Senior Citizens in Gated Community: A Case Study from Hyderabad

Ageing is an issue in a society as after attaining 60 years of age different types of problems crop up inter alia of which are health problem, earning problem, dependency syndrome, security of life and property etc. In India according to the website, www.popeindia.org/english/elderly-people, two major socio-demographic changes have contributed to bring about significant changes within the family and are having a major impact on communities. The first one is the increased longevity of people and the second one is a breakdown of joint family and the emergence of nuclear family. Industrialization, westernization and globalization are the major factors responsible for the breakdown of joint family system. Increased individualization and new technologies are also leading for marginalization of the senior citizens and, unfortunately, today they are considered as a social burden. Based on the author’s study, he (the author) has observed that many senior citizens prefer to stay in a gated community because of security, prompt health facilities etc. In this paper, a case of senior citizens staying in a gated community is presented. In Hyderabad city at Bandlaguda Jagir, a gated community is located which is spread over to an area of 17 acres of land having all faculties like basic indoor and outdoor games, gym, park, swimming pool, function hall etc. The gated community can accommodate 192 households; of course around 80 percent have been occupied. This gated community, under the banner of ‘Libdom Villas’ has been constructed under the leadership of Sri G. Vinod Reddy of M/s. Niyas Projects.

In the ‘Libdom Villas’ gated community, 19 senior male citizens in between age of 63 years and 84 years have remained active as every day they have been sharing different types of information, news, proverb, ‘dos and don’ts’ etc. by forming one WhatsApp group. In addition, every evening many of them sit and chit-chat in the park and happily passes the time. The author while interacted with them came to know few of them have come by selling their individual house from other place and settled here by purchasing a villa and few have come on rent also. While interacted with them, the author came to know that they are from different service background and either retired on superannuation from service or left business handing over to next generation. Regarding service background, it has been reported that someone worked in Indian Navy as senior officer; few were in nationalised banks in senior position, and few others were in various capacities in State Government and Central Government organisations. Further, all in unison informed that they felt happy to stay in the gated community as all facilities which require for elderly persons, toddlers, children, ladies and youths are available. Also, 24 hours electricity, water, security of the area, maintenance staffs, video call if outsiders come, are accessible at the door step. In case of individual house security, maintenance etc. are great issues. And to meet another person even for time pass one has to go.

Before winding up, it may be concluded that (www.un.org/en/events/olderpersonsday)

between 2017 and 2030, the number of persons aged 60 years or over is projected to grow by 46 per cent (from 962 million to 1.4 billion) globally outnumbering youth, as well as children under the age of 10. The older people have always played a significant role in the society as leaders, caretakers and custodians of tradition, yet they are also highly vulnerable.

The International Day of Older Persons is an opportunity to highlight the important contributions that older people make to society and raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges of ageing in today’s world.

Dr Shankar Chatterjee

Former Professor & Head (CPME),NIRD & PR ( Govt. of India), Hyderabad, India

Former Associate Professor, Eritrea

Former Assistant Prof, Govt. Degree College, Tripura, India

Former Senior Planning Officer, Govt of Assam, India

Death By Rash Driving: Delhi HC Holds Debarment From Obtaining Driving Licence For Life As Excessive Sentence

In a balanced, brilliant and bold decision, the Delhi High Court has just recently on March 12, 2020 in a latest, landmark and extremely laudable 15-page judgment titled Sunil Kumar Mishra vs. State in Crl. Rev. P. 494/2017 which is pertaining to death caused due to rash and negligent driving has very rightly held that lifetime ban on the convict from getting a driving license is too harsh a sentence when his entire livelihood is depended upon driving. While modifying the order of sentence in a revision petition, the Single Bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva of Delhi High Court has very rightly and remarkably observed that, “The punishment of cancellation of the driving license permanently and debarring him from obtaining any driving license throughout his life literally amounts to his civil death because he would not be in a position to carry out his profession for life.” Very rightly so!

