ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The abbreviation FMLA stands for the Family Medical Leave Act, a federal law that was signed in the beginning of the 1990s. This law has multiple functions the most important of which are contributing to social justice in the workplace and providing the US citizens with an opportunity to establish healthy work-life balance when needed. In addition, this law is dedicated to the protection of rights of working mothers, employed pregnant women, and the people who take care of their relatives due to their poor health. At the same time, regardless of its numerous positive outcomes, the Act became a focus of debates and arguments due to its other impacts on employees and their employers, as well as its effectiveness in general. Practically, to a certain extent, the Act served as a controversy and a source of discussions since its true effects on the involved stakeholders were difficult to project. Ever since the Act was first introduced, its impact was carefully observed and its consequences – researched. This paper provides a detailed discussion of the FMLA and some of its major aspects such as its background, content, history, as well as its purpose and impacts on organizations and employees. Act Overview The Family Medical Leave Act represents a complex phenomenon that occurred as a response of the United States government to a dangerous social trend of discriminatory workplace practices that harmed certain groups of employees. Attempting to address and minimize the immoral and harmful tendency, the government created the FMLA that provided benefits and protection to vulnerable populations. Reviewing this legislation, it is necessary to explore the situation that was in place prior to the introduction of the Act and compare it with its consequences. History The Family Medical Leave Act was first introduced in 1993 (Guerin & England, 2015). Prior to the introduction of this act, it was a common tendency for women to lose their jobs due to pregnancies and the need to care for young children (Keels, 2006). The same went for people whose relatives required support due to their health status. Taking leaves, such individuals exposed themselves to risks of getting fired from their workplaces. In fact, the risks related to the loss of jobs by women who took leaves for one month or longer to have a child eventually led to two common negative outcomes. First of all, working women had poorer career prospects and opportunities because the situation forced them to choose between careers and families. The second outcome was linked to women’s intentional endangerment of their health for the purpose of ending their sick leaves as soon as possible. Coming back to work too soon after giving birth to a child, female employees faced multiple health risks and exposed their new babies to threats as well. As a result, due to the multiple negative consequences of the tendency that used to be in p
The five dialogues of Plato are very important for students or any other person interested in knowing the art of philosophy. Philosophy is a very wide discipline that deals with a variety of fields thus making it very difficult for scholars to come up with a specific definition of philosophy. Philosophy is a discipline that is characterized by many questions and any person who can ask a question can be considered a philosopher in his or her own right. A philosopher should not blindly accept any answer without analyzing it critically. At the same time, a philosopher should avoid ambiguity when asking questions but should ask questions that can compel the respondents to think critically when answering them. Russell once stated that in Philosophy as a discipline, the answers that are given to questions are not important but what is important are the questions themselves. At the same time, one cannot claim to have learned philosophy without learning about ethics. It is on this basis that this piece of work tries to analyze Plato’s five dialogues. Euthyphro dialogue is one of the five dialogues of Plato. In this dialogue, Euthyphro who is a lawyer-priest has met Socrates who is heading to the court to answer charges of creating and worshipping his gods instead of worshipping the gods of the society. Socrates is told that Euthyphro’s father is to be prosecuted because of murdering a slave. The tricky part is that the slave had earlier committed murder. Given that Socrates knows that Euthyphro is a good lawyer, he asks him to explain to him so that he can know the whole truth about what is pious. During the conversation, Euthyphro has told Socrates that what is pious simply means doing what pleases the gods. This answer is not satisfactory according to Socrates and goes to court without adequate truth. The theme in this conversation is the controversy about the truth. It is not clear which gods are the true ones between the gods of Socrates and the gods of society. Pious simply means something that is morally upright but in this conversation, what is pious is that which pleases gods but it is not clear which particular gods. In the apology dialogue, Socrates tries to defend himself that he is innocent from the charges of Mellitus and the charges of corrupting youths. He also disputes the pronouncement made by a certain oracle that he (Socrates) is the wisest man in society. In this dialogue, Socrates says that he is not wise and all other people who claim to be wise are not wise either. This is a philosophical statement and in fact, Socrates has vowed to continue practicing philosophy the moment he is cleared of any wrongdoing because he is compelled by the gods
