An investigation into perceptions of employee benefits in UK Literature review

An investigation into perceptions of employee benefits in UK - Literature review Example Employee benefits can be short term, long term and termination benefits. Short term benefits generally include monetary and non-monetary benefits for a short period. Long term benefits include pensions and other retirement plans. A possible narrowest definition will include employer-provided benefits for accident, death, retirement, sickness or unemployment (Weathingtin and Tetrik, 2009). However, in order to better understand the employee benefits, it is important to cover all forms of employee benefits and compensation schemes used across the globe. The most frequently used employee benefit forms are as follows: 2. Payments for retirement plans and private insurance: These include costs of starting such plans and contributions in forms of payments or insurance premiums through alternative arrangements for funding (The British Psychological society, 2014). The government has set policies for providing benefits under various plans in case of personal loss. The personal loss covers the following aspects: 4. Extra payments to employees through cash. Other than bonuses and wages, cash payments are also provided to employees on the basis of performance. This category of benefits includes the following factors: Employee benefits and compensation packages have become a very common as well as necessary phenomenon for employees and workers in the 21st century. As a result of globalizations and increasing opportunities in work and career, workers and employees have started realizing their worth and have started demanding more from their employers (Dulebohn, et al., 2009). As a result companies have not integrated benefits and compensation system into their core management. As the economic environment is becoming more service oriented and work forces are becoming white collars, these employee benefits are naturally expected. The necessity of employee benefits is more for employers than for employees. In the current

The role of ombudsman in ADR and its impact on sovereign government Coursework

The role of ombudsman in ADR and its impact on sovereign government - Coursework Example While usually asked by one party or the other to become involved, the ombudsman may take the initiative without being requested to do so. While formal definition of the role is not legally universally accepted, the description of the role is generally as stated and practiced within the limits and specifications of various legal systems and constitutions. Functioning on local, national and international level, the role of ombudsman is the purest and most effective form of alternative dispute resolution between individuals and more powerful entities. The Ombudsman: Concept and Mechanisms for ADR The role of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) in resolving the grievances of private citizens has expanded over the years to achieve a status even among attorneys as a valid legal and useful practice. Rather than merely an alternative to costly litigation, it has resurrected ‘traditional notions’ about the use of negotiation and out of court settlement.1 Over the past two decades ADR has evolved into a complex arena for settling disputes, encouraged by the rise in popularity and acceptance of the ombudsman as prime impartial negotiator. With the increased use of ombudsmen, officials in this role can be found at all levels of government, as well as in settings of private industry and academia. Modeled on a long established Swedish precedent, the concept took hold in Europe the 1960s along with a growing ‘power to the people’ movement seeking redress for the average person against the powerful forces of government and industry in dispute situations. Ombudsman were to assist in achieving fairness by means of independence, unfettered access to records and persons, careful investigation, impartiality and the prestige of the office. Ombudsman today can be found in almost any official capacity where parties involved in disputes are in need of an impartial negotiator. Differences in the operational aspect among these negotiating agents often depend upon where he or she is expected to function, but always within the clearly defined parameters of impartiality and/or political neutrality. In the private corporate environment, the ombudsman may not only resolve differences between workers and employers, but often affect better conditions in the workplace that discourage extreme acts by the offended party or parties as a means to resolution. Mechanisms employed in these circumstances may prove simple or complex, depending upon the nature of the grievances or dispute, as well as the commitment and attitudes of the parties at odds. The goal, however, is always the same: a fair resolution to a conflict of interests that satisfies and is fair to both parties achieved in a non-litigious setting. In the public arena--as in disputes with government and public agencies—the ombudsman also functions as a bureaucratic monitoring mechanism. Basically, the activity in the public realm may be viewed as threefold: as stopgap measure to holding administrators accountable for treatment of citizens; as righting wrongs done to citizens, and as a tool to dissuade citizens from becoming alienated from the tangled government bureaucracy, rendering it, or seemingly so, more human and personal. As watchdogs, ombudsman look for potential government abuses, and at times, as is fair and appropriate to their role as impartial mediators, they can also vindicate officials unjustly charged in a grievance with wrongdoing.2 The position then is a hedge against what many citizens see as an all powerful bureaucratic

