Human Resource Management and the Sugar Factory. - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2545 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/09/16 Category Advertising Essay Did you like this example? Delbert Lammers Human Resource Management: BUS 303 Human Resource Management, and the Sugar Factory Beverly Williams: Instructor August 30th, 2010 Human Resource Management: And the Sugar Factory Have you ever hired someone to work for you? If you have ever went to a dentist or a doctor, or had your car serviced or repaired, or hired someone to mow your lawn, then you have used some form of Human Resource Management (HRM) skills, when hiring these people. Perhaps you simply relied on word off mouth when choosing a company or person to work for you, or perhaps it was the way they dressed and spoke that persuaded you to hire them. Then again, you may have needed more information to make a decision, and so you did a credit and background check, along with an in person interview. These are all skills that Human Resource Management people use on a daily basis to make sure they are making the right choices for their organizations. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Human Resource Management: and the Sugar Factory." essay for you Create order In this paper I will discuss my organization,and several different aspects of human resource management, and what impact they have on my organization. First of all lets define HRM. There are many different ways to define HRM, but in essence it is the process of deciding what an organizations human resource needs are and then finding the best people to fill those needs. Once the right people have been hired, it is also the job of the HRM to help motivate these people to give their best efforts by providing them with the right incentives and job environment in order to achieve their organizational goals. My Organization For the purposes of writing this paper, my organization shall refer the Snake River Amalgamated sugar factory located in Nyssa, Oregon, where I worked for several years, and still have family members and friends working there. The Amalgamated Sugar company is a sugar beet refining company. The actual sugar beet refining only takes place during what they call the campaign season, which starts after the first frost in the fall, and usually ends after March or April the following spring. The company was founded in 1897 in Logan Utah (Bachman 1962) , and is now headquartered in Boise, Idaho. The company was started and operated by members of the Mormon church. The Mormon church actually owned controlling interest in the company from 1914 until 1942. The company has grown steadily over the years, and now has sugar manufacturing plants through out many of the western and mid-western states. It is the second largest producer of sugar in the United states. The company is partially owned by the Pepsi Bottling Ventures company which uses vast amounts of their sugar to sweeten its soft drink products. The company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1950 ( I was born in Nyssa that same year). Because of labor shortages during world war II, â€Å"Mexican Nationals† and â€Å"Japanese evacuees† were used as field laborers by the company until the war ended. As far as sugar beet refining factories go, the one in Nyssa is one of the smallest. It sits on the eastern edge of town, just two-hundred yards from the Snake river which acts as the border between Idaho and Oregon, until the Columbia river takes over the job about a hundred and fifteen miles northwest of Nyssa. Most of the factory, including the front, where the main offices are located, is made of red brick which was laid in 1937, (Bachman, 1962). Over the years, many parts of the factory have been upgraded or modernized,† yet it has always kept its red brick facade. It has always been, as far as I can remember, a very dirty, smelly, and often times, dangerous place to work. In the winter time most parts of the factory are cold and drafty, while during the summer months it is often very hot and humid. Neither the union (the Teamsters) nor the HRM people have done much to improve the deplorable working conditions at the factory. During the winter months when the campaign season is in full swing, the entire town is often covered in a moist brown haze with a smell so ripe and putrid, that many people want to vomit at their first encounter with it. Health and Safety In 1973 I worked at the factory all summer helping to tear out the aging oil fired boiler which was used to dry the sugar beet pulp during the pellitizing process. The removal of the old boiler included the removal of hundreds of feet of asbestos insulated pipe. If I remember correctly, no safety precautions were made during the removal of the asbestos, I think ecause most of us at that time, had never heard of the hazards of asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral which was once widely used in piping and insulation products, until thousands of people claimed to have contracted respiratory diseases as a result of inhaling the dust from asbestos, Ivancevich (2008). A French company was awarded the contract to install the new gas fired boiler, and a French en gineer with several assistants were sent from France to oversee the project. It was very dangerous work. I remember that three men were seriously injured during that construction project. One man lost a foot when a large crane jumped when it lost tension on its lift cable, and one of the outrigger pads came down on the mans foot, who was standing to close to the crane. This accident could have easily been prevented if only the area immediately around the crane had been roped off, or if someone responsible had been watching to make sure no one got too close to the crane while it was in operation. Accidents were common place at the Nyssa factory. One of my foremen was missing an eye that he had lost when a steam pipe blew out. Another foreman we called lefty, had lost his left arm when it was caught between a sprocket ed wheel and its drive chain. Many employees found they couldnt work there because of the lime dust, sulfur dioxide, and other chemicals which gave the place such a terrible smell. I remember when the campaign ended each year, it usually took a couple weeks for the stench of the place to leave my sinuses. Bad smalls and unsafe working conditions, combined with low wages all contribute to a high employee turn over rate, absenteeism, and a poor profit margin. One way to address the poor air quality inside and out side of the