Introduction Flexibility, or the ability to change, is a fundamental condition for any business venture to thrive in a competitive environment (Jeurissen). It is worth noting that employees also need to move along with these developments, not forgetting the fact that they are expected to be flexible as well. In this case, the interests of the employees need to be put into consideration. These considerations include issues such as insecurity about their job, work-related stress and the necessity to constantly keep up their knowledge and skills (Mamorsky). In many ways, the relationship between the employer and the employee has arisen. Consequently, mutual moral responsibilities of the employers and employees take on different aspects. Geert Hofstede According to Professor emeritus Geert Hofstede, there is a trend that is taking place with regard to workplace operations. This implies that there is a need to take note of the differences which exist in the workplace with regard to the different cultures which are represented within an organization. According to Geert, cultures are constructs which may not exist in a tangible sense. They play a major role with regard to the formulation of values, beliefs and principles within an organization. Therefore, understanding the cultures of the employees as well as putting into consideration the culture of the organization plays an important role with regard to the kind of employer and employee relationship. The Gulf Cooperation Council This is a conglomeration of different countries which are found in the Arabian Peninsula. These countries have unique work culture due to the fact that they have an economic agreement which contributes to their unique work culture. This region is one of the fast-growing economic regions in the world due to the fact that they have vast amounts of oil and natural gas. Due to this, the region has opted to get workforce from outside the region to meet the growing demands for growth. Some of the laws and regulations which are governing this region differ from one state to another. For instance, the employment laws in Qatar are regulated, but the Labour Law number 14 of 2004. This law regulates the relationship between the employer and the employee. It ensures that the employer and the employee have got numerous protection rights. In this country, priority is given to Qatari citizens. In this case, employment is given to the non-Qatari citizens where there is no qualified Qatari. It is also worth to note the fact that the employment contracts must be done in Arabic and be registered in the Labour Department. Ethics Ethics may be defined as a discipline which deals with what s good and bad and with moral duty and obligation. It is a set of moral principles or values that guides the decisions that a person makes (Jeurissen). Ethics is important in organizations. This has been highlighted with the scandals which have received much public attention in the recent past. Thus it follows that there is a need to have sound ethical practic
Nursing students should complete various roles if they want to develop apposite competencies that can support their professional goals. Some of these activities include class discussions, group works, seminars, assignments, and personal reflections. The acquired concepts can then be applied in different healthcare settings. This discussion gives an analysis of my participation in different learning activities and discussions undertaken throughout the term. Analysis of Course Participation The completed course has equipped me with adequate dexterities that can make me a skilled nurse. Several activities and responsibilities were completed in order to support the learning process. To begin with, I prepared for class by completing and reading some of the required materials. The practice made it easier for me to demonstrate adequate evidence and skills in class. The approach prepared me for different seminars and class activities. I portrayed adequate listening and reading skills. For instance, I displayed interest in the instructor’s contributions and those of my classmates. I asked several questions to ensure every topic was clearly understood. I was keen to present relevant thoughts and ideas throughout the learning process. I also monitored my colleagues’ concepts and arguments. Insights gained from various readings were shared in each of the attended seminars. My contributions were relevant because they helped move various seminar discussions forward. I was involved in a number of debates and tried out new ideas. I also participated in different class discussions. However, I was not in a position to attend most of the classes. I managed to support various group work activities and processes. The
Reading Summary The Unit Diverse Learners in Paciorek’s Annual editions: Early childhood education dwells upon the early childhood development with the focus on toys and materials to play, games, behaviors, and assessment. Paciorek (2016) stresses that educators and administrators tend to focus on academic achievements and often forget about such important aspects of education as social skills and overall development (physical and mental) of children. At the same time, these are often the central skills developed during early childhood education. An important issue to pay attention to is the use of appropriate toys and materials. It has been acknowledged that Materials should encourage children to participate in various activities. Open-ended materials are specifically important which can be defined as those that “do not have predetermined purposes but instead offer many possibilities” (Shabazian & Li Soga, 2016, p. 102). It is crucial to make sure that the materials offered to children can be used in various ways depending on the child’s background, mood, and so on. Clearly, toys and materials should be attractive and healthy as well as safe. The TIMPANI study is especially interesting in this respect as researchers have tested various toys for five years (Trawick-Smith, 2016). One of the most valuable findings is that open-ended toys contribute to the academic development more than educational toys. Educators should use these findings and observations when choosing materials for the students in their classrooms. As for choosing the right games for children, it is stressed that rough play can be beneficial for children as it helps develop children physically and be able to form social ties. As has been mentioned above, social skills are central to early childhood education. Thus, the educator should make sure that the classroom e
