Ethics and Morality Essay Example for Free

Ethics and Morality Essay Man is a mixture of paradoxes and since his birth always finds himself tangled in the dense thrushes of social and cultural issues. Hamlet by William Shakespear is a best example to deliver us the true intricate nature of a person, how he finds himself in a dilemma, of what is morally right for him and what is morally wrong. An incredible question is raised in front of him, To Be or not to be? As Socrates said, moral philosophy deals with no small matter, but how we ought to live. ( Rachels, 2007) It is quite true, moral philosophy is nothing but how we take issues in our life into consideration. The issue of Abortion is a very complex issue, as anti abortionists and pro abortionists are adamant to follow their own extreme assumption. On the one hand, anti –abortionists says that the loss of one’s life is the very big loss, making a person rob of whole of his life’s activities. Therefore, to kill some one is immoral, on the other hand abortion is justified it protects women from unwanted pregnancy, abortion protects her chastity in case of pregnancy occurring due to rape and any other health hazard which might be dangerous for women and child in case of pregnancy. In case of the danger to the human lives, Can humans react aggressively back in self -defense? There are three aspects to it, firstly if the action is taken place in defense in case of threatened aggression, then the action is preemptive attack and unjustified or if action for defense is used after the attack, it is called as retaliation and this is also unjustified. The importance of imminence rule in self-defense is that, one can resort to defense action only against the attack which is imminent or which is just going to take place. The reason behind this rule is that the action for defense should take place when aggression is nor too late neither too early. But for a battered women killing her abuser on self-defense, even if there is no imminent threat, is considered as justified because the battered woman, may find danger to her life by her husband who though is sleeping at that time may cause her harm when he woke up. This danger by the sleeping husband is though not imminent but she might find herself in a situation that retaliate in return became a most necessary vocation. When women comes to known that there is no hope left to stop the violence, then by the nature women became passive and as a result their capability to identify the alternative sources are disappeared and they can turned their aggressiveness at abusers. ThisBattered Womans Syndrome has allowed the women a self- independent and therefore a most reasonable person who in time of the need can use her force in self defense. Death penalty is a most serious punishment, and amidst lot of controversies surrounding the death penalty, whether the death penalty is justifiable or not? Mill in his most famous speech of 1868, strongly advocated in favor of death penalty. Mill says that actually death penalty is much less cruel than any other form of punishments. He argues that death penalty is only conferred on the very heinous crimes like that of murder and is a least cruel method of inflicting punishment as far as the seriousness of the crime is concerned. If we go by the version that we are following a very horror form of punishement and may adopt some lenient form of punishment then it will no doubt gives the appearance of very less severity and less efficacious but in realty it would be the more cruel form of punishment. Further he said that the nature of punishments in case of pecuniary or not corporal depending on their duration seems to be more severe than actual is but death penalty though appears to be so severe but it is not so. Therefore punishment like death sentence is no doubt a very strict but in realty there are not so in realty. But Kant declares, â€Å"That the legal punishment must always been in response to guilt. † According to Kant, nobody should be punished only because of the utilitarian causes. He further says, â€Å"Judicial punishment can never be used merely as a means to promote some other good for the criminal himself or civil society, but instead it must in all cases be imposed on him only on the ground that he has committed a crime; for a human being can never be manipulated merely as a means to the purposes of someone else. He must first of all be found to be deserving of punishment before any consideration is given of the utility of this punishment for himself or his fellow citizens. † Kant also says that retribution is not only a most important condition for punishment but also most sufficient†. Retribution can also be said as natural justification, which means man thinks that it is very natural and bad person ought to be punished and a good person should be rewarded. There are two aspects to this theory, Desert Principle means people who do wrong to some one else ought to suffer. In real sense the meaning of Kant is not totally clear. But the idea that is generates stives to speak and is says even though a person who is guilty of murder and for the sake of humanity should be treated with a certain amount of dignity, and the punishments which ignores the humanity of the criminals are outside domain of morality. We can say that we cannot prove that they are not justice, and unadulterated revenge. And according to Kant on retribution with revenge, he says there is always heart in the body The instinct for revenge is a natural one; so is the instinct to take things we want that dont belong to us, as anyone who has spent time around young children will testify. But in real sense the morality wants us human beings to move away from our mere instincts. , this would make it it hard to be a virtuous person. And in the sphere of punishment, morality requires that we respect the humanity but in many cases we can also go against the will of criminals.