To start with, this notable oral judgment authored by Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva of Delhi High Court sets the ball rolling by first and foremost observing in para 1 that, “Petitioner impugns judgment dated 27.02.2017 whereby the appeal of the petitioner impugning order on conviction dated 28.10.2015 has been dismissed, however, the order on sentence dated 08.11.2015 has been modified.”

While elaborating on the charges against the petitioner and the punishment that he had been sentenced to undergo, it is then observed in para 2 that, “Petitioner was convicted by the Trial Court of the offences punishable under Sections 279/304-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC for short) and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of six months for the offence under Section 279 IPC and rigorous imprisonment for the period of 18 months under Section 304A IPC.”

While then elaborating on the decision taken by the Appellate Court, it is then brought out in para 3 that, “The Appellate Court, in the appeal filed by the petitioner, considering mitigating circumstances and also the family condition of the petitioner, while upholding the order on conviction, modified the order on sentence and sentenced the petitioner to pay a fine of Rs 1000/- for the offence under Section 279 IPC and in default of payment of fine to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of 8 days and sentenced the petitioner to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 12 months for the offence under Section 304A IPC, instead of 18 months.”

In addition, it is then also pointed out in para 4 that, “The Appellate Court additionally directed that the driving licence of the petitioner shall stand cancelled and debarred him from obtaining any driving licence throughout his life and directed that no fresh driving licence shall be issued to him.”

By all accounts, the punishment that was imposed by the Appellate Court as narrated in para 4 is far too excessive. This has been acknowledged and appreciated even by the Delhi High Court itself in this landmark judgment even though it admitted that the Appellate Court is empowered to debar a person from holding a licence for as long a period as it deems fit. So no wonder that it had to be set aside!

Be it noted, para 29 very rightly states that, “The petitioner is a driver by profession and cancellation of the driving license of the petitioner permanently and debarring him from obtaining a driving licence for life amounts to a punishment that he cannot carry out the vocation of driving throughout his life.”

Most significantly, it is then very rightly conceded in para 30 that, “The punishment of cancellation of the driving license permanently and debarring him from obtaining any driving license throughout his life literally amounts to his civil death because he would not be in a position to carry out his profession for life.” Who can deny or dispute this? Certainly no one!

Needless to say, it is quite remarkable that Delhi High Court has been gracious enough to concede that the consequences of cancellation of his driving license for life and debarring him from obtaining any driving license throughout his life literally amounts to his civil death as he would be decapitated from carrying out his profession throughout his remaining life which certainly under no circumstances can be justified as two wrongs cannot make a right! The Appellate Court certainly did not deliberate much on this! This alone explains why it failed to appreciate what the Delhi High Court has done now so rightly!

To put it succinctly, the Delhi High Court then rightly held in para 32 that, “In the present case, as noticed above, the concurrent finding of both the courts below is that petitioner caused the death by driving the offending vehicle i.e. truck trailer, in a rash and negligent manner and hit against the deceased from the back, in such a manner that it caused the death of the deceased on the spot. Clearly, it cannot be said that the action of the Appellate Court in directing cancellation of the license driving license is unwarranted. However, in the facts of the case and particularly keeping in view the provisions of section 22 of the Act, I am of the opinion that cancellation of the license driving license of the petitioner for all classes or description of vehicles is excessive.”

Finally and no less significantly, it is then held in para 33 that, “Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, interest of justice would be served, in case, the sentence awarded by the Appellate Court of cancellation of the driving license of the petitioner and debarring him from obtaining any driving license throughout his life, is modified to the extent that the driving license of the petitioner is cancelled for the class and description of medium and heavy goods and medium and heavy passenger vehicle and he is debarred from obtaining a driving licence for medium and heavy goods and medium and heavy passenger vehicle. For obtaining a driving licence of other description of vehicles he shall have to undergo a fresh test of competence to drive.”

