Top five violations of workplace confidentiality laws or guidelines

Introduction Confidentiality remains a critical issue at workplaces. Employees and employers must handle all data in their workplaces with caution. Employees must be prudent with all confidential data in an organization. Hence, any third party should not have access to sensitive and confidential information of employees or an organization.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Top five violations of workplace confidentiality laws or guidelines specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Employees must consult and obtain permission from their superiors in order to share such data with a third party. In addition, employees should also refrain from sharing their confidential and personal data with others at the workplace. Employees who ensure confidentiality of personal information promote professional attitude at the workplace. Personal Information Under legal requirements or workplace guidelines, employers should ensure p rivacy of all data, which employees provide to them during job application processes and specification information employees may provide later. Job application requires employees to supply sensitive personal data, financial details, credit information, education history, and past records of employment among others. Laws or guidelines at workplaces do not allow employers to share such data with other outside parties. Employees must provide their consents to allow employers to share their data because it is a criminal offense to share personal information without prior authorization (Bible and McWhirter, 1990). Violation of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) Employers and employees should recognize and uphold the total ban about discussing private and confidential issues regarding other employees. Data that relate to employees’ salary, benefits, and other related rewards may fall under the protected category (Decker, 1987). Some states require employees to disclose their s alaries. On the other hand, nondisclosure may violate the NLRA guidelines. According to NLRA, employees should â€Å"engage in ‘concerted activity’ and discuss their salaries and other terms of employees openly† (Decker, 1987). Hence, any workplace guidelines that prevent employees from engaging in such discussions may violate the NLRA. On this note, employers should develop exceptions for protected activities in order to avoid violation of the NLRA. Privacy Organizations and several states recognize the right to normal privacy at workplaces. The right to privacy may be contained in codes and guidelines that guide the use of personal information at the workplace. Employers and employees have witnessed many civil claims due to violations of certain privacy policies.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Employers have the role of monitoring employees to allow their organizations to run effectively. However, in this process, they must not compromise employees’ rights to privacy. For instance, firms may have surveillance cameras to minimize cases of theft from employees, but they cannot invade employees’ privacy by installing such cameras in washrooms. Any surveillance in the washroom violates the general right to privacy at the workplace. It is important for the employer to inform employees that they are under surveillance in specific areas of at the workplace. Misuse of private information can lead to legal claims. This could also include situations where employers have authorized access to personal information without consents from an employee. Slander and libel may also constitute legal claims, particularly where employees or employers have provided personal information of others without their consents. Claims could arise from violations of the general right to privacy or defamation. Hence, employers and employees must protect their personal information and avoid defamation and slander at workplaces because such violations have legal liability. Medical Information Employees present their medical information to employers. Such data are useful for assessing employees’ work suitability and medical claims. However, employers cannot share them with any other employee or an outsider without employees’ consents. The Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects the use of employees’ medical information by employers (Decker, 1987). Hence, a violation may constitute a legal claim. Damages Damages may also occur when employers misuse personal and sensitive information about employees’ political affiliation, associations, religious beliefs, associations, sexual orientation, criminal records, disabilities, and other beliefs. When employers infringe on these lawfully protected rights, they may attract liable civil damages. Employees have reasons to sue th eir employers for such damages. Cases of carelessness with guarded information may lead to loss of jobs, emotional distress, stigmatization, and general loss of privacy. Realities and challenges to uphold those laws or guidelines on workplace confidentiality One major challenge that prevents employers and employees from upholding workplace confidentiality is a lack of clearly written policies on confidentiality issues. For instance, many organizations do not clearly articulate their policies on gaining access to personal and private information, maintaining privacy of information, and controlling systems and processes that have employees’ private data.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Top five violations of workplace confidentiality laws or guidelines specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, employers also fail to clarify employees who may have authorization to gain access to certain informat ion. Employers should consider all relevant ways of upholding confidentiality through different confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements that employees must sign. Employers also have challenges of upholding workplace privacy because of the elusive nature of the workplace privacy. A lack of clear communication has contributed to these challenges. Moreover, privacy issues may overlap due to a lack of clear definition of what is confidential in an organization. These laws or guidelines may also change from time to time. Hence, employers should have updated versions of confidentiality laws based on relevant state laws. References Bible, J., and McWhirter, D. (1990). Privacy in the Workplace: A Guide for Human Resource Managers. Westport, CT: Quorum Books. Decker, K. H. (1987). Employee privacy law and practice. New York: Wiley. This research paper on Top five violations of workplace confidentiality laws or guidelines was written and submitted by user Will H. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Why Preserve Biodiversity Essays