Nothing Gold Can Stay Essay Example for Free

Nothing Gold Can Stay Essay The poem â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay,† by Robert Frost, uses a abcb rhyme scheme to cleverly explain natures downfall, due to gold, in the world. The author begins by showing that nature’s true color is green, however, due to man’s greed they only see gold. Being that nature supplied the earth with gold, man should respect it and give back. Instead the author depicts that nature is stripped of her importance and sad therefore the dawn goes down to day meaning instead of the weather staying beautiful, like it does in the morning, it turns to the hot, muggy afternoon. On the last line the author says, â€Å"Nothing gold can stay† (914), because mans inability to let go of greed is destroying our planet. The author also uses figurative language to reveal the poem’s meaning. In the beginning of the poem he personifies nature into a female so that the audience better understands natures pain and suffering due to humans greedy ways. Also, he uses imagery to paint the picture of the garden of Eden sinking to grief meaning that nature is in duress and even the first garden known to man is on the verge of destruction unless we change our ways. Lastly the author uses a metaphor comparing green to gold by saying â€Å"Natures first green is gold† (914), explaining that green is the symbol of life and prosperity. For example money is green and when nature is described green typically comes to mind. But he says gold is the first green because all humans care about is gold and as a result they are giving it greater importance than nature, our source of life.