In conclusion, it may well be said that it is a fairly balanced and well concluded judgment. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva of Delhi High Court very rightly acknowledges the power of the Appellate Court to deprive the petitioner of his driving license for life but in the same vein also concedes that it is excessive! This alone explains that why the judgment of the Appellate Court was overturned and the petitioner was granted relief by the Delhi High Court! All the courts must follow the Delhi High Court in similar such cases and take a compassionate view as we see here in this notable judgment!

Sanjeev Sirohi, Advocate,

s/o Col BPS Sirohi,

A 82, Defence Enclave,

Sardhana Road, Kankerkhera,

Meerut – 250001, Uttar Pradesh.

3 CREATIVE WAYS TO BOOST YOUR CAREER DURING YOUR COMMUTE

The average American commutes 24.5 minutes to work—that’s nearly an hour a day. Some may see their commutes as a hassle, but the truth is, a commute can be a great opportunity to dedicate time to activities you normally don’t find time for at home or work.

In fact, if you use these in-between moments wisely, you could give yourself a career boost (not to mention have a great time while doing it). How? Ditch the morning radio, your Spotify playlist, or scrolling through email and start using your commute to learn something new.

Join the Podcast Craze

Podcasts are the mature version of talk radio. Instead of being obsessively focused on politics or pop culture, like most radio or talk shows, podcasts cover everything. You can search for something related to your field specifically, but here are some ideas to get you started.

Stacking Benjamins

This podcast is all about managing finances and it’s entertaining to boot. From episodes on “How to Avoid the Big Money Fight” to “Smart Questions People Think are Dumb,” having your financial ducks in a row gives you flexibility and bargaining power in your job. For full disclosure, I do a short segment on this podcast twice a month (it’s a daily podcast), but even if you skip my part, it’s still a fabulous start to manage your financial life.

Marketing Over Coffee

On this podcast, you’ll hear from marketing experts on everything from “The Future of Movies” to how to “Start with Why” at work. Before you skip to the next topic, remember that every department has a touch of marketing to it—whether it’s marketing to potential or current employees, or marketing your services to other departments. Explaining how HR can make finance’s life better can boost both the career and paycheck of an HR manager.

TED Talks

Few people realize that TED releases an audio-only version of each talk, in addition to their video lectures. You can learn just about anything through this collection of fairly short speeches, including “The Magic Ingredient that Brings Pixar Movies to Life” and “How to Get Back to Work after a Career Break.” While some of them are highly focused on a particular business area, others are personal stories, so you can pick and choose what you feel like exploring in your day-to-day.

Learn a language

Another full disclosure here—I haven’t learned a language while driving, but I did learn a new language as an adult when I moved to Switzerland. From this experience, I know the most important thing when learning a language is hearing it over and over again until the phrases and accents sound normal to you.

If you already have a foundation in a language, try your hand at a podcast to get better. (Check out The Guardian’s list of best podcasts to learn a language—it has everything from German, my new language, to Japanese and Italian.) Or, if you’d prefer a more traditional approach, there are specific courses you can take. Unlike the free podcasts, these will cost you, but also provide more specific lessons (check out Fluent U’s best courses for commute language-learning).

How does learning a language boost your career? Speaking a second, third or fourth language not only makes you more appealing in the global marketplace, it also helps you understand other cultures.

Listen to a Novel

Most people think of reading as a fun pleasure activity, but studies show reading fiction can also build business-related skills like vocabulary, empathy, creative thinking and a better memory.

In addition to learning new skills, listening to a book on tape also takes your brain off the workday. You perform better at work with some relaxation time, but in our knowledge culture, it’s increasingly difficult to get out of office mode. We think about work in the shower. We think about work while we’re listening to our first grader plod through his 20 minutes of reading. We answer emails on our smartphones from our beds. It’s work, work, work, all the time. Taking an hour a day to listen to the latest mystery can provide your brain with some much needed relaxation.