Why Preserve Biodiversity Essays Why Preserve Biodiversity Essay Why Preserve Biodiversity Essay Why Preserve Biodiversity? ANSWERS 1. Define the term â€Å"biodiversity† Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the term for the variety of life and the natural processes of which living things are a part. This includes the living organisms and the genetic differences between them and the communities in which they occur. The concept of biodiversity represents the ways that life is organized and interacts on our planet. 2. What is ecology? Ecology is the study of organisms and their relationship with their surroundings. Ecologists study the interaction between an organism and its environment. Some ecologists study the interaction of a specific species or habitat; others study the different species that depend on each other (ex. a food web). 3. What is a biome? A biome can be described as an area on our earth that shares the same species, climate, animals, and plants. There are actually about 150 different classified biomes today. The main biomes are Marine, Tundra, Desert, Savannah, Grassland, Tropical Rain Forest, Deciduous Forest, and Coniferous Forest. 4. What is an ecosystem? An ecosystem includes all the abiotic factors in addition to the community of species that exists in a certain area. Human populations depend on plants and animals for much of their food, medicines, clothing, and shelter. Perhaps even more important, intact ecosystems perform many vital functions, like purifying the air, filtering harmful substances out of water, turning decayed matter into nutrients, preventing erosion and flooding, and moderating climate. 5. What is meant by extinction? Name a species on the Niagara Escarpment that is threatened and could become extinct in the future. All living things are part of a complex, delicately balanced network called the biosphere. The earths biosphere is composed of ecosystems, which include plants and animals and their physical environment. The removal of a single species within an ecosystem can set off a chain reaction affecting many other species. It has been estimated that a disappearing plant can take with it up to 30 other species, including insects, higher animals, and even other plants. The most common cause of extinction is habitat loss. Plants and animals need space to live and energy provided by food, just as humans do. Even if habitat is not completely destroyed, it can be fragmented or degraded so much that it can no longer support the species it once did. Many species, particularly large mammals, need large areas of habitat to survive and reproduce. Patches of forest or grassland surrounded by farms or cities, or divided by roads, will not support these species. Examples of threatened species on the Escarpment: Jefferson Salamander, Opossum, Red Shouldered Hawk, Eastern Massassaga Rattlesnake and Redside Dace (a fish). Examples of birds include the Acadian Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush and Cerulean Warbler. 6. List three reasons why biodiversity is important and why endangered animals and habitats should be protected. recreational (outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing) economic health (biodiversity can help people find cures and medicines) human rights (Native communities in Canada) spiritual/intrinsic value 7. Choose two of the most convincing reasons above and write a two-paragraph essay about preserving biodiversity.

Essay 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

2 - Essay Example He shows a burning urge to learn in the beginning. He spends long hours studying. His goal changes when he creates a monster. He failed to realize the implications of having a monster. He invited evil to his door step. The theme of family is illustrated in this theme under Victor’s ambition. Victor thinks parents do not understand. The tragedy would have not occurred if his dad had given reasons not to read Agrippa. Mary Shelley explains in her novel that having a supportive family is a great solution to the problems of the society. However, the nice family in this novel ends up in the middle of the woods exiled in a cottage. Not so good for a family. Victor’s ambition resulted into the death of his mother. However, Victor is exonerated morally from the tragedy responsibility since such happening was not in his control. Walton’s desire to have a friend reflects the urge the monster feels for a mate. In this novel, gender is not an issue: it is about intimacy and closeness, not sex. Frankenstein gives a gratifying â€Å"depiction of family affection.† However, this is not usual in a novel complete with tragedy, murder, and despair. These tragedy, despair, and murder take place due to the absence of connection to either society or family. Isolation is the true evil in this novel. Victor’s ambition resulted into loneliness. When Victor becomes lost in his researches, he isolates himself from the society. He loses responsibility and implication of his actions due to this isolation. Victor’s monster becomes vengeful because of isolation, and not because it is evil. Monster gets filled with overwhelming anger and hate. The monster wants Victor to be lonely the way it is. This results in violence, hatred, and revenge. Through Walton and Victor, Mary Shelley in her novel exhibits human beings as very ambitious, though flawed. The two characters shared a dream to transform the society and bring glory to their families