Code Switching Linguistic Activity English Language Essay

Code Switching Linguistic Activity English Language Essay Code-switching is the linguistic activity when bilingual speakers use more than one language within one, and the same conversational context (Appel Muysken, 1987:117; Grosjean ,1982; Romaine, 1989). Researchers have come up with various reasons for what motivates bilingual speakers to code-switch. Two areas which have attracted widespread research are code-switching as a result of linguistic motivations, and the socially or psychologically motivated code-switching. Sometimes Bilingual speakers deliberately use words or lexis from another of the known languages when they lack a particular word in the language being spoken, to compensate for a linguistic need. In other words the easier accessibility of a word lexicon in the other language motivates them to use it. This is what is referred to as the most available word phenomenon (Grosjean 1982:151), as speakers consciously or unconsciously fall back to the easily accessible lexicon . Studies of second language speakers (L2) use of communication strategies have shown that bilinguals often resort to their first language (L1) intentionally to solve lexical communication problems in the L2 (Bialystok, 1983; Poulisse 1990). Olsen (1999) cites several instances where Norwegian children learning English unconsciously code-switch to Norwegian as a compensatory strategy due to lack of appropriate words. In line with this argument are models of some speech production that categorise bilingual languages in terms of their structural constraints within the speakers lexicon. Myers-Scotton (1992) makes a distinction between languages within what she referred to us matrix language frame model. In this model the language providing more morphemes for the relevant interaction type than the other languages used in the same conversation is the matrix language'(ML)( Myers-Scotton 1992:105). The matrix language plays the more dominant role in the conversation between bilinguals. The other language(s), which by comparison to ML have relatively fewer morphemes for that particular interaction are known as embedded language (EL). Myers-Scotton (1982) argues that the speaker always accesses ML lemmas and builds the morpho-syntactic frames on the basis of the relevant information contained in those lemmas. However, it is really difficult to pinpoint whether the matrix language framework consciously or unconsciously comes into play when a speaker switches codes. Socially Motivated Code-switching The socially motivated code switching, which is the most widely researched area has exposed numerous references. Socially or psychologically motivated code-switching may be practised when a speaker aims, in some instances, to emphasise their identity or group membership, or it may be that they want to mark a change of subject, to specify a particular addressee, to draw attention to a particular part of the message, to express certain emotions or to mark asides from the ongoing discourse (Grosjean 1982: 149-57; Appel and Muysken 1987: 118-20; Giesbers 1989:28). Some scholars have argued that most code-switching is intentional behaviour albeit without the speakers awareness ( Nortier 1989:4). There are cases, however, where unintended code-switching occur as a result of language interference . These may be referred to as incidental language switches, slips of the tongue or accidental speech errors ( Poulisse Bongaerts 1994: 37). As mentioned already, L2 speakers often resort to L1 intentionally to solve lexical communication problems in the L2 (Bialystock 1983). They may switch unintentionally, however, when L1 words are easily accessible in the place of the appropriate L2 ones . It would appear that there is an intersection between the linguistic and social motivations for code-switching. Myers-Scottons (1982) matrix language (ML) model imply that some languages are more dominant than others within a conversational context and, she also claims that language codes are indexical of social relationships (1989). In the latter case, through language code, a speaker is established as a certain kind of person in relation to others. She claims that language code specifically indexes a particular set of rights and obligations that will hold between participants in an interaction. In this regard, a speaker will select a code that indexes the rights and obligations that he/she wishes to be in force between himself and others. Myers-Scotton has identified different patterns of code-switching based on the notion of markedness. An unmarkedchoice means an expected choice, one that is associated with the type of interaction in which it occurs. This is an attempt to redefine relationship (Myers-Scotton 1989:334). She describes recorded instances of marked and unmarked choices of code-switching . The two examples, recorded in Kenya involves two friends and four young office workers. In the first instance, a Principal visits a friend who works in a car sales company. The Principal speaks Swahili to a guard at the gate, but switches to English when talking to the receptionist at the same organisation. At the friends office the two friends, who speak one L1 switch codes unmarkedly from Luhya (L1) to Swahili and sometimes to English. She argues that language in this instance is a mark of social identity. In the first instance, the Principal speaks Swahili to the guard at the gate because he places the guard among th e social category of those who speak Swahili but are not educated enough to be able to speak English. The receptionist, on the other hand belongs to another social category, that of those who can speak English. Marked choices, on the other hand may serve different functions. Among in-group members marked choices may, for instance, encode