Five Things You Can Do with an Accounting Degree

Once you’ve made the commitment to invest time, energy, and money towards completing an accounting degree, it’s important to feel your efforts will be rewarded. Even in these turbulent economic times, getting a degree in accounting is one of the smartest moves you can make. Completing your degree will open the door for career opportunities in a variety of ways – the following five are just the beginning.

Find a Job. News has been dismal for college graduates with bachelor’s degrees in the past few years; however, there are exceptions. In CNN’s 2012 career report, accounting is one of a handful of careers cited which shows a demand for increasing job opportunities. In a poll by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 54% of employers stated they would hire more accountants or financial experts if they could find qualified candidates
Accounting and/or Auditing. If you’re interested in working specifically as an accountant or auditor, you are in luck. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the job market for accountants will grow as much as 11% by 2024. As other job markets continue to shrink, astute accounting students should have no concerns about their career prospects after graduation.
Be the Boss. Many companies require their management level employees, from top- and mid-level management all the way up to the executives, to have strong accounting backgrounds. Managers must have an in-depth understanding of numbers, budgeting, and statistics in order to maintain and/or increase the company’s profit margin. Accounting backgrounds provide managers with the ability to see the bottom line and make the critical decisions necessary to preserve it.
Enjoy the Role of Tax Guru. There are only a handful of people who truly understand taxes – and they have accounting degrees. The rest of the world visits their tax accountants with humble gratitude each year to watch the magic unfold. Getting your accounting degree is an employment insurance policy of sorts – you know you will always have plenty of work around “Tax Time.”
Freelance Work. It can be a struggle for working families to make ends meet. Not only is childcare expensive, it’s not always possible to work around childcare facilities’ time constraints. An online accounting degree can allow you to freelance. Many companies are flexible – allowing accountants to work on their books at odd hours or to work conveniently from home.

Regardless of which niche you choose to pursue after attaining your online accounting degree, know that the deck is stacked in your favor. Overall, your future earning potential will correlate with the level of your education. The five ideas for what you can do with your accounting degree listed above are just a glimpse at the professional doors your accounting degree will begin to open for you.

REFLECTION SHOULD BE A HABIT — NOT JUST A TRADITION

It\’s nearing the end of the year, which for many of us marks a time for reflection and resolution. Where did we succeed in the past year? Where did we fail? What can we do better next year?

But as steadfast as the tradition of New Years\’ Resolutions may be — the practice of making changes in the New Year is thought to have started among the ancient Babylonians —the resolutions themselves are often short-lived. We pledge to finally read those books on our bedside table, propose more ideas during team meetings, actually use our gym membership or take a real vacation. Three months later, the books are collecting dust, Phil is still the loudmouth at the table and we convince ourselves we just don\’t have time to exercise or take a week off.

The Impact of Habit

Why do we wait until January 1 to reflect on our lives and make these changes, only to fade back into our old routine months, or even weeks, later? In some ways, the popularity of the tradition belittles its impact —we make a resolution simply because that\’s what we\’re supposed to do at this time of year. So, last year, I vowed to buck the trend. My resolution? To stop making New Years\’ Resolutions altogether.

It wasn\’t a statement of pride — I certainly have changes I want to make in my life — but an attempt to move from an annual tradition of reflection and resolution to a habit of such. Instead of thinking up and struggling to achieve a few one-off New Years\’ Resolutions, I wanted to establish a consistent, ongoing behavior and practice of reflecting and improving.

In fact, I think everyone would benefit from creating a habit of reflection — especially during the weeks before the holidays (the busiest weeks of the year for many people). It\’s time to make a commitment to be our best selves now — not in a few weeks when the clocks strikes midnight, not next year, but now.

Think Bigger

In the midst of rushing to meet Q4 and end of year goals and deadlines, we tend to put our heads down until we can come up for air. We work to speed through to-do lists, rather than taking a step back and prioritizing our tasks. We put blinders on, but what we really need to do is broaden our perspectives.