Engineering Ethics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Engineering Ethics - Assignment Example An example would be concrete hardens slower as the temperature drops. The logical support is water freezes 0Â °C. Since concrete is mixed with water, the water temperature will affect how the concrete sets. The empirical support is the actual observations show at 21Â °C concrete will set within 6 hours. At 16Â °C concrete will set within 8 hours. It takes 11 hours at 10Â °C for concrete to set. It takes 19 hours at -1Â °C for concrete to set. At -7Â °C concrete will freeze. Actual observation and empirical support have proved how concrete sets during different temperatures. Social science theory is about what can be proven, not how society should function. An example would be 18 year old males in the United States can be drafted into the military in the case of war. This is an example of what is. An example of what should be is the draft should not exist, or women should also be drafted in order for equality to be achieved. In Israel all individuals, except mothers and Hasidic Jews, are made to serve two years in the military upon turning 18 years old. This can be proven. It is a law of Israeli society. What can be proven in society does not necessarily have to be a law. An example is the literacy rate in the United States is in the high 90% range. This can be proven through research and the national census. Basically social science theory can be proven, and is not based on opinion. Etic is the external researcher’s interpretation of what things mean to a member/members of society. Emic is the native’s or citizen’s interpretation for the basis of their beliefs. The etic and emic perspectives of the accident Three Mile Island were diametrically opposite. The emic view of what was going on in the population around Three Mile Island was panic generated by the release of The China Syndrome, misinformation, confusion, flawed formulas, an invincibility concept of nuclear reactors, and general mismanagement on the part of the staff of Three Mile

Practice based project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Practice based project - Essay Example It is also important to determine the implications of this change for future practice. Lastly, how this change would be disseminated in the organization is a concern that must as well be given focus. Leadership is a process of getting things done through people (Dudley and Bonney 2002). It is also a process by which a person influences others in accomplishing objectives and directs the organization towards making it more effective and cohesive. Bass (1989) claims that leaders are made, not born. An effective leader is one who has the desire to lead people and willpower to perform the needed tasks. Good leaders develop themselves out of a never-ending process of experience, self-study, education, and training. Higher levels of teamwork must be ensured by the leader in ascertaining that jobs are performed by members in a collective effort and that everybody participates in these tasks. In addition, good leaders are not resting on their laurels, but are continually learning and studying to improve their skills (Bass, 1989). The concept of leadership is relevant in many aspects, particularly when ensuring effectiveness in an organization and in managing organizational change and dev elopment. A good leader would make the members/followers want to achieve defined goals instead of bossing people around. Bass says that there are three basic ways for which people become leaders. The Trait Theory explains that some personality traits may naturally lead people into leadership roles. The Great Events Theory explains that due to a crisis or important events in one’s life, a person is driven to perform extraordinary leadership qualities. The Transformational Leadership Theory says that people can choose and learn to become leaders by learning leadership skills. The latter is the most widely accepted theory on leadership today (ibid). In health care development, the basis of true