factory would be to have the national Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Ivancevich (2008) evaluate the health hazards at the factory through its Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) program. Any employer, employee, employee representative, state or local government agency, or federal agency can ask NIOSH investigators to conduct an evaluation. Unfortunately investigations and evaluations can only do so much. As with other HRM functions, the success of a safety and health program requires the support and cooperation of managers. With out this support, health and safety efforts will be hampered. Another aspect of health and safety requires that top management support the effort with an adequate budget. I believe that because of poor economic conditions, the management at the Nyssa factory cannot do all they might wish to do to protect the health and safety of its worker. In 1990 the Nyssa sugar factory was declared the second biggest polluter of sulfur dioxide in the state of Oregon, by the EPA, just behind an old coal fired electric plant at Boardman, Oregon. The big difference between the two polluters was that Boardman only has a population of about fifty people, and the electric plant is a couple miles out of town. Nyssa on the other hand is a town of about five-thousand people and the sugar factory sets right next to the town. 1990 was also the year when the union ( Teamsters) workers at the plant finally decided to go on strike for better wages and safer working conditions. This action should have been taken decades ago, but due to collusion between union and company officials, nothing was ever done. If the EPA had not declared the factory a serious polluter, I believe it would still be business as usual there. Ethics within the Company Over the years the company has had many run ins with the law. In 1955, local land owners who had land that bordered the Snake river, sued the factory for dumping raw factory waste directly into the Snake river. In 1971 and 1980, the company and it chief competitors were all sued for price fixing. In 1997 the factory was sued successfully in a wrongful death law suit when an employee was crushed by a rail car full of coal, Coleman,(1997). Along with these problems, the Nyssa factory has always had more than its share of employee thefts, sabotage, and violence. I believe many of these problems are contributed to by economic forces such as poor wages, and benefits, and also to poor working conditions. The company has taken a more proactive stance against these types of problems by hiring more security personnel, and by using more effective preemployment screening. One problem which often circumvents these measures at the factory is the common practice of nepotism among management. Nepotism is the unfair practice in which people in power give positions (jobs) in a government or organization to their relatives or friends, rather than to someone who is more qualified. This practice can lead to low moral among workers which often causes inefficiency in the functioning of an organization. Nepotism can also cause conflicting loyalties for the person who received the job, since he or she may be more loyal to the person who hired them, rather than to the organization. Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunities Over the years the demographics have changed in the small town where the factory is located. When I first went to work there in 1970 is predominantly white with Hispanics making up the next largest group at about twenty percent, with a few Japanese and native Americans making up the remainder of the population. The factory workers at the time mirrored these demographics. Today these demographics have changed dramaticly. Now the Hispanic population represents almost seventy-five percent of the population in the small town, with the white and other races being in the minority. Because of this shift the town now suffers from the same problems as larger more populated areas in regards to gangs, drugs, violence and illegal immigration. These new demographics no longer mirror the demographics at the sugar factory, which still has a majority of white workers. In the past the work ethic of the Hispanic workers was valued, but now because of the high crime rates, combined with other factors such as the increased public expenses for medical, welfare, schools, and other problems related to illegal immigrations which has befallen the area, which most blame on the tremendous increase in the Hispanic population. Because of these problems the Hispanic workers are no longer seen as the valued workers they once were. Therefore, the employment opportunities for Hispanics at the sugar factory have not kept pace with their population increases. I also believe the political climate along with the news media have also helped to fuel the anti Hispanic sentiments which have swept over the country in recent months. The Nyssa factory has long had a diverse work force, and they usually work quite very well together since many of them knew each other and often worked together out in the community, before going to work at the sugar factory. It is after all a small town. It would be great to be able to say with conviction that the company promotes and values a diverse work force, yet this simply is not the case. The truth is that they have always had such a work force, and since they have never had to work to attain this, they really do not appreciate what diversity means in terms of valuing and respecting differences. HR Planning and Recruitment The majority of the work force, including lower management is recruited through the local state employment offices, and also by applying directly at the factory front office. Even though the company has changed hands several times since it was founded, the management and the management style have not changed. As mentioned earlier, this is in large part due to nepotism throughout upper management. Unlike most company websites, The Snake River Sugar Company (its new name) does not offer a link for careers with the company. In other words, if your not related you need not apply. Conclusion The ailing factory at Nyssa was bought in 1997 by a farmers cooperative consisting of local sugar beet growers, most, by going heavily into debt. Unfortunately, the new owners of the factory, like past owners, kept the same management team, with the same outmoded management style at the factory. It was publicized that the old factory would close for good in 2005 due to a combination of poor sugar prices, poor crop