atheists do not believe in a god. â€Å"They argue that scientific evidence proves that life on Earth evolved over many millennia, not according to the literal timetable of the Bible.Read MoreAnalysis Of The Article On Being An Atheist 1558 Words   |  7 Pagesinsufficient as it relates to â€Å"proof† of God’s existence. McCloskey believes that without proper proof, we must completely dismiss the idea of God’s existence. In his well-written article, he offers a few reasons why he believes that atheism is a much more comfortable belief versus, a belief in a God who allows the suffering of his people. He suggested that the problem of evil and the fact that evil exists meant that God could not exist. McCloskey urges that people should just help each other rather thanRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article On Being An Atheist 153 8 Words   |  7 Pagesinsufficient as it relates to â€Å"proof† of God’s existence. McCloskey believes that without proper proof, we must completely dismiss the idea of God’s existence. In his well-written article he offers a few reasons why he believes that atheism is a much more comfortable belief verses a belief in a God who allows the suffering of his people. He suggested that the problem of evil and the fact that evil exist, means that God could not exist. McCloskey urges that people should just help each other rather thanRead MoreThe Theory Of Science And Christian Belief1345 Words   |  6 Pagesthere are claims of theistic evolution that offer a logical argument to a personal creation by the Living God. Arguments that God could take inert objects, add a dash of mutation, conceptualize and implement natural selection, and allow this to take course in His time all have the potential to be correct as stand-alones. Diane Bissen is a renowned biologist an d theologian; therefore she is as capable as anyone combining these fields into the idea of theistic evolution. In digesting her rather lengthyRead MoreEvolutionism : The Truth Behind Humans1647 Words   |  7 PagesEvolutionism: The Truth Behind Humans Is the evolution theory a fact or a myth? This is the question I pondered for quite some time as I contemplated on the idea of the origin of human species. Were we created by a higher power or are we descendants of ape like ancestors? Hundreds of articles and substantial proof have helped shape my belief that evolution in fact, does exist. What is evolutionism? The definition of evolution found in an article states that â€Å"evolution is that all life on earth is descendedRead MoreEvolution Should be Taught in Schools Essay678 Words   |  3 PagesEvolution and Creationism are both fact and theory but the question is which one should be taught in schools? Only a few school distracts have approved the teaching of evolution because it has more senitific evidence than creationism to prove that it is true. According to a new Gallup poll, just 39% of Americans believe in evolution. The Gallup polls also show that those Americans with higher education believe in the theory of evolution as opposed to those with only high school diplomas. The polls

Learning About Dolphins for Homeschoolers

Limit Pricing and Oligopolies Free Essays

Limit pricing is the type of pricing wherein firms discourage entrants to the market by choosing a low price that is below short-run profit maximizing price but above the competitive level. Firms who engage in limit pricing are forfeiting current profits to earn future profits. The output is being maintained despite the presence of entrants. We will write a custom essay sample on Limit Pricing and Oligopolies or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, there are still issues whether the application of limit pricing models is profitable for firms (2002). A firm engages in limit pricing by choosing its price and output while an entrant cannot sufficiently cover the average total cost of the remaining market demand. An established firm that is threatened by an entry in a single-period could use limit price as the highest price. This will block the entry. As first explained by Modigliani in 1958, it was assumed that entrants would expect that incumbent firm will continue production at an entry-limiting output with an entry present. It is the same as the Cournot Competition wherein firms believe that its competitors will continue production at the current levels (McAuliffe, 1997). On the other hand, â€Å"classic limit pricing† is another pricing policy where limit pricing allows established firms to earn economic profits while they are preventing the occurrence of entry. It happens if there are economies of sale in production even if the entrants and the incumbent firms have the same costs (McAuliffe, 1997). Another model is explained by Gaskin in 1971, called the dynamic limit pricing. It happens if there are threats from potential competition to a firm for current and future periods. The firms would now depend the rate of entry from the difference between the current price and their marginal costs. If a firm would want to earn high profits at current period, it will set a high price. However, the number of entry will also increase while the price and profit are likely to decrease in the future. On the other hand, if an established firm decided for a lower price, both the entry and the profits will decrease. Moreover, if the firms do not have any cost