Corporate Social Responsibility And Competitive Advantage Theories Management Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility And Competitive Advantage Theories Management Essay Corporate social responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, responsible business, sustainable responsible business (SRB), or corporate social performance, is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. ¼Ã‹â€ Wood, D. 1991 ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ° Kotler and Lee (2005) thought CSR is a commitment to community well-being through discretionary business practices and contributions of corporate resources. Ccorporate social responsibility includes human rights, employee rights, stakeholder rights, environmental protection, community relations, transparency and corruption. (Frynas, 2005) Competitive Advantage Competitive advantage is generally believed that the company holds the trumps in resources, capacity, and value created for customers, profit levels and market share and so on. Barney (1991) said a firm is said to have a competitive advantage when it is implementing a value creating strategy not simultaneously being implemented by any current or potential competitors. The basis of a competitive advantage comprises low costs for raw materials and energy, efficient production technologies and locational advantages.(Torsten Frohwein, Bernd Hansjurgens,2005). The opportunities for competitive advantages derive from the following implications: regulation and information.(A. B. Jaffe, R. G. Newell, R. N. Stavins,2001) The relationship of CSR CA Porte (1995) identifies the objectives of environmental improvements and enhanced competitiveness can be combined in a win-win situation. There is no consensus that the relationship of Corporate Social Responsibility and Competitive Advantage. In this paper, the relationship between CSR stakeholders is analyzed. A model of CSR contribution to competitive advantage was built so as to study the relationship between CSR CA. CSR is divided into the main stakeholders investors, employees, consumers, business partners, natural environment, community and government responsibility, using the description of corporate social responsibility and stakeholder theory framework. The essay described the competitive advantage from three dimensions: strategic resources, enterprise core competencies and business environment according to the comprehensive theory of competitive advantage. Main body CSR Enterprise Strategic Resources Barney (1991) analyzed competitive advantages from point of view of resources: Valuable, Rare, Imperfectly Imitable and Non-Substitutable. This essay selected two closely related resources with CSR to analyze: corporate reputation and corporate personnel. CSR Corporate Reputation Olins (1990) said that corporate reputation might be extended to a large range of product brands. Balmer (1998) Pointed out that corporate reputation finally is able to bring competitive advantage for enterprises and it is an important strategic resource. Corporate reputation comes from stakeholders; therefore, companies must be responsible to its stakeholders. That means CSR could effect corporate reputation, thus affecting t competitive advantage. Conversely, good reputation will also help companies to promote corporate social responsibility. Since the reputation determines attitude of the public and generates more favorable effect. Some multinational companies with high reputation, such as Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Nike and McDonalds fulfilled corporate social responsibility in brand-building to rebuild corporate reputation, image and corporate culture, thus enhanced the influence of brand. From a long-term perspective, corporate social responsibility is more conducive to enhance the long-term development and public image. CSR corporate personnel From the point of human resources, human capital is the basis for competitiveness. Staffs including employees and employers are makers, implementers, innovators and evaluators of core competitiveness of enterprises. Business survival and development depends on initiative and creativity of staff. Staff is the driving force for the development. Staff is a powerful competitive advantage to obtain protection. An enterprise survival depends on staff. Therefore, how to retain staff and how to develop staffs contribution of core competitiveness is the core issue. Companies must not only provide employees with reasonable salary and benefits, but also need to create equality, non-discrimination, safety and health, continuing training, working environment. All these are responsibility that enterprises must bear to employees. Staff loyalty and satisfaction result in competitively in the market. The enterprises fulfill their social responsibilities to their staff, such as attracting staff, retaining staff and stimulating creativity, which would have a positive impact. CSR Core Competencies CSR risk control capabilities Risk control is that managers have taken various measures and methods to eliminate or reduce various possibilities of risk, or to reduce losses caused by the incident. CSR that enterprise lead to its stakeholders could reduce the possibility and losses of risk, while appropriate penalties could be subject to ignoring the social responsibility. CSR business innovation Business innovation means such new methods or procedures that an enterprise uses its skills and resources to build new technology and products so that customer requirements can be changed or provide in better response. Business innovation includes product innovation, production process innovation and management innovation. Enterprises create new products and services by innovation to access to excess profits rather than average profit and win in the competition. Therefore, enhancing business innovation can obtain competitive advantage. In 2007, the British consulting firm Account Ability and CSR Network conducted Corporate Social Responsibility Assessment, and British Petroleum was ranking first. BP has also invested $20 million to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to resolve the problem in order to mitigate global warming. The result of carbon dioxide emissions was reduced by 10%in 2001 compared to 1990. And it also received $560 million of value-added returns. Therefore, CSR will stimulate innovation and bring benefits for enterprises. CSR the corporate environment A good relationship with stakeholders helps enterprises to expand market, win opportunities so as to form competitive advantage. CSR Consumer CSR the Natural Environment CSR Business Partners CSR Community CSR Government model Competitive Advantages Business partner Community Government Consumer Natural Environment Staff Corporate Environment Competencies environment mpetencies Transformation and Influence between CSR CA CSR can be transformed into competitive advantages. First, corporate social responsibility is good for optimizing the living environment. Corporate social responsibility can help corporations avoid condemnation, punishment and restrictions from government, community and the public so that decision-making and management are flexibility and autonomy. Maybe they enjoy preferential policies and incentives by government. Second, enterprises carry out their social responsibility to improve the public image, advance enterprises visibility, reputation, enhance social harmony, to attract consumers. All these can create a broader market and better development. Third, corporate social responsibility can cross international barriers. At present, corporate social responsibility has become accepted indicators of high standards and strict requirements. In an increasing economic globalization, corporate social responsibility would help enterprises to international markets, reduce the impact of social responsibility and enhance and upgrade competitiveness in the international market. Fourth, corporate social responsibility will help to attract talent. Corporations regularly involved in social responsibility are more well-known to easily recruit and retain talent. Fifth, corporate social responsibility will help improve financial performance, because Investors are always interested in responsible corporation.