The concept of social class Marxism is a method of social inquiry which looks at economic, socioeconomic, and sociopolitical aspects of society. According to Karl Marx, people are producers and products of the society in which they live. According to him, society is made up of different parts that influence each other. He argues that the history of human society is that of tension and conflict. As per the manifesto written by him and Friedrich Engels in 1848, ‘the history of all existing societies is the history of class struggle, that of free men and slaves, lords and serfs, who stand in a relationship of an oppressor and oppressed and are therefore in constant opposition to one another’(Heslop 2014). Karl Marx presents two-class models of society, namely the bourgeoisie and the workers. The bourgeoisie is the capitalists and the owners of capital. They are also few, rich, powerful, oppressors, exploiters, and they always win elections in democratic countries. On the other hand, the workers are the majority and owners of labor. However, they are powerless, and as a result, they are oppressed and exploited by the bourgeoisie. The workers never win elections in democratic countries due to a lack of political support. Marx describes the workers as ‘a class in itself’ in the sense that they share the same objectives and relationships to the means of production, that is, they are laborers who are paid in wages (Binkley & Littler 2014). The two classes are always in conflict with each other because their interests are not compatible. While the bourgeoisie has the interests of maintaining the status quo, which ensures their dominance, the workers are interested in changing the status quo, which deprives them of good life. However, the two classes are not aware of the nature of the circumstances which they live in, but they assume that it is natural and nothing can be done to change the circumstances, a situation which Karl Marx calls false class consciousness (Stephens 2013). The bourgeoisie is not aware that they are the oppressors, while the workers are not aware that they are the oppressed. The workers are also not aware that they are poor, but they assume that they are naturally supposed to be poor. However, when the workers become aware of the reality, that is, when they know that they are exploited by the bourgeoisie, what follows is a revolution. Marx argues that the Russian revolution of 1917 was as a result of the realization by the workers that they were being oppressed by the bourgeoisie. According to Karl Marx, the defining features of social class are the ownership or lack of ownership of the means of production. He argues that t
Introduction True leadership has nothing to do with wealth, money, or fame; it has everything to do with service to others. It is about ones sacrifice and choice to represent people. Machiavelli and Hobbes have stood out to provide the characteristics of a good leader. Machiavelli depicts a leader as one with qualities like love, mercy, among others. On the other hand, Hobbes portrays a leader as one who is rational, non-materialistic, to mention a few. Creon happens to be a leader of Thebes. He is a cruel, unforgiving dictator. From these qualities and those given by Machiavelli and Hobbes, it is clear that, given an opportunity, Machiavelli and Hobbes cannot consider Creon a good leader. Machiavellian Leader Written by Nicolo’ Machiavelli in 1505, The Prince is a book dedicated to leaders. The author illustrates this by devoting it to the famous Florentine ruler Lorenzo de’ Medici. His main agenda is to advice leaders, and all in general. This provides the reason as to why he writes eight chapters, from XV-XXIII, about the caliber of a reputable leader. He addresses the virtues of mercy and love positing that kings ought to be merciful rather than being cruel, and need to be loved and feared, but not hated. They ought not to be fast in acting or believing but rich of courage. He/she should have people behind to offer him defense. This is a so basic attribute because the absence of people not only in a government, but also in any society, implies a state of dormancy with no activity-taking place. A leader should have them to back up his opinions and foster military endeavors. According to Machiavelli, leaders should behave in a merited manner as exposited next. Though he puts it in a comical way, he says that leaders should posses or act as if they own merits. Why is it so to him? People are much interested and attracted by leaders with good virtues. Leaders need to be wise and a wise leader will portray virtues whether real or imaginary. As aforementioned, a leader with people is as a house strongly founded. He/she cannot loose in whichever circumstances. Though more of a plan than a quality, a reputable leader will utilize his/her weapons in case of fights. He/she ought not to employ others. For instance, soldiers from within can fight tirelessly even if it calls for their death, while those hired can escape the battle in fear of the loss. Lastly, he/she should be able to strike a balance of the already mentioned attributes. This calls for intelligence. It crowns the rest! Without these characters, any leader can never prosper as per Machiavelli. Nevertheless, Hobbes has a different but not opposing view on leaders and leadership. A Leader according to Hobbes The book The Leviathan, which forms part of Thomas Hobbes works was published in 1660 and stands out as a major booster of today’s philosophy. He has already analyzed how terror forces people into entering societies. Chapters 17-18 address