I found myself in this exact routine the other day. I was simply milling through my list of tasks to complete before the end of the year, instead of looking at my work holistically. It was overwhelming to gaze at the sheer volume of work. To be honest, there are several things I can probably push to next year in order to hone in on the tasks that truly matter to my current goals. By taking time to stop and reflect on my workload — not after it\’s completed, but while I\’m in the thick of it — I can heighten the quality of my work and my level of engagement on the job.

My year without a New Years’ Resolution has taught me that we should always be reflecting, we should always have resolutions. But power emerges when reflection becomes a practice.

Maybe it is on the treadmill or maybe it is in your car with the radio off on your drive home. When I was a public school teacher, every commute home I would turn the radio off and think about the day; what went well, what didn’t go so well, what I could learn today that would make me better tomorrow. The practice, I believe, made me more in tune with work and my students. It’s the difference between a good leader — someone who gets the work done — and a great leader — someone who goes above and beyond. Instead of pondering your upcoming resolution for 2016, why not try to start something new today: put down the to-do list, reflect and think bigger.

5 Leadership Tips to Help New Managers

Congratulations! You’re in your first managerial position. With this likely comes more responsibility, a higher salary and subordinates. It’s an exciting time, but it’s also a good time to reflect on helpful career information, like what makes a good manager and consider what your management style will be.

Here are some leadership tips for new managers:

Set the example

You probably already conduct yourself in a professional manner, but now it’s even more important to be a shining example of professionalism in your new role. You are not only a representative for your team or department, but you’re also a reflection of the company more than others. All eyes are on you and your subordinates will notice your demeanor, work ethic, timeliness, behavior and appearance. They’ll follow your lead, so you should be setting the best example for them.

Learn to delegate

You’ve been put in charge because you have the skills and knowhow to get the work done, but you certainly can’t do everything yourself. You should learn to assign tasks to your subordinates by playing to their strengths. Don’t put more on their plates than they can handle, but don’t avoid giving them a challenge either. There are going to be things you can do better and faster on your own, but unless you give your subordinates a challenge, they won’t learn and grow. And you’re there to help them through it. Delegating provides an opportunity for employees to develop their own skills, knowledge and abilities.

Don’t micro-manage

A lot of new managers will find themselves “micro-managing” or focusing too much on the details of every task and project they oversee. It’s probably because it wasn’t long ago you were the one doing all the busy work. But you’re the manager now. Try not to get bogged down in the details of a project or check in with your team every minute until the task is complete. This will not only take you away from your own work, but will make your subordinates think you don’t trust them.

Be passionate in those difficult conversations Having a difficult conversation with an employee about poor performance or a sensitive subject is never easy, but it comes with the territory. Harvard Business Review says to make the communication about them, not you. Try to think about the position they’re in and not let your needs and frustration in the way. Be calm, clear and constructive as best you can.

Ask for Feedback

Whether it’s from upper management or from your subordinates, feedback will help you grow and improve as a manager. You’re going to make mistakes here and there, as we all do. Be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses and willing to hear what people like and don’t like about your management style. Great managers develop a flexible leadership approach that can be adapted to motivate and inspire their different employees. Bryant & Stratton College Online aims to help students maximize their employability skills for career success through its Employability Series.

This set of core competencies is integrated in to the College’s online degree programs, to complement occupation-specific training and help graduates get hired. Interested in learning more about the online degree programs offered by Bryant & Stratton College Online? Call 1.888.447.3528 to speak with an admissions representative.

How to Push Boundaries & Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

By Rachel DiGiammarino

Working within your comfort zone has its moments. There is a period of time (for some it might be months, for others it might be a year or more) when you’ve hit your stride – you’re working efficiently and effectively with no discernible downside. The effort is reasonable, the quantity is manageable, the time spent is acceptable, and the output is respectable, perhaps even impressive. Overall it feels predictable.