Report of investing in London office market Essay

Report of investing in London office market - Essay Example fully analyse different elements influencing the market before investing in it in order to make sure that the investment is profitable in long run (Ball, Lizieri, and MacGregor, 1998). For this purpose, the economic, political, institutional, social, legal, and many other factors are explored and investigated to understand and comprehend the future implications for the London office market. Apart from this the supply and demand and other important elements like property planning and pipeline projects with reference to the different regions and breakup of the overall London office market have been explored and analysed in order to get better understanding of the overall market and industry. London is considered as major financial hub not only of UK where major business giants are operating their businesses. It is considered as one of the command sector of the global economy. This feature of London makes it more appealing city for foreign investors. London economy can be best measured through Gross value added (GVA) which demonstrates the contribution of not only individual industries or sectors but also the individual producers present and working in the boundaries of London. The GVA also measured the income generated from employment by production of goods and services. The latest data of Gross value added produced by ONS in December 2011, London contributed 21% of the whole UK and per head which is around  £35,026 (more than  £15,000 than UK average) in 2010 (The Guardian, 2012). According to the research conducted by the city group, London is likely to have more GDP than any other city in the world from by 2025 due to its exceptional growing financial service. Currently it is the one of the tenth largest GDP contributor in the world in term of US dollar. A recent research conducting for London offices shows that almost 60% of the commercial property investment in central London was made by foreign investors from 27 countries in 2011 which is considered as

The process of globalization and culture in Cape Town Essay

The process of globalization and culture in Cape Town - Essay Example People have forgotten their own culture and their own suffering. Critics take globalization as a factor which is changing their culture and imposing new cultures. What values and cultures did people adapt The high level of interconnectedness among nations, countries and cultures is referred to as globalization. The technological advancement has made the world a small place with almost every thing accessible to mankind (Globalization101, n.p). This high interaction and interdependence causes cultural mix up or cultural hybridization. Some people take consider this as a positive outcome of globalization. According to Rathkopf, globalization is the only way to a better and a more stable world. It is true, that globalization not only reduces cultural barriers but removes the negative aspects of any culture (Rathkopf, n.p). Many other people take globalization as a bargain to their culture and heritage, which is not acceptable to them. These people say that globalization is destroying their roots and their identity i.e. culture (Barlow, n.p). The globalization of products and commodities is considered to be a good thing; however this also has its own negative points. It not only declines the sales of locally made products but also disrupts the local economy. Hence it can be noted that globalization has both positive and negative outcomes. Thi... It not only declines the sales of locally made products but also disrupts the local economy. Hence it can be noted that globalization has both positive and negative outcomes. ABOUT THE REPORT This report will discuss the processes and effects of globalization in Cape Town, South Africa. The first part of the report will discuss the culture of the place and how it is organized. Moreover, how the place runs, will also be discussed. In the second part the effect of globalization on the culture of the place will be discussed. The conclusion will give an overview of what the future holds for the people in Cape Town. THE PLACE Cape Town is the provincial capital of the Western Cape and is probably one of the most beautiful cities of the world. Due to its beautiful beaches and scenery it attracts more tourists than any other place in South Africa. The total population of the city is almost 3.5 million (Statistics of South Africa, n.p). Even though this is a big number, but due to a larger area, the population density of the city is still low. Almost 80% of the households in Cape Town use electricity. Cape Town consists of almost 31% local black Africans. The rest are whites and Asians. This demography clearly states that there are more people from other nations, and hence they have their cultural influence in the area. Moreover, female population in the city is more than male population. Almost 58% of the native blacks are unemployed (Statistics of South Africa, n.p; City of Cape Town, 3-7). Almost 41% of the people in Cape Town speak Afrikaans. The rest speak Xhosa and English. Majority of the population is Christian with almost 10% having no religion at all. Cape Town can be called as the oldest city of South Africa, and it really is. Its oldest building Posthuys