over the entrants, it will lose its position then the market will be competitive. The competitive outcome of the market however is not astonishing at all since only the price is used by the firm (McAuliffe, 1997). Both in the classic and dynamic limit pricing, the market power of the established firms are restricted due to the potential competition. In the end, they have no choice but to set the price under monopoly level. However, the expectation from an entrant that a firm would always maintain its output is not always true. After the entry period, both firms would earn high profits through high prices and restricted output. An established firm therefore with maintained output after the existence of an entry is not always a threat for an entrant. Otherwise, the established firm should bind for the current period   in order to obtain high profits with high output for the next periods (McAuliffe, 1997). Successful limit pricing could affect the market structure however few firms do set prices equal to or below the monopoly level to discourage entry. Major American companies use different strategies such as advertising and product proliferation  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to discourage entry (McAuliffe, 1997). Competition is important in the American economy system but what if there is only a small number of competing companies? This condition falls under the oligopoly market. Unlike the monopoly where there is only one seller and many buyers, in oligopoly there is more than one seller (Schenk). In oligopoly, there may be homogenous or heterogeneous products; however entry is deterred by legal restrictions such as banking, minimum efficient scale such as overnight mail service , or strategic behavior (2008). Oligopoly has different models such as the Cournot-Nash Equilibrium of Duopoly and the Collusive Oligopoly. Cournot focused only on duopoly where there are only two firms competing assuming that both sell the same products produced at zero marginal cost. Both firm engage in output that is profit-maximizing expecting that the output of the other firms is maintained or held constant (Lipsey and Crystal, 2007). Under Cournot-Nash equilibrium, duopolists are competing for the quantities where each produces less than a monopoly. However, the sum of the production of both duopolists is more than the monopoly but their economic profits are less than the monopoly. The price is always less than monopoly level but not more than the competitive price (2008). Under Cournot equilibrium, firms would earn less than a monopoly because the duopolists’ outputs are more then the monopoly output. They would earn however more than the perfectly competitive firms since they could decrease the price upon increasing output (Lipsey and Crystal, 2007). Each competing firm is expected to adjust their outputs. However, if they cannot make any more adjustments then equilibrium is reached (Hobbs, 2001). Unlike Cournot-Nash equilibrium with doupolists as competing firms, in collusive oligopoly the firms cooperate in order to have a monopoly power. They may agree in setting price and dividing the output therefore gaining the quantity a monopoly produces and earning the economic profits a monopoly can. The firms are now earning more than doupoly profits (2008). There are many factors for collusion such as the number of sellers, personalities, equality of shares, costs of each firm, and others. There is a possibly that a collusion might disintegrate especially if the firm begin competing and cheating with the other firms (Schenk). Monopolies in the U.S. are most likely to be regulated by the government unlike the oligopolies. Price-fixing by the collusive oligopolies however is not allowed unless for agricultural cooperatives and professional sports league (2006). Collusion oligopolies, just like the doupoly, could turn into competition as well. Firms begin violating the production limits and producing more than they have to. Besides, the price tends to be lower. In the end, the collusion becomes unsuccessful. Bibliography OECD 2002, Limit Pricing, viewed 6 May 2007, http://stats.oecd.org/glossary/detail.asp?ID=3246. NC State University 2006, Collusive Oligopolies, viewed 6 May 2008, http://www.ncsu.edu/project/calscommblogs/economic/archives/2006/11/collusive_oligo.html. 2008 Oligopoly, viewed 6 May 2008, http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:MKoUqwpjeZEJ:instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/Courses/econ301jpw/helps/oligopoly.ppt+collusive+oligopoly+versus+cournot+competitionhl=tlct=clnkcd=2gl=ph. Hobb, B.K. 2001, Cournot Equilibrium, viewed 6 may 2008, http://itech.fgcu.edu/faculty/bhobbs/bds7/index.htm. Lipsey, R. G. Crystal, A. 2007, Doupoly. Oxford University Press, viewed 6 May 2008, http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199286416/01student/interactive/lipsey_extra_ch09/page_02.htm. McAuliffe, R. E. 1997, Encyclopedic Dcitionary of Managerial Economics, Blackwell Punlishing, viewed 6 May 2008, http://books.google.com.ph/books?id=OWmaOlvT9XEC. Schenk, R. The Theory of Few Sellers, viewed 6 May 2008, http://ingrimayne.com/econ/Monopoly/Oligopoly.html. How to cite Limit Pricing and Oligopolies, Essay examples

Walmart Diversity Essay Example