For many ambitious people, there comes a time when you eventually bump up against the walls of your comfort zone. You might act complacent, describing your ability to do your work “with your eyes closed” or “with both hands tied behind your back.” Yet these statements most likely expose a person who is becoming constrained, bored, and potentially on the verge of disengaged.

Thankfully there are options.

Initiate – do something no one asked you to do
Volunteer – respond when someone asks for help
Lead – be an informal / unofficial leader or mentor
Change – pursue a new opportunity

There’s a mutual benefit to these suggestions. First, it gives you something to engage your brain and reignite your passion and commitment. Second, it shows others your assertiveness, intelligence, and awareness (amongst other skills), which could lead to new opportunity.

What’s Stopping You?

Another condition of the comfort zone is when you get trapped inside it for fear of trying something new and different; being viewed as less competent compared to your current status. Again, let’s look at the choices.

Stay where you are and watch yourself slip backwards from lack of challenge and engagement until your daily routine is so mundane that you take your foot of the gas and coast into apathy. Know anyone like that? Want to work with that type of person?

Take a chance (whether offered to you or on your own initiative) to develop a new skill – take a course, work on a different project, apply for a new position. Unless your aim is widely off, you’ll likely relish the freshness of new ideas, interactions, and routines. You start and end the day with a sense of energy and curiosity for learning and understanding the big picture. Know anyone like that? Want to work with that type of person?

When you make the move to break out of your comfort zone, recognize there’s a learning curve. If expectations (of yourself, by others) are appropriately set, leverage the time it’s acknowledged to take to be fully up-to-speed, operating independently, and producing high-level results.

A Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

Moving outside your comfort zone is a risk. Depending on your propensity for risk-taking, your next step may be more or less calculated and gradual in terms of the path you choose. For example, signing up for an online course in project management while keeping your current position versus quitting your day job and moving to a new city without lining up a new job. Both may lead to a greater sense of engagement and new opportunity; they may also involve a few obstacles to overcome so the importance of knowing your objective will help you stay the course.

When you think about top performers – athletes, musicians, dancers, scientists, researchers, leaders (of companies, causes, and countries), parents, and many others, they push themselves until it hurts or they’re exhausted, they repeat the process over and over, and measure progress no matter how small the increment. For these individuals, it’s not just a single moment that defines their accomplishments, but rather the entire journey, a cycle of hard work, obstacles and challenges to overcome which stimulate the mind and the body, awaken passion, and call upon every ounce of grit and determination. The reward is a greater sense of self – confidence, learning, respect, awareness and strength.

As you navigate your professional journey, you’ll encounter milestones that may reveal a fairly linear progression. Or you may arrive at an intersection and decide to take an alternate, somewhat circuitous route. You might even consider how to follow two paths concurrently. No matter your choice, you’re in motion – pursuing, experimenting, problem solving, participating. Instead of idling, which we all know is bad for the environment and equally unhealthy for the mind when it occurs for too long, you move beyond the predictable boundaries of your comfort zone and test the waters outside.

Imagine finding a way to get outside your comfort zone. Brush up against it. Poke a hole in it. Try something on for size. Or maybe you bust the wall down. Run through it. Take a giant leap.

Wherever you are and however you get there, thrive.

*This piece was originally published on the Accordence.com blog.

Rachel DiGiammarino is a learning and development professional and serves on the UVM Continuing and Distance Education Advisory Board. She is director of business development at Accordence, Inc., a global training company helping employees enhance their professional skills.

5 Tips for Leaders During Layoffs

By Rocki-Lee DeWitt

Downsizing a company provokes anxiety at all levels – from those who will be let go to those managers who are responsible for carrying out the layoffs. As a business leader overseeing this process, it is important that you work to retain your managers and build their commitment to the organization’s future.