yields, and union demands for wage increases, among others. Even with all its problems it has somehow managed to stay open. I would not want to see it closed since it is the largest employer in what is a very economically depressed area. I believe in order for this factory to be successful in the future, a complete restructuring needs to take place starting at the top, with new top and middle management. They need people with new and fresh approaches to Human Resource Management, who will put the health and safety of the workers ahead of profit. They also need to down size and streamline their management personnel so there will be less people to procrastinate and pass the buck when something really needs to be done. The factory has been doing the same things the same way with the same suppliers and buyers for so long, that they have become entrenched in the way they do business, which is costing the factory millions of dollars. For these reasons, a serious cost cutting program needs to be established. I realize that during these hard economic times that raising wages or increasing benefits may not be feasible, however I think that there are many other things that can be done to increase morale and worker satisfaction within the factory. Better lighting and ventilation in certain parts of the factory would be a good start. Newer more reliable and safer equipment and machinery would also contribute to safety, efficiency, and morale. I have discussed my organization and many of the HRM problems, and some of the solutions which might help to solve the problems which face the factory. As to whether or not the old factory will survive, only time will tell. References Ivancevich, J, M. ,(2008) Human resource management: McGraw-Hill, New york, New York Bachman, J, R. ,(1962) Story of the Amalgamated Sugar Company, 1897-1962. Caxton Printers, Caldwell, Idaho. Duin, S. , (1990-08-10) Article:†The Case of Death? Dont List The Owl† The Oregonian News Paper, Portland, Oregon: pp B05. Coleman, J . ,(1997-04-17)Article:†Nyssa factory Appeals Fines Levied After Workers Death† The Oregonian News Paper, Portland, Oregon: pp E04 Lingham, L. , (2008)Article : Human Resources; Retrieved August 27, 2010. from https://www. allexperts. com

Theme Of Irony In The Kite Runner - 905 Words

Although irony may be associated with negative events or actions, it can also be a sign of good for characters within stories. According to Dictionary.com, irony in literature is defined as â€Å"a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated.† The use of irony is found within the novel The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini. Hosseini uses irony to portray and develop the main dynamic character in this story, Amir. Most of the major events Amir is faced with at a younger age seemingly come full circle when he reaches adulthood. Irony plays a role as Amir lives through tragic events that ultimately teach him how to become a better person.†¦show more content†¦Best friends typically have loyalty that comes with the friendship, and Hassan was all about the loyalty, whereas Amir had trouble giving Hassan what he deserves. For instance, after Amir had won the kite ra ce, Hassan had caught his kite to then be met by a bully, Assef, and his friends in an alley way. Amir is a bystander to what would be the raping of Hassan and Amir tells it as â€Å"I could step in to that alley, stand up for Hassan-the way he’d stood up for me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  to then finish with, â€Å"In the end, I ran.† (Hosseini 77). Amir immediately regrets his self-proclaimed cowardly decision. As Amir grows older, the circle of life catches up to him and he has the opportunity to stand up for Hassan’s son, Sohrab, against Assef. Revisiting the experience, he had of standing up for Sohrab, he admits â€Å"That was the first time I’d fought anyone.† (Hosseini 288). Amir is aware that he messed up with his opportunities with Hassan, in turn he ironically is the first to stand up for Sohrab who was up against the same person that troubles Hassan. Growing up the way Amir did as a Pashtun, it could be easy to see him take what he had for granted. 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Effect of Violence in the Media Free Essays

Decades of psychological research confirms that media violence can increase aggression. Virtually since the dawn of television, parents, teachers, legislators, and mental health professionals have been concerned about the content of television programs and its impact, particularly on children. Of special concern has been the portrayal of violence, especially given psychologist Albert Bandura’s work on social learning and the tendency of children to imitate what they see. We will write a custom essay sample on Effect of Violence in the Media or any similar topic only for you Order Now As a result of 15 years of consistently disturbing findings about the violent content of children’s programs, the Surgeon General’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Television and Social Behavior was formed in 1969 to assess the impact of violence on the attitudes, values and behavior of viewers. The resulting Surgeon General’s report and a follow-up report in 1982 by the National Institute of Mental Health identify these major effects of seeing violence on television: * Children may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others * Children may be more fearful of the world around them Children may be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others Research by psychologists L. Rowell Huesmann, Leonard Eron and others found that children who watched many hours of violence on television when they were in elementary school tended to also show a higher level of aggressive behavior when they became teenagers. By observing these young people into adulthood, Dr. Huesmann and Dr. Eron found that the ones who hadd watched a lot of TV violence when they were eight years old were more likely to be arrested and prosecuted for criminal acts as adults. Interestingly, being aggressive as a child did not predict watching more violent TV as a teenager, suggesting that TV watching may more often be a cause rather than a consequence of aggressive behavior. Violent video games are a more recent phenomenon; therefore there is less research on their effects. However, research by psychologist Craig A. Anderson and others shows that playing violent video games can increase a person’s aggressive thoughts, feelings and behavior both in laboratory settings and in actual life. In fact, a study