Walmart Diversity Paper | Wal-Mart’s Diversity| Course Research Paper| | Alicia B. Clennan| 647 Pilgrim Dr. San Antonio, [emailprotected] com210-912-4537GM 591: Leadership and Organizational BehaviorProfessor Marco  Faggione| 12/12/2010 | Wal-Mart’s Diversity Introduction The organizational that will be the topic of discussion in my final project paper is Wal-Mart Corporate. Wal-Mart was founded in 1962, with the opening of the first Wal-Mart discount store in Rogers, Ark. The company incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc on Oct 31, 1969. The company grew to 276 stores in all states by the end of the decade. In 1983, the company opened its first Sam’s Club membership warehouse and in 1988 opened the first supercenter. Wal-Mart became international company in 1991 when it opened its first Sam’s club. Wal-Mart serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,692 retail units under 55 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $ 405 billion, Wal-Mart employs 2. 1 million associates worldwide. I am a sales associate at Wal-Mart in the jewelry department. I was hired in June of 2010 and I was not familiar with the corporation yet. However, I recognize how well the organization performs. Wal-Mart believes that business wins, when everyone matters and the true strength of diversity is unleashed, when each associate is encouraged to reach their full potential. As for as with Wal-Mart’s Diversity, personally I am not so familiar and only experience in a not so much with their purpose due to being employed in a span of four months. Research shows other issues with Wal-Mart’s ethical diversity. Wal-Mart is always under the microscope when it comes to discrimination. We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Diversity specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Diversity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Diversity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Evidence shows that there are complaints about favoritism, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination. These unethical issues are a problem in today’s occupation society. Problem Statement Wal-Mart has been a target of criticism for its employment practices and its effect on the larger economy and community. There are several incidents mentioned on the web and in court cases. At my Wal-Mart, I have noticed favoritism. Favoritism between managers and employees is a big problem in Wal-Mart. One way of thinking of favoritism is getting called to do the more responsibility type of work. This is like trying to be friends with the boss to get higher in the employment ladder. The managers seemed to have certain picks between subordinates about who gets the special attention. Like I said, I have noticed this act at my Wal-Mart. Most of the night shift girls are friends with one of the night managers at my Wal-Mart. I noticed them going out of their way to please this supervisor. There is an organization called Wal-Mart Watch which began a nationwide public education campaign to challenge the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart, to become a better employer, neighbor, and corporate citizen. This organization lets employees (former and present) leave blogs on â€Å"Wal-Mart Speaks Out† discussing issues they see in their Wal-Mart. One individual with the initial RR wrote writes: I was passed over at least five times for promotions because the only people that were getting promotions were the drinking buddies of a manager. She has since been fired; I was a union steward for 20 years in California and have never seen such disregard for labor laws. In this town, in retail if you are injured at work you are fired; this doesn’t only happen at Wal-Mart in [Colorado], it happens at all the grocery stores. I am outraged that they aren’t being forced to treat their employee’s better. With this information, it is unaccepted in the workforce. This can be considered unprofessional relationship in the workforce. It is almost as serious as a manager or a supervisor is having an affair with one of their workers. Favoritism also leads to other problems. These other problems have been reported of happening. Sexual harassment and discrimination for males vs. females have been reported about Wal-Mart. Several cases have been seen through the court systems. One example that will be mentioned later on in the report is of a sexual harassment case that took place in Crosby, TX. Another example that I will mention about in the discrimination of female workers, is about a gender discrimination lawsuit that was the largest in U. S. history. It happened to be about women not getting promoted and pay equally to men. Sexual harassment in the workforce is unacceptable. Wal-Mart has its share of complaints. In Crosby, TX, a former Wal-Mart employee had sued Wal-Mart for sexual harassment from her supervisor. Theil (2008) reported that a former employee named Jenna Aryain of Wal-Mart was sexually harassed by her supervisor. The incident happened on February 25, 2005 as a cashier. Aryain said that for four months her supervisor, Darrel Hays allegedly subjected her to appalling remarks every day. Her supervisor committed her about her looks and made sexual advances to her. Ms. Aryain allegedly complained to another supervisor and no action was taken by Wal-Mart. On June, 20, 2005, her supervisor allegedly yelled at her during work. She left work early that day and told her parents what had