Saint Augustine’s View on Sexuality Essay -- Religion

Saint Augustine’s View on Sexuality The famous bishop of Hippo, St. Augustine, is claimed as a cornerstone of Christian theology by both Catholics and Protestants. Many of his views are regarded by Christians as authoritative interpretations of the Bible because they have withstood heated debate throughout the centuries. Christians ought to ask, however, whether such allegiance is justifiable in all cases. Augustine's idea of sex after matrimony, for example, is very narrow, restricting actions and emotions married Christians today consider part of the beauty of intercourse. A logical assertion then, is that Augustine's view of sexuality, as delineated in many writings, is a response to his life of sensuality prior to salvation; therefore, his idea about the intent for sex within marriage stems more from his former sin than from Biblical perspective. St. Augustine's sordid lifestyle as a young man, revealed in Confessions, serves as a logical explanation for his limited view of the purpose of sexuality in marriage. His life from adolescence to age thirty-one was so united to passionate desire and sensual pleasure, that he later avoided approval of such emotions even within the sanctity of holy union. From the age of sixteen until he was freed of promiscuity fifteen years later, Augustine's life was woven with a growing desire for illicit acts, until that desire finally became necessity and controlled his will. His lust for sex began in the bath houses of Tagaste, where he was idle without schooling and "was tossed about†¦and boiling over in†¦fornications" (2.2). Also during that time, young Augustine displayed his preoccupation with sexual experience by fabricating vulgarities simply to impress his peers. In descript... ... Anderson, Douglas L., ed. Augustine. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1979. Augustine. The Confessions of St. Augustine: Books I-X. Trans. F.J. Sheed. New York: Sheed & Ward, 1942. Babcock, William S., ed. The Ethics of St. Augustine. Atlanta: Scholars P, 1991. Battenhouse, Roy W., ed. A Companion to the Study of St. Augustine. Grand Rapids: Baker,1955. Halsall, Paul. "St. Augustine: From 'On Marriage and Concupiscence.'" Internet Medieval Source Book. Oct. 1998. 3 Nov. 2000 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/aug-marr.html>. Hooker, Richard. Early Christianity: Augustine. 6 Jun. 1999. 3 Nov. 2000 <http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CHRIST/AUG.HTM>. Oates, Whitney J., ed. Basic Writings of Saint Augustine. 1948. 2 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980. Rist, John M. Augustine: Ancient Thought Baptized. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994.