solidarity among a small number within the group ( Myers-Scotton 1989 :336) as the case of the young office workers illustrates. Four young office workers in the same government ministry in Nairobi are chatting. Two are Kikuyu, one is a Kisii and one is a Kalenjin. Swahili-English switching has been the unmarked choice when suddenly the two Kikuyu persons switch to their language. The conversation which was about setting up a group emergency fund suddenly stops when the Kikuyu switch to their language to make a disparaging remark about what has been said. This is a marked choice communicating solidarity between the two Kikuyu but distancing them from others. This action motivates the Kisii to complain in Swahili and English, and the Kalenjin makes a switch from Swahili to English , a marked choice, to return the discussion to a more business-like plane (Mye rs-Scotton 1989: 336). In other examples, marked codes may result from switching which are associated with emotion, social status or authority . In those instances, switches often encode more social distance between participants, sometimes out of anger or a desire to lower the addressee or increase ones own status. Codes-witching in this category is related to and indicative of group membership in particular speech communities (Auer 1998). The extent and the regularity with which they use two or more languages within a conversation may vary to a considerable degree between speech communities. This marked choice is usually associated with authority, more commonly in former colonial regimes where the colonisers language such as English was a mark of power (Myers-Scotton 1989 ). In all these activities the interlocutors are undertaking communication strategy to compensate for a social or linguistic inadequacy. Code-switching as Contextualisation Code-switching studies have also looked at strategic activities of speakers in varying their communicative behaviour within a socially agreed matrix of conventions, which are used to alert participants in the course of the on-going interaction to the social and situational context of the convention. Conversation participants appear to exploit variable spoken language elements at all linguistic levels ( Local 1986; Local et al 1986) and at non-verbal level ( Duncan 1969, 1972; Kendon 1977) to contextualise their suppositions. According to Gumperz (1982:132-135) contextualisation conventions or contextualisation cues function to signal participants orientation to each other. As an example, Chinese/ English bilingual speakers switch languages to contextualise preference organisation and repairs ( Weir Milroy 1995: 296). By building a contrast in language choice for two stretches of conversation , the speakers are able to draw attention to details of the projected course of conversation and to check each others understandings. This is relevant, particularly in contextualisation preference organisation. Preference organisation refers to ranking of alternative second parts of the so-called adjacency pairs, such as acceptance or refusal of an offer or agreement or disagreement with an assessment (Levinson 1983; Pomeranz 1984). Wei Milroy (1995: 281-299) demonstrate this in their study of code-switching among three generations of a Chinese community in the North Eastern part of England. In one context B offers her assessment of As new dress- ho leng very pretty . As response to this consists first of a reflective question in Chinese leng me ? pretty ?. This type of question is formed by partial repetition plus question marker me and has discourse similar to English tags such as isnt it? really?, suggesting that the interaction functions as a hedge heralding a further dispreferred assessment of dress, and indicates only a qualified agreement with Bs original assessment ( Pomeranz 1984). When B asks for confirmation in the following turn gua a guai a? expensive or not? , As preferred response is in Chinese the same language as Bs question. Sometimes code-switching is used primarily to contextualise imminent completion of a turn or talk or topic shifts, but at other times they have the capacity to signal meanings such as irony or seriousness, and social identities and attitudes of the participants. Auer (1984, 1991) has argued that bilingual code-switching should be analysed as a contextualisation cue, because it works in many ways like other contextualisation cues. However, code-switching has some characteristics of its own in addition to those it shares with such elements as gestures, prosodies and phonological variables. In particular, the sequential organisation of alternative choices of language provides a frame of reference for the interpretation of functions or meanings of conversational code-switching. Code-switching for Political and Economic Reasons Language choice and shift may also be due to political and economic reasons. People recognise that the official language becomes the vehicle of political participation and socio-economic mobility (Myers-Cotton 1993a:28). The competition among groups for primacy of one language over others, or at least parity with others is based on the supposed superiority of a language. If ethnic groups language become official, its members have a head start , while others have to try and identify with it. On the other hand, many nations, particularly those which were formerly colonised have always opted for their former colonial language choice or shifts due to its diversity and the fear of domination by others (Myers-Scotton 1983a). Thus, as already been illustrated, code-switching to a language such as English, French or Portuguese, for example, installs the speaker to a position of authority, power or social superiority over others in those multilingual communities formerly colonised . The distribution and use of