Google lnc.-Earnings Announcements and Information Environment Assignment

Google lnc.-Earnings Announcements and Information Environment - Assignment Example As a matter of fact, earnings numbers clearly bear a significant impact on valuations of public market. While per share earnings calculations are straight forward, corporations frequently report â€Å"pro forma† EPS numbers. Valuations based on pro forma numbers against GAAP EPS numbers potentially translate into significant valuation changes. Pro forma earnings are non-GAAP and exclude items like restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, losses on asset and businesses sales, goodwill amortization, as well as equity method investments losses (Burns, 2009). It is widely claimed that pro forma numbers are net of â€Å"items deemed as non-reoccurring, non-cash or unimportant,† and hence pro forma numbers portray a realistic picture of their potential and value. ii. It is widely held that Pro Forma Analysis gives investors a clearer picture of company operations. As a matter of fact, they are believed to offer more accurate view of financial performance and outlook due to the nature of businesses. For instance, a firm like a cable and telecommunication company will prefer Pro Forma analysis because constantly makes operating profits by writing down depreciation costs. In essence, investors concerned with long-term company valuation can do well by analyzing pro-forma earnings. Additionally, pro forma analysis allows companies to identify their core value drivers, in addition to analyzing the changing trends within operations. iii. In January, 2003 SEC instituted a final rule through  §401(b) the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOA) with regard to use of â€Å"pro forma† financial analysis in information on SEC filings as well as other public disclosures. According to the rules, all companies that provide pro forma must accompany the same with corresponding or equivalent GAAP measures (Burns, 2009). This is to allow industry comparability, in addition to standardization for

Beckham's plan to build a new stadium for soccer in Miami Assignment

Beckham's plan to build a new stadium for soccer in Miami - Assignment Example To finance this, he intends to use his MSL contract of $25 million, in addition to collaborating with Simon Fuller and billionaire Marcelo Claure. The investors will fund the project privately, but are not close to the offer of state funding (â€Å"Beckham Unveils His Miami Stadium Plans†). Soccer in the USA has grown increasingly popular as a participant and as a spectator sport and with the construction of such a site, the sport could gain even more popularity. However, having such a huge venue does not guarantee that that is what the city needs. The project is already experiencing setbacks with the proposed site being considered inappropriate to erect a soccer stadium. It has also received mixed perceptions from the residents with some opting for more green space than a huge stadium. These setbacks could leave the investors with no choice other than looking for alternative

Google lnc.-Earnings Announcements and Information Environment Assignment

Google lnc.-Earnings Announcements and Information Environment - Assignment Example As a matter of fact, earnings numbers clearly bear a significant impact on valuations of public market. While per share earnings calculations are straight forward, corporations frequently report â€Å"pro forma† EPS numbers. Valuations based on pro forma numbers against GAAP EPS numbers potentially translate into significant valuation changes. Pro forma earnings are non-GAAP and exclude items like restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, losses on asset and businesses sales, goodwill amortization, as well as equity method investments losses (Burns, 2009). It is widely claimed that pro forma numbers are net of â€Å"items deemed as non-reoccurring, non-cash or unimportant,† and hence pro forma numbers portray a realistic picture of their potential and value. ii. It is widely held that Pro Forma Analysis gives investors a clearer picture of company operations. As a matter of fact, they are believed to offer more accurate view of financial performance and outlook due to the nature of businesses. For instance, a firm like a cable and telecommunication company will prefer Pro Forma analysis because constantly makes operating profits by writing down depreciation costs. In essence, investors concerned with long-term company valuation can do well by analyzing pro-forma earnings. Additionally, pro forma analysis allows companies to identify their core value drivers, in addition to analyzing the changing trends within operations. iii. In January, 2003 SEC instituted a final rule through  §401(b) the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOA) with regard to use of â€Å"pro forma† financial analysis in information on SEC filings as well as other public disclosures. According to the rules, all companies that provide pro forma must accompany the same with corresponding or equivalent GAAP measures (Burns, 2009). This is to allow industry comparability, in addition to standardization for