happened. Her father called the store manager, Gwendolyn Furr and Chelly Whiddon, an assistant manager, to arrange a meeting to discuss what was going on. Supervisors are much as guilty as the employee. Most supervisors have favorite employees that they count on with certain tasks. When an energetic employee is in your organization, most supervisors call upon them to do the task because they know that it will get done. Your other employees may have the same qualities as the energetic person so they felt left out. (Bielous, 1997) Literature Review Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Manual for Managers and Supervisors by Gibson (1998) guides the upper management on the importance of a sexually harassed free work environment. It lets managers know that the best defense for the sexually harassment subject is an offensive approach. There are actions that companies must take in order to eliminate sexual harassment. By creating a zero tolerance policy against sexual harassment and other inappropriate conduct by company managers and supervisors. Why is it important that managers and supervisors learn this subject? There is an automatic liability on the company if a manager or a supervisor is accused of sexual harassment or doesn’t stop it from happening. There is a law that makes it clear that prevention and elimination of sexual harassment is a must in the workplace. Gibson (1998) also writes that if a victim started the conversation of sex talk that they can claim sexual harassment at any time. A hostile work environment can be considered abusive if the behavior becomes severe or pervasive. Flirting or vulgar language is merely annoying and may not be hostile enough to take legal action, but it usually considered prohibited by company policy. Also a romantic relationship between management and subordinates is not against the law. If one does exist it cannot get out of hand. Getting out of hand may be determined as favoritism in the workforce. The relationship must be consensual between both parties in order to prevent harassment. A hostile environment in the workplace can consist of sexual play while on the clock. In the handbook that Gibson (1998) wrote, he mentions steps a company can take in preventing sexual harassment. First off, a company needs to have a strict written policy prohibiting sexual harassment. The policy should also define, provide examples, outline a procedure for reporting with several avenues to bypass his or her supervisor, mention assurance that all cases will be taken seriously, guarantee all cases have adverse consequences like discharge to the harasser, and all supervisory personnel to immediately report and sexual harassment. Along with a written policy, the company must train each employee on sexual harassment to avoid any pitfalls. The company needs establish an effective procedure for handling sexual harassment complaints. One good idea mentioned is to designate two individuals, one male and one female, in handling the complaints. Some individual feel more comfortable talking to someone of the same sex. Monitoring your management staff for anti-harassment behavior is a good idea or even including EEO preventive practices in daily routines. The organization should quickly investigate all claims and observed conduct. Feel free to give the victim time off to gather their thoughts to prevent them from quitting or suing the company. Separating the victim from the harasser may sound like a good idea, but be careful in where you put the victim. If the victim doesn’t like the area because of disadvantages of moving, it could be considered retaliation. The organizations should take all complaints seriously, even though it did happen five years ago. The employee can’t sue because of the time length; still the organization can make sure that the incident still needs to be controlled. The organization needs to have all sexually harassment cases documented for legal reasons. Valid documents may consist of statement from witnesses, complainant, and the alleged harasser. Other documents may include what the employer did to resolve the conflict. The company should make sure all confidentiality be taken to prevent further liability. Upper management should make sure that no retaliation takes place. In chapter eight, Gibson (1998) mentions an effective way to handle the complaint of sexual harassment. The organization needs to take the complaint seriously. Don’t be judgmental about the case even if the complaint comes from a chronic complainer. The company can be liable on how they handle the sexual harassment complaint. Try to put the victim at ease and assure with confidentiality. Assure the victim that non-retaliation is intolerable and should be reported. Handle all cases with action even though the victim asks that no action should take place to the harasser. The company can still be held reliable. Conducting an in-depth sexual harassment investigation can be difficult Gibson (1998) mentions. An immediate investigation by a neutral person should be handled as quickly as possible. This person is usually a member of the HRO or EEO. Other managers or supervisors should know what is going on in case they are asked to assist. Keep an investigation under general guidelines such as treating all cases separate, keep them valid until proven frivolous, protect the victim from further harm, document