The Best Tool for Employee Reviews
All employers want to be able to evaluate the performance of their employees to see if there are any areas that need improving on. There are many different software tools available to help with this but these days it is much more effective to introduce a 360 degree appraisal system. This type of system has become really popular with employers everywhere because it is easy to use and it works.
What is a 360 Degree Appraisal System?When it comes to appraising the performance of a certain individual, the 360 degree appraisal system works well because it allows for co-workers, supervisors, customers and suppliers to rate the individual anonymously. Because the evaluation is anonymous, there is more likelihood that the employer will get honest feedback.
The main reason for using a 360 degree appraisal system is that you are getting a more balanced view of how an employee is performing. Normally between eight and ten different people are asked to give an evaluation of a certain individual and this is usually done online anonymously. The individual being evaluated will be rated on a scale and comments are also encouraged. There is also an opportunity for the individual to complete the same survey about their own performance.
Why it Works
Most employers using the 360 degree appraisal system find that it gives a much clearer picture of how certain employees are performing and where the strengths and weaknesses are. Employees are more prone to accept the results of these appraisals because they have come from such a diverse selection of reviewers. This makes it more likely that they will be willing to work on areas that could do with improving.
Because this system is something that can easily be done regularly, it really is effective in making sure that employees strive to keep their work up to a certain standard which is beneficial to the company. As well as being a tool for employers to evaluate staff, individuals can use it to see if they are keeping on top of their performance levels.
If you are looking for an effective appraisal method for evaluating staff, then the 360 degree appraisal system is one that has been proven to work. It is easy to implement and allows employees to get a real idea of how they are performing. It is hugely popular these days and you can see why. No wonder so many businesses these days are choosing to use it.
China Gas Leak Teaches a Valuable Lesson
All over the world hordes of scientists, government officials, and environmentalists continue to debate the various energy sources we use and how they will impact local, regional, and global environments. Yet it seems like no matter what source human beings choose, someone, somewhere has a problem with it. The fact is there is no such thing as a perfect energy source; a fact so wonderfully displayed by an underwater gas leak in China.
Cnooc Ltd., a subsea company and China's largest offshore energy producer, was forced to shut down two natural gas fields after a leak was discovered back in December. There was no danger to the surrounding environment, and no ships in the area were damaged, but the lost production could extend for up to two months while the company works to get it repaired. According to estimates, shutting down the two fields for that length of time could equal a total loss of production of as much as 2% of the field's annual output.
What's more, if China's excess supply of liquefied natural gas proves to be insufficient, the leak could end up resulting in significant natural gas shortages in China's heavily industrial Guangdong province. Though it's unlikely the situation will become anything close to a natural disaster, it could prove to be an economic disaster for China's industrial complex.
A Teachable Moment
If nothing else, the issue in the South China Sea ought to be a teachable moment for environmentalists and environmental sympathizers everywhere. The reality is that there's no perfectly safe source of energy anywhere on the planet. Pipelines spring leaks, oil tankers run aground, nuclear reactors release radiation -- accidents will happen because this is not a perfect world. December's gas leak reminds us that even though natural is considered one of the safest and most sound forms of energy, even it is not free from failures.
But guess what? Windmills kill birds and cause vibration issues, solar collection centres are susceptible to radiation leaks, and all of this electricity that's supposed to bring an end to fossil fuels cannot be created without coal or nuclear energy.
The point is that we should not be so quick to pass judgement on the energy industry simply because accidents happen. Humanity is incredibly resilient in fixing its problems and cleaning up its messes. We should be encouraging a subsea company like Cnooc to continue growing and expanding so that they can not only supply China with natural gas, but so they can also develop ways to prevent future accidents and clean up future messes. To do otherwise will accomplish nothing but return us to the days of the pre-industrial era.
Questions to Ask When Buying Engineered Wood Flooring
If you’re thinking about buying engineered wood flooring, there are a number of questions you need to ask and things you need to know about before you make your purchase. You’re going to want to know some basic information about your home and the demands that will be placed on your flooring before you start shopping. Once you know this information, it’s time to look at the different engineered flooring options and see which ones match up to your needs.
What kind of stress will your flooring be under? If you’re putting down engineered flooring in a hallway or in a home with several young children, it’s going to take a pounding. You’ll definitely want to look for flooring that has a thick wear layer and requires little maintenance for these heavy-traffic areas. It’s also a good idea to get engineered flooring that can be sanded down and refinished so that, after years of getting scoff marks all over it, you can make the area look like new again.
On the other hand, you may be able to go with a type of engineered flooring that looks better or is cheaper for an area that isn’t going to be subjected to a lot of wear and tear. If you can properly maintain this flooring and make sure it doesn’t get scratched or damaged, you won’t need the high-quality engineered flooring. This can save you a little bit of money since this type of flooring is usually a little cheaper.
Many people are trying to live more eco-friendly lifestyles these days. If you’re one of these people, you may want to know if engineered flooring is considered green. The answer is yes, it is, especially when compared to solid wood flooring. Almost four times the amount of engineered flooring can be created using the same amount of materials that one square foot of 3/4th inch thick solid flooring takes.
Is Engineered flooring an option for different levels of your home? The answer here, again, is yes. While solid wood flooring is often a bad choice for basements because of the amount of moisture that often accumulates there, engineered flooring can better handle the humidity. It is, however, usually recommended that you install a plastic vapor barrier under a floating engineered wood floor in basements or in any location that has more moisture than normal.
How much work will it take to replace old flooring with engineered flooring? You may be surprised to find that it takes very little work. In fact, in most cases, you won’t even have to tear up your old vinyl or tile! If your current flooring is a hard surface, you can install an engineered floor right over it. You can also glue it directly to a concrete slab. The only problem comes with carpet, which must be ripped up before an engineered floor can be put down.