By understanding how workplace tensions impact managers’ views of you and the company, and working to support managers through this challenging process, you can engage them in leadership and use this transition as an opportunity to elicit greater commitment to your company’s future.

Are you leading your company through downsizing? Here are five tips effective leaders can use to engage managers in this process, based on research into the roles of lower- and mid-level managers who work at companies undergoing downsizing:

Be sure to incorporate managers’ knowledge in your layoff decision-making. Everyone knows that layoffs are not unusual in a competitive global marketplace. Your company is one small part of a complex economy where buyer preferences shift. Your managers often have a perspective that needs to be considered in the decision-making process.

Use your managers’ understanding to hone your message. Explaining how the layoffs contribute to the company being stronger going forward is crucial. Credible communication depends upon accurate representation of the situation facing the company and upon the strategy that will be used going forward. Give your managers a chance to probe the future business logic before you place them in the communication hot seat. If they have had an opportunity to air and reconcile their own misgivings they will be more capable of addressing the misgivings of others.

Be honest with your team as you come to terms with and accept your role in the layoffs. Were you deeply involved in top-level decisions leading up to the downsizing? Or were you put in a position of being giving a choice between initiating layoffs or keeping your job? Accept your role and explain it to your managers. Doing so will help you, personally and professionally, in the long run.

Connect and network with other leaders outside your industry who are experienced with downsizing. How do they see your proposed downsizing as fitting into its overall strategy and marketplace position? Hearing their perspectives may help you understand the challenges of using downsizing to business performance. Connecting with others also might help you if you need to look for another job.

Study the severance packages in detail to prepare for questions from managers. Again, consider the global economic context in which the layoffs were made and consider how generous the severance packages are. If you believe the packages are fair, communicate this to employees. If you don’t believe they are fair, and you find yourself becoming angry with your company, then it’s probably time to look for another job – or even think about leaving the industry. You can be support your employees, organization or business if you feel good about the manner and work you are achieving.

It goes without saying that downsizing can be stressful for everyone involved. However, it’s part of reality in today’s global marketplace. As a leader, your organization will benefit by your preparedness and level of engagement with this critical process. By following these practices you can plan ahead for how you might deal with downsizing, should it occur in your company.

Instructor Blog: The Importance of Reflection

Some students may wonder why there is such a focus on reflection. Reflection is not only about helping you remember what you learned, it is learning. The results from a Harvard Business School study confirm that reflection is essential to learning. A study was done with two groups of people. Both groups were given a test. One group was asked to write down strategies that would be helpful in a future test. The other group was not. The group that reflected performed significantly better (Christensen, n.d., para. 5). You can follow the link below to read more and also follow a link to the study itself. Student working on homework from bed on lapotp

Student working on homework from bed on lapotp

Reflection serves two main purposes. By reflecting on content again, you are helping it move from short term to long term memory. Connecting learning to how you will use it in your field helps it become more relevant. Also, by reflecting on strategies, you are becoming a stronger learner. This process is also known as metacognition, which is thinking about thinking. This sounds really academic, but it means asking questions like “Did I study enough? Did I study effectively? What can I do differently next time?”

While courses are structured to encourage reflection, students will get the most benefit by putting reflection into action. At the end of session, many students say they will log in to the course on Sunday to look at the week’s assignments, or begin assignments sooner. Obviously, this knowledge is only valuable for students who actually implement these strategies.

Even beyond courses, the habit of reflection is part of being a successful professional. In the workplace, there will be approaches to procedures. Taking the time occasionally to examine whether or not a process could be improved is valuable. Also, after a problem arises, reflecting afterwards can help prevent the same issue from occurring. This would be asking questions like “Is email the most effective way to handle this issue? Should a manager have been alerted sooner? “ An article titled “Understanding Yourself and Increasing Your Professional Value through Self-Reflection” offers some additional insight on what it looks like to reflect in the workplace and why the skill is valuable. Read about it here: http://intercom.stc.org/2014/01/understanding-yourself-and-increasing-your-professional-value-through-self-reflection/

By taking full advantage of the opportunity to reflect and make changes based on those reflections, you will be able to present that critical thinking skill to future employers in an interview. Reflection is one more skill to set you apart from other candidates!