complete and accurate, keep all fact a â€Å"need to know† basis, limit the number of people who have access to the information, tell all parties to keep the case confidential, and never broadcast the facts as a training tool. If the case of the harassment to be found true, take prompt corrective action. Consider case by case on the severity of punishment to the harasser. If the victim doesn’t get discharge, warn them that next time a discharge will occur. Inform all results to effective parties in order to protect privacy. Make sure you follow up on all cases to make sure no one has been retaliated. Sometimes the investigator may come to some special circumstance when trying to resolve situations. If the accused wants a lawyer, assure them that there is no need for one and they are not required to have one. Also if there was no witness to the alleged claim, the investigator must take the credibility of the parties when determining the outcome. If the claim can’t be determined if it happened or not, then education to both parties must take place about sexual harassment. Further assure the victim that his or her employment conditions won’t be retaliated. Make sure the complaint is filed for legal reasons. If the claim turns out to be false, determine if the person deliberately lied or simply misread the conduct. Disciplining someone who misinterpreted the action may think they were retaliated, and the company could be held responsible. The law for gender discrimination makes it clear on what is expected in the workforce. Corporations are abided to follow laws and regulations in the United States. US Code Section 2000E-2: Unlawful employment practices (a) Employer practices It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer (1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individuals race, color, religion,sex, or national origin; or (2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individuals race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Analysis Ethical concept in the workforce keeps the organization is regarded as good character and conduct. We need to make ethical decisions based on focuses of moral dilemmas. Moral problems is that of an ethical consequences of a decision that was made. Ethical leadership is a responsibility that managers and supervisors must abide by. These responsibilities may include caring, honesty, principled, fairness, and balanced choices. Favoritism, does not match under those qualities. Favoritism is the soul issue that Wal-Mart faces today. I have seen favoritism in my workplace. Also favoritism is being viewed at all Wal-Marts around the world. With the other issues that Wal-Mart faces, sexual harassment and gender discrimination, favoritism is usually the root of the problems. Favoritism is more likely to be inevitable in any organization. Organizations should try to reduce them as much as possible. Emotional conflict is difficulties within oneself that arises because of anger, mistrust, dislike, fear, and resentment. Emotional conflict can the energy out of a person and can be distracting. You may see this emotional distress in teams, among co-workers, and in superior-subordinate relationship. There are certain levels of the conflict. One level of conflict you may have is interpersonal conflict. This is a conflict between two or more people. Sexual harassment may become an interpersonal conflict. When your supervisor makes sexual remarks or advances to an employee, conflict arises. When sexual harassment occurs it puts emotional stress on the victim. The victim feels anger toward the incident. Sexual harassment is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. That person will start feeling resentment in that did she do something wrong to cause the harassment. Effects of sexual harassment can vary depending on the individual, and the severity and duration of the harassment. Often, sexual harassment incidents fall into the category of the merely annoying. However, many situations can, and do, have life-altering effects particularly when they involve severe/chronic abuses, and/or retaliation against a victim who does not submit to the harassment, or who complains about it openly. Indeed, psychologists and social workers report that severe/chronic sexual harassment can have the same psychological effects as rape or sexual assault. Stereotyping is a commonly held popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of stereotype and prejudice are often confused with many other different meanings. Stereotypes are standardized and simplified conceptions of groups based on some prior assumptions. Gender diversity is the proportion of males to females in the workplace. Corporations may have more of an even distribution or the employee pool is composed of mostly males or mostly females. This can have an effect on how people interact and behave with one another in the workplace and would impact culture and social environment. Similarly other demographics such as population, racial characteristics and such all contribute to the work environment. Though gender discrimination and sexism refers to beliefs and attitudes in relation to the gender of a person, such beliefs and attitudes are of a social nature and do not, normally, carry any legal consequences. Sex discrimination, on the other hand, may have legal consequences. Though what constitutes