Working In the Public Sector
Working in the public sector remains increasingly appealing to many young adults who are leaving full time education and joining the work force. Public sector jobs include teaching assistant jobs and other roles that can be held where you are offering the public a service such as police, council workers, bin men and many others. Working in a public sector role can provide good job security, attractive rates of remuneration and a range of other benefits including generous holiday allowances. In recent years jobs in the public sector have become more vulnerable due to the weakening economic strength of the UK in recent years. Many people who work for councils for example have been made redundant due to the need to make significant savings in light of the recent heavy budget cuts.
A job for life
The advantage that positions such as teaching assistant jobs offer is potential to have what is considered a job for life. It can generally be agreed that we will always need to have people working in the education sector to properly educate new generations of children and so by gaining qualifications in an area like this you are making good steps toward securing your employability for the future. Nurses and hospital staff are also considered to be a part of the public sector as the NHS is government run and does not form part of the private sector. People who are looking to become trained nurses will need to make contact with their local college or university to see what options and courses they have available for you. Part of your course will normally involve a residency at a hospital where you will be able to practice and develop your skills and become used to working in a hospital environment.
Job security in the future
As previously mentioned there have been fears amongst public sector workers due to the recent economic downturn and the subsequent spate of redundancies that were made throughout the public sector. This should not be too much of a cause for concern if you are still set on working in a field that forms part of the public sector. Many of the cutbacks were made through people naturally leaving their jobs and a replacement not being sought; rather than mass redundancies. Many public sector officials and government leaders have said recently that they will strive to ensure that the budget cuts are met by finding more efficient ways of running the different departments in order to save money rather than through people losing their jobs. There are many cost-cutting schemes that have been employed by the various departments in a bid to successfully save money.
Boutique Hotels
One of the biggest trends in holiday accommodation is the advent of boutique hotels – small hotels with an upmarket feel, where every room is decorated in a distinctive style. Boutique hotels are springing up across the country, but what is their appeal?
Although the big corporate branded hotels have their place in the market, a common criticism is that the interiors do not vary much from city to city, and once you’re in the room with the curtains closed you could be pretty much anywhere in the world. Not so with the boutique hotel. Most boutique hotels are small, with around 20 rooms. Often each room is decorated in a different style, or furnished around a particular theme. The feel is generally more luxurious than in the larger chains of hotel with quirky ornaments or paintings adding to the look. Many boutique hotels provide little extras like games consoles or DVD players and the bathrooms are filled with top quality spa and toiletry products. Boutique hotels pride themselves on an excellent standard of food in their restaurants, and most use local produce wherever possible. As the kitchens are smaller than in many of the big chain hotels, the chefs are more responsive to individual needs and will be able to cater for special diets and requests.
Boutique hotels have also managed to attract visitors back to some of the more traditional seaside resorts which have seen a reversal in the decline of numbers of visitors. Norfolk is one of the areas which have embraced the boutique hotel concept and a quick browse through any Norfolk business directory will throw up a whole host of hotels to choose from. Some are in traditional seaside resorts such as Great Yarmouth or Cromer; others are inland in Norwich or Swaffham. Each hotel offers something a little bit different so it is important to do your research to decide which would be most appropriate for your needs. Most hotels have websites where you can see exactly what they have to offer in terms of accommodation, food and location, or after looking through the Norfolk business directory you could simply phone them up and ask for a brochure or leaflet.
One of the nicest ways to spend a holiday is by travelling around the area, seeing all the different attractions that Norfolk has to offer, staying in a different location every night. A bit of forward planning and booking ahead will allow you to enjoy your holiday stress free, knowing that your night’s accommodation will be in a lovely room, with fluffy towels and bathrobes, and your favourite DVD or CD to entertain you after a hard day’s sightseeing.
Discrimination in the Workplace
In the UK there is extensive legal protection to ensure that companies can’t discriminate against job applicants and employees on grounds of sex, race or age. However, many high profile cases have shown that employers are still discriminating on all of these grounds, either through ignorance of the law or because they think they can get away with it.
When recruiting new employees careful attention must be paid to both the job advert and the interview process. HR resourcing experts should be consulted on the process and can sit in on interviews to offer advice if an interviewer is unsure. Job adverts can no longer the gender of the person being sought, unless the job falls into very specific criteria. Statements can be made about looking for someone with a certain number of years of experience, but an employer can no longer say they are looking for someone aged over 35 or under fifty. During the interview process it is wise to steer well clear of any questions regarding children or childcare so as not to discriminate against women who are the main carers for young children. The easiest way to ensure your process is fair to everyone is to have competency based interviewing. Write a standard set of questions before seeing any candidates, and base the questions around previous experience, or ask them to tell you about a time when they were in a specific situation. Ensuring that you ask everyone the same thing will mean you are not being discriminatory in your interviewing process.
For existing employees the rules are broadly similar. Opportunities for promotion and training must be given to all employees on an equal basis. Many of the recent high profile cases in the press have centred on women who have been on maternity leave when their position has been made redundant, or who have been sacked for spurious reasons shortly after announcing their news to their employer. Although such overt discrimination is rare, there are many other ways that employers may discriminate against employees without even realising that they are doing it. If your company does not employ an HR resourcing team, it is wise to retain the services of an HR advisory company who can advise and consult on best practice and assist with writing of documents and drafting of internal adverts or letters to staff.
It is also wise for all small employers to book themselves on a short course run by one of the many private training providers which will take you through the basics of the legislation and outline your responsibilities as an employer. It could mean a day out of your working week, but in the long run it could mean you’re seen as a much fairer employer.