language choices in multilingual communities, therefore, can reveal not only the extent of stability of intergroup relationships, but also the ways in which the regulation of access to symbolic resources is tied to the regulation of access to material ones ( Heller 1992:123). Code switching in this instance, therefore, may or may not be conventional depending on the setting or context of the conversation. For instance, we have mentioned where code-switching is an unmarked expected behaviour , for example, among peer in-groups and where it is marked and intended to put down someone considered to be inferior. In socio-political terms code-switching may represent part of a range of linguistic resources upon which people can draw to define the value of resources they control and to regulate access to them. In line with this argument, resources are distributed by specific groups in specific situations through the provision and evaluation, among other things, of symbolic, including verbal, performances (Heller 1992:123). A good example of this use of language is the French-English code-switching in a variety of settings in Quebec and Ontario Canada ( Heller 1992), where code-switching is used as a means of drawing on symbolic resources and deploying them in order to gain or deny access to these symbolic or material resources. The understanding being developed above builds on Bourdieus concepts of symbolic capital and symbolic market places, and Gumperzs concepts of speech economies and verbal repertoires (Bourdieu 1977, 1982; Gumperz 1982). In these instances code-switching is a means of calling into play specific forms of linguistic and cultural knowledge, forms which conventionally possess certain kinds of value (Heller 1992: 124). The value is linked to the extent to which these forms facilitate access to situations where other kinds of symbolic and material resources are distributed, resources which themselves have value based on prevailing modes of organisation of social life in the community and who controls them. The resources in question are not just those with concrete functional value but those related in more indirect ways to the methods people have of not only acquiring the basic things they need to survive, but also of acquiring various forms of power and solidarity ( Heller 1992: 123). Finally, in relation to the linguistic motivation to codeswitching is the grammatical theory and how this structures and explains it. Muysken (1995:178) argues that formulation of this is crucial for research in linguistics as a scientific discipline. He thus poses a number of important questions that may help to explain how lexicon and grammar of a language structure code-switching. Some of the questions relate to the extent to which we can rely on properties of individual words, when we produce and comprehend utterances, and to what extent we can rely on general rules of the language we speak. Other important questions relate to whether we can reduce the differences between languages to lexical differences. Muysken (1995) proposes a universal explanation , for instance, when sentences are built up with items drawn from lexicons from two languages. He proposes a model that believes there is a general set of constraints on code-switching, constituted, for example, by structural equiv alence (Poplack 1980) or government (Discuiullo, Muysken and Singh 1986), or matrix language embedded asymmetry (Myers-Scotton 1993a). In conclusion, it is clear that code-switching is a vast and complex linguistic area of knowledge. For instance, this discussion has illustrated the general and less complex cases of the practice whereby learners in L2 code-switch to their L1 unconsciously to compensate their poor grasp of L2 ( Olsen 1999; Grosjean 1982). The discussion then delved in greater detail into the socially motivated code-switching, where the concept of a matrix language and the idea markedness is demonstrated in a conversation among bilingual speakers (Myers-Scotton 1982; 1989). Using Myers-Scotton (1982) explanation of how a matrix language (ML) dominates over embedded language within a conversation context , and the concept of markedness the essay demonstrates how code-switching becomes a deliberate tool for bilinguals to perform certain linguistic acts, for example, that of showing their social positions of power, education or even to discriminate others. More complex sociolinguistic aspects of code-switching such as contextualisation and its use for political and economic reasons have been discussed. We have discussed how contextualisation in code-switching help to complete a conversation turn or talk or topic shifts, but how at other times they have they signal meanings such as irony or seriousness, and attitudes of the participants ( Wei and Milroy 1995). An important sociolinguistic discussion of this essay has been how code-switching is practised for political reasons. We have seen how there is competition among groups for primacy of one language over others based on the supposed superiority of a particular language. This essay considered how when an ethnic groups language becomes official, its members are assumed to have a head start , thereby motivating others to try and identify with this language. Furthermore, many nations, particularly those which were formerly colonised have always opted for their former colonial language choice or shifts because it is believed that it is diverse, and they also fear being dominated by others (Myers-Scotton 1983a). Finally were discussions on research proposals on the relation between grammar and code-switching. In relation to the linguistic motivation to codeswitching is the grammatical theory and how this structures and explains it. Muysken (1995:178) proposes a formulation of a model structured within earlier research.