sex discrimination varies between countries, the essence is that it is an adverse action taken by one person against another person that would not have occurred had the person been of another sex. Discrimination of that nature in certain enumerated circumstances is illegal in many countries. Currently, discrimination based on sex is defined as adverse action against another person that would not have occurred had the person been of another sex. This is considered a form of prejudice and is illegal in the United States. Wal-Mart’s reports on gender discrimination of women in their corporation are illegal and should be taken care of. Like every class-action ruling, the certification should not be construed in any manner as a ruling on the merits or the probable outcome of these cases. When these cases arose back in 2001, women were getting 79 cents to every dollar a man made. (Friedman, 2010) Solutions There are solutions that could be used in order to correct the problem Wal-Mart faces. Training, discipline, and monitoring of all employees of Wal-Mart are the best steps in the right direction. If done right, Wal-Mart can start becoming a more successful corporation that others can follow. The corporation needs to take steps in training everyone in the organization on the right and wrong things to do when it comes to diversity. Having quarterly training will give each employee an implant of the things that are wrong. Being an ethical corporation involves everyone. First, start with training your supervisors about the right and wrongfulness of favoritism in the workforce. Tell them that even the little things may be perceived as playing favoritism. Cautioned them about the negative reactions of an extra relationship between supervisor and a subordinate can lead in the wrong direction. Also keep reminding your employees the zero tolerance policy about sexual harassment. Assure people that there will be consequences if supervisors abuse their power. Wal-Mart needs to let their employees that there will be no retaliation if reports are being filed. Let your employees know that gender discrimination is all in the past. Your employees would like to know if they are being paid the same amount. Let you employees know what the pay scale is in your organization. Train your employees on the right and wrong of gender discrimination. Training has its pros and cons. The good thing about training the material is that it gets the information out there to the right people. A people need to here that there are rules and regulations that corporation has to abide by. The bad thing about training is that it can take up a lot of time while people are training. Discipline is another possible solution. Strict guidelines and closure of all cases will ensure everyone is treated equally. Make sure that if someone is sexually harassed that the supervisor or anyone in the organization will be punished. Make sure the punishment is fair and justified. Treat each case upon severity of the case. Like training, discipline also has its pros and cons. Discipline will let everyone in Wal-Mart know that the company is not playing around when it comes with sexual harassment. One thing bad about discipline is that one person may view the severity differently than another person in your organization. Then punishment may be differently and the victim may think that the harasser got off scot free. Frequent monitoring of all your employees is another way we can solve the problem at Wal-Mart. Managers should more frequently review those security cameras. Make rounds to your entire departments and ask questions about how everything is doing. Make sure you not just talk to the supervisors; also talk with all of your staff, even the janitor. The good thing about monitoring is that you can interact to your staff and it lets them know you care about them. Sam Walton would love this idea. The bad thing is that the manager will lose valuable time in his office handling paperwork. Reflection Viewing Wal-Mart after writing this report has a much more meaning to me when I go to work. I can start using my ideas to make a difference in the work place. I can spread my knowledge to my fellow workmates. I can let them know how important it is too seek help if there are any problems. Works Cited Alvarez, F. , Moser, A. (2010). Targeting Employers for Gender-Based Pay and promotion Discrimination: The Next Big Thing?. Employee Relations Law Journal, 36930, 46-53. Retrieved from Business Source Complete database. Bielous, G. (1997). Do you play favorites?. Supervision, 58(8), 9. Retrieved form MasterFILE Premier database. Friedman, E. (2010, April). Appeals Court Rules Wal-Mart Sex Discrimination Case Can Go to Trial. Retrieved from http://abcnews. go. om/WN/Business/wal-mart-sex-discrimination-case-trial/story? id=10480510 Gibson, P. , (1998). Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Manual for Managers ans Supervisors: How to Prevent and Resolve Sexual Harrassment complaints in the Workplace. Employment Human Resources management Professional Series. Chicago CCH Incorpated. Ozbilgin, M. Pringle, J. (2009). Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Work: a Research Companion. Cheltenham,UK , Northampton, MA Edward Elgar Publishing, Inc. Thiel, J. (2008). Harassment Claim Advances. HRMagazine, 53(10),99. Retrieved from Business Source complete database.