Synopsis of the Situation The McDonald’s burger has been people’s favorite breakfast meal for several years, but this seems to have changed in the recent past. Unlike the older generation, who fancied McDonald’s burger in their younger years, the younger generation no longer enjoys it as much. The company has also been struggling to meet the huge orders that come in everyday as demand has outstripped its supply ability at some point. Besides, McDonald’s Corp. also faces stiff competition from its competitors who are slowly overtaking it in the market (Jargon, 2014). As a result of these challenges, there has been a decrease in McDonald’s total sales over the last few months, despite the company’s strategy of luring more customers by giving clients free coffee alongside other meals. Key Issues McDonald’s Corp. is in the restaurant industry, which specializes in selling ready-made food to clients. This is a highly competitive industry with a variety of customers with diverse needs. Companies in this industry serve clients with their menus at various prices depending on quality and class. The restaurant industry has spread all over the world driven by the high demand for ready-made food. There are restaurants of various levels for different classes of people; the high-income earners, middle-income earners and the low-income earners. The competition in this industry requires companies to be dynamic in order to always please their clients, make enough profits and remain at the top of the competition at the same time. This requires a lot of creativity in preparing the menus; hence restaurants have to employ highly qualified and skilled chefs (McDonald’s, 2013). McDonald’s restaurants are in over one hundred countries all over the world. Most of them are located in the United States of America, Europe and such Asian countries as Japan. The company focuses its efforts on markets where it is already established. However, the company remains optimistic about venturing into new markets if its business improves in the future, but the dates for this have not been set yet (Jargon, 2014). Menus in its already established markets are prepared to cater for people of all ages and with diverse needs. This increases its market as anyone can walk into the restaurants and eat something at any time (Grewal and levy, 2013). Most of McDonald’s businesses are franchise based while a few others are based on mutual agreements. According to Jargon (2014), the company has been struggling to do well in its markets for the last few years. As such, the company has decided to scale back some of its less popular menus to cut on the expenses on foods that do not bring high profits into the company. McDonald’s has decided to stick to its dollar menu as it is doing well in the market compared to the others. According to Kaufman (2013) McDonald’s earned $1.4 billion in the second quarter of 2013 and revenue rose to $7.08 billion slightly missing analysts’ expectation of $7.10 billion, but food service sales fell by 1.2% in June, which was the largest decline sin
The most important theories in the field of Public Administration have their foundation in the areas of bureaucracy as well as epistemological issues related to the academic and profession in the public service. Mid-20th century Germany sociologist, political economist and administrative scholar Max Weber has been acknowledged for his outstanding work in bureaucracy, epistemology and administrative discourses. In his magnum opus ‘Economy and Society’ the distinguished scholar described many model types of government and public administrations in the world. Suppe (1998) explains that Weber’s analysis of the bureaucratization of society became one of his lasting and most epochal parts of his work. It was Max Weber who pioneered the studies of bureaucracy and administration. His works led to the popularization of bureaucracy and set the stage for the ongoing process of rationalization of various aspects of public administration. Weber’s principles of administration are characterized by hierarchical organization, represented by clearly defined lines of authority and set rules to determine actions taken. He also highlighted the need for expert training of public administration officers. He advocated for career advancement based on merit and technical qualification, but judged by organizations and not by individuals. Weber undoubtedly influenced many later theorists of various disciplines. His work was also received criticism as well. A handful of scholars at the time, for example, expressed disapproval and blatantly blasted claims made by Max Weber in his historical analysis. In the US, on the other hand, Woodrow Wilson who later was to become the President and academic Frederick Taylor (1856-1915) took their position in the frontline in promoting American civil service reform. The two played a central role in integrating public administration to academia. Their work, however, was not met with much enthusiasm at the time until in mid-20 th century following the circulation of Germany scholar Max Weber’s bureaucracy theory. Wilson Woodrow came into public limelight following the publication of his work entitled ‘The Study of Administration’ in the year 1887. His later work earned him a reputation in the US as the father of public administration. Sherwood (1990) explains that Wilson advocated for the separation of politics from administration and the application of business-like practices in the public sector to improve efficiency. He also called for merit-based assessment and comparative analysis of political and private organizations. Wilson’s separation of politics and administration approach has been the subject of debate over the years and has drawn much criticism as well. A few distinguished scholars of the time such as Fredrick Taylor wrote powerful books and numerous articles in response to Wilson’s solicitation. In his book ‘The principles of Scientific Management,’ the prominent scholar Fredrick Taylor i