Management: Managing Individuals and a Diverse Work Force Essay

Chapter 12 is an entire chapter devoted to diversity. It explains exactly what diversity is, common mistakes in dealing with diversity, what are the individual differences associated with diversity and finally how to manage a diverse work force. Diversity is a variety of demographic, cultural, and personal differences among people who work in an organization and the customers who do business there. The main misconception is that diversity is interchangeable with affirmative action. However, that statement is far off basis. Diversity is much more in depth because it deals with a wider variety of contributing factors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The chapter talks about the individual differences associated with diversity. These factors include surface level differences such as age, gender, race, and physical disabilities. There are also deep level differences such as personality, attitudes and values. Finally, the chapter discusses how to manage diverse working environments. They introduce methods such as: 1) The discrimination and fairness method, 2) The access and legitimacy method, and finally 3) The learning and effectiveness method. They also mention some types of training that are already out there to help diverse working environments work as a whole, from the top positions to the lowest positions. â€Å"What Would You Do II† The question that Avon, the worldwide distributor of makeup and personal products to women, has is whether to choose a man or a woman for the new pos...

Jujitsu - The Gentle Art :: essays research papers

To a person not conversant with this art, Jujitsu may be considered as a foul or derogatory term in Japanese. However, Jujitsu us one of the most effective and deadly forms of martial arts taught today. Unique among other forms of combat, Jujitsu holds the position of a â€Å"parent art†, of from which other forms of martial arts such as Aikido, Judo and several Karate styles were extracted. Jujitsu is a combination of all levels of combat. It incorporates chokes, striking, grappling, nerve and pressure point attacks, joint locks, redirection of momentum and throws. The exact origins of Jujitsu are unclear, as most of its history was passed on in the oral tradition. The few early written references show that its origins date back to Japanese mythology, where it is said that the gods, Kajima and Kadori, used Jujitsu to discipline the lawless and wild inhabitants of the Eastern provinces. Therefore, by definition, the art is nearly 2000 years old, however records do exist which show that the art was being practiced as far back as the 8th Century, over twelve hundred years ago. Jujitsu was formalised and most popular during the Edo period of Japan. This was the era of the Samurai. Jujitsu was the Samurai’s main set of combat techniques, after the sword. Jujitsu was a part of the Samurai’s fighting skills, something he could use when he was unable to use his favourite weapon. There are many different styles of Jujitsu that exist around the world, and many different ways to actually spell the name. The original spelling derived directly from the Japanese was Jujitsu. As the popularity and practice of this martial art spread across Europe, the spelling and pronunciation was forced to change. This occurred during World War II, when the name Jujitsu had to be changed to Jiu-jitsu (pronounced Jeeu-jitsu). This name-change occurred because the Germans occupying the area at the time claimed that the name resembled the word â€Å"Jew†, which was illegal to be spoken. Therefore the name was slightly altered so that the art could continue to exist and be taught throughout Europe. Despite the difference is spelling, the meaning of the words is basically the same. The literal meaning of the name is â€Å"the gentle art†, however, since there can be many different translations of Japanese words, â€Å"Ju† can also mean soft, yielding, pliant and flexible, which are all important fundamental principles in this dangerous art.

Edgar Allan Poe :: Essays Papers

Edgar Allan Poe2 Edgar Allan Poe’s life had a profound effect on the technical style of his writing. Poe spent most of his life raised by foster parents who did not contribute to or encourage his writing. His first work was published in 1827, at the young age of 18, but his story in 1833, â€Å"MS Found in a Bottle,† marked the beginning of his writing career. Poe uses darkness and death in many of his stories. In his poems he was able to illustrate moods of mystery very well. Edgar Allan Poe was a unique writer who was not afraid to do something different from all the authors, while his adulthood was short and depressing. Born to traveling actors David and Elizabeth Poe on January 19, 1809, Edgar Poe was the middle child of three children. His father, David Poe, was from a Baltimore family. He was an actor by profession and a heavy drinker. Edgar was never very close with his older brother, William Henry Leonard Poe, because he had been left with his paternal grandparents around September 1807 for what began as an undetermined amount of time. In July of 1810 David Poe deserted his family and died shortly after. His death was most possibly alcohol elated. Elizabeth was still pregnant with their youngest child, Rosalie, who was born that December, at this time. Approximately a year after her daughter was born, in December of 1811, Elizabeth Poe died of tuberculosis. As a result of her death, William Henry Leonard stayed with his grandparents, Edgar was adopted by a couple of wealthy merchants from Richmond, Virginia, John and Fanny Allan, who offered him a better education than his grandparents could , while Rosalie was adopted Mr. and Mrs. William Mackenzie. In 1815, John Allan moved the family to England to try to make Allan and Ellis prosper. While there, Edgar went to private schools where his creative writings were discouraged. In 1820 the Allan’s returned to Virginia as a result of the collapse of John’s business venture. Shortly after the Allan’s return to the United States, Edgar began to support himself as he moved to Boston and worked in a merchandise house. Edgar Allan Poe :: Essays Papers Edgar Allan Poe2 Edgar Allan Poe’s life had a profound effect on the technical style of his writing. Poe spent most of his life raised by foster parents who did not contribute to or encourage his writing. His first work was published in 1827, at the young age of 18, but his story in 1833, â€Å"MS Found in a Bottle,† marked the beginning of his writing career. Poe uses darkness and death in many of his stories. In his poems he was able to illustrate moods of mystery very well. Edgar Allan Poe was a unique writer who was not afraid to do something different from all the authors, while his adulthood was short and depressing. Born to traveling actors David and Elizabeth Poe on January 19, 1809, Edgar Poe was the middle child of three children. His father, David Poe, was from a Baltimore family. He was an actor by profession and a heavy drinker. Edgar was never very close with his older brother, William Henry Leonard Poe, because he had been left with his paternal grandparents around September 1807 for what began as an undetermined amount of time. In July of 1810 David Poe deserted his family and died shortly after. His death was most possibly alcohol elated. Elizabeth was still pregnant with their youngest child, Rosalie, who was born that December, at this time. Approximately a year after her daughter was born, in December of 1811, Elizabeth Poe died of tuberculosis. As a result of her death, William Henry Leonard stayed with his grandparents, Edgar was adopted by a couple of wealthy merchants from Richmond, Virginia, John and Fanny Allan, who offered him a better education than his grandparents could , while Rosalie was adopted Mr. and Mrs. William Mackenzie. In 1815, John Allan moved the family to England to try to make Allan and Ellis prosper. While there, Edgar went to private schools where his creative writings were discouraged. In 1820 the Allan’s returned to Virginia as a result of the collapse of John’s business venture. Shortly after the Allan’s return to the United States, Edgar began to support himself as he moved to Boston and worked in a merchandise house.