by Dr. Anderson in 2000 suggests that violent video games may be more harmful than violent elevision and movies because they are interactive, very engrossing and require the player to identify with the aggressor. Dr. Anderson and other researchers are also looking into how violent music lyrics affect children and adults. In a 2003 study involving college students, Anderson found that songs with violent lyrics increased aggression related thoughts and emotions and this effect was directly related to the violent content of the lyrics. â€Å"One major conclusion from this and other research on violent entertainment media is that content matters,† says Anderson. This message is important for all consumers, but especially for parents of children and adolescents. † A typical child in the U. S. watches 28 hours of TV weekly, seeing as many as 8,000 murders by the time he or she finishes elementary school at age 11, and worse, the killers are depicted as getting away with the murders 75% of the time while showing no remorse or accountability. Such TV violence socialization may make children immune to brutality and aggression, while others become fearful of living in such a dangerous soci ety. With the research clearly showing that watching violent TV programs can lead to aggressive behavior, The American Psychological Association passed a resolution in 1985 informing broadcasters and the public of the potential dangers that viewing violence on television can have for children. In 1992, the APA’s Task Force on Television and Society published a report that further confirmed the link between TV violence and aggression. In 1990, Congress passed the Children’s Television Act (CTA), which outlined new regulations for commercial broadcast stations. As a result of the CTA (which was updated in 1996), stations are required to air at least three hours of programming â€Å"that furthers the education and informational needs of children 16 years and under in any respect, including children’s intellectual/cognitive or social/emotional needs. † These programs must be labeled with the designation â€Å"E/I† and have clearly stated, written educational objectives. These educational programs generally contain both direct and indirect messages fostering cooperation and compassion rather than aggression. Parents now have positive options when it comes to choosing TV programs for their children. Research on television and violence has also led to the development of content-based rating systems that allow parents to make judgments about the programs’ content before allowing their children to watch a show. Besides warning of the harmful effects of violent media content, psychology has a strong history of bringing out the best in television. For example, Daniel R. Anderson, a professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts, has worked with producers of children’s programs like Sesame Street and Captain Kangaroo to help TV shows educate children. How to cite Effect of Violence in the Media, Papers

Crime Scene Investigators research paper free essay sample

Investigators require on the Job training through an apprenticeship. This puts them with seasoned veterans to learn proper methodology and procedures to follow when examining a crime scene and processing the evidence collected. If criminal investigators work in a crime lab, they have to have DNA-analysis training which could take anywhere from six to twelve months to complete. Crime Scene Investigators also need Firearm Analysis training, which can take up to three months to complete. The employment rate of Crime Scene Investigators Is expected to grow by 19 percent through 2020.The average annual salary for Crime Scene Investigators In 2010 was $51 ,570. Of course, this was based on the degree, experience, and the location of the area that needed a Crime Scene Investigator. How a crime scene investigation works is there will be quite a few people from various offices from various locations at the crime scene. We will write a custom essay sample on Crime Scene Investigators research paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The police are usually the first to get to the crime scene. They will sometimes make an arrest on the spot if the arson responsible for the crime is still at the scene of the crime or the cop might need to call an ambulance.They have a great responsibility to maintain a secure crime scene. The CSS unit will be at the crime scene gathering information and documenting the crime scene. The district attorney could also be there to see If the Investigators need to get search warrants or not. If there Is a death Involved In the crime, the Medical Examiner will be called in. There could also be other forensic scientists called to the crime scene if their expertise is needed. Detectives will be here working with the CSS unit. They will also interview witnesses and try to determine what might have taken place and what caused it.The first thing to happen when the CSS unit arrives at the crime scene is they perform a walk through of the crime scene. They will try to find out if anything has been moved or removed from the crime scene. They will take pictures, draw sketches, and document everything at the crime scene. Next, they comb the crime scene collecting, tagging, and packaging evidence. These Items will be taken to the crime lab to be examined. The results of the tests performed will be sent to the Investigator In charge of the case.Joe Clayton works as a Laboratory Agent and primary scene responder for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. He says, l may be involved in actual bench work once the evidence from the crime scene is submitted splatter to questioned documents. According to an article in the Crime Scene Journal website, author Michael F. Elaborate speaks of the unstable economy and the budget cuts. This affects law enforcement agencies as well. Funding is cut, people are laid off, salaries are cut, and hiring is frozen. There are still options for crime scene training.Someone could pay to have their training done through various courses offered through colleges. The other option would be to train yourself. This option would be cheaper. He gave the example of burglary and robbery investigations. He went along and learned AIBO the types of powders to use when finger printing from different objects. The hands-on experience was great for him. If you are already in law enforcement, there are other training sources available through the National Forensic Academy. There are also books and other training options available.