General Mills Benefits Contribute to Success Essay

Robert Smith, a Congressman from Illinois, founded the Minneapolis Milling Company in 1856, along the St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River. Soon after Cadwallader Washburn and his brother William purchased the mill as a business investment. John Crosby joined the Washburn brothers as a partner in the milling business in 1877, forming the Washburn Crosby Company. Then in 1928, Washburn Crosby Company merged with several other mills to form General Mills. (Wikipedia) Since that time, people have enjoyed a variety of products manufactured by more than 34,000 employees internationally. Offering a flexible benefits package, General Mills empowers employees to select the type of benefits they find valuable to their individual lives. The success of the organization is ensured by providing more than the legally required benefits, which attracts, retains, and motivates employees. (Noe et al. 409) General Mills provides a variety of medical and dental benefits for employees and their eligible dependents. Eligibility for coverage begins on the first day of employment. A 401(k) savings plan and investment funds are offered as well. The organization provides a pension plan and retiree medical plan for eligible employees. A voluntary stock purchase program allows employees the opportunity to share in the organization’s success by owning stock in the company. General Mills offers flexible spending accounts that can be used to pay for out-of-pocket expenses associated with health and child care. Contemporary life insurance, disability, long-term care, legal, auto, and homeowners insurance programs are also available. In addition, the organization offers an extensive relocation assistance program. Employees are encouraged to continue their education in job-related courses which are financially reimbursed by the organization. Educational loans and scholarship opportunities are available for employees and their family members. Three weeks of vacation are given to new employees with automatic yearly increases. General Mills also offers employees a flexible work schedule along with many other perks. (G. M. Leading maker) The value of these benefits must be communicated to the employees in order for General Mills to achieve its goals of attracting, retaining and motivating its workers. General Mills believes that the expense of these benefits is far outweighed by the results achieved. The organization strives to establish an atmosphere, where employees feel appreciated and enjoy the challenges presented. This type of job satisfaction leads to quality production and low employee turn-over rates. Mike Davis, the senior vice-president of global human resources suggests that an accommodating and stimulating workplace â€Å"is critically tied to attracting and retaining top talent, driving innovation, and ultimately connecting with customers around the world† (Noe et al. 15). The excellent selection of benefits offered by General Mills affects those already employed, and the organizations’ ability to recruit new talent. General Mills has been voted one of the best companies to work for by its employees repeatedly over the years. (Noe et al. 414) The General Mills mission is not only to nourish lives, but make lives richer and healthier. Respecting, developing, and investing in employees, exhibits the strong core values with which General Mills has built its reputation for success.