Christensen, T. (n.d.) Reflection Is the Most Important Part of the Learning Process. Retrieved from http://99u.com/workbook/25481/reflection-is-the-most-important-part-of-the-learning-process

Career Tips: How to Ask for a Job Referral

We often hear the saying, “it’s not what you know; it’s who you know,” an idea that may ring true for many job hunters. In addition to learning and developing valuable skills, polishing your resume and preparing for job interviews, it’s important to use your interpersonal skills and tap into your network of personal and professional connections when applying for a position. Getting a referral from a friend or colleague is one of the best ways to get your foot in the door at a company. Not only that but you could be doing your friend a favor since many companies have an employee referral program policy that could lead to a referral bonus for your friend.

Even so, when asking for a job referral, it’s important to think things through. Here are four tips on how to score a quality referral.

1. Utilize your resources. In the digital age, one of the best ways to figure out where your connections are is to use social media. LinkedIn allows you to see which of your contacts are associated with the companies and professionals of your interest. LinkedIn also allows you to display your professional skills and qualifications, as well as your education and employment history so that your contacts have easy access to this information.

2. Think before you ask. When identifying an individual to reach out to, it’s important to think before you ask. Does this person know you well? Are you on good terms with this person professionally and personally? Make sure their referral will be of value – if they say yes, but aren’t a strong enough contact, it may result in a half-hearted referral, which won’t do you much good in your job search. It’s also important to be realistic, and know the power and reach of your contacts. Just because someone has ties to a company doesn’t mean they can introduce you to the CEO.

3. Ask in writing. Whether you choose to reach out via a letter, an email or a message on LinkedIn, asking for a referral in writing is always best. Doing so gives the individual a chance to think things through before they give you an answer. If they feel uncomfortable providing you with a referral, it’s easier to say “no” in a written response. This ensures you will get an honest answer, and therefore a more meaningful referral from the person who says “yes.”

4. Be clear in your intent and provide necessary information. When asking for a referral, give a brief explanation of the job you wish to apply for, state why you think you would be a good fit, and attach a copy of your resume or a link to your profile on LinkedIn for the person to reference. Regardless of how well you know the person, don’t assume they know everything about your professional background.

Professional development is an important component to look for in a college program. Bryant & Stratton College offers a variety of online degree programs that incorporate career preparation into the coursework in order to ensure that students are ready to enter the job market upon graduation. To speak with an admissions representative, call 1.800.895.1738.

DEAR REWORKER: CAN I SEND A SICK EMPLOYEE HOME?

Dear ReWorker,

I\’m sick because one of my employees came to work with symptoms, and we work in close quarters. Now I have to use my vacation time to get well. Can I require someone to go home if they come in sick to prevent illness from spreading to other workers?

Sincerely,

Curbing Contagion

___________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Curbing Contagion,

Here is the short answer: Yes, you can require employees to go home if they come in sick. But your company has a bigger problem than the bug that\’s going around. Let\’s start with the fact that you have to use vacation time while you\’re sick.

Vacations should be used for traveling the world, lounging around on beaches with fancy drinks or cleaning out the basement. But, you know what vacation time shouldn\’t be used for? The flu.

Lots of organizations don\’t provide sick days at all, and some companies simply offer general paid time off (PTO). A PTO policy is better than nothing, but there should be designated sick days—otherwise, people often hesitate to use their PTO to cover times when they are unwell. If the PTO bucket is generous enough, it\’s not a problem. However, at companies with stingy PTO policies, people come to work when they shouldn\’t. After all, if they\’ve already booked a flight to go see the in-laws, they can\’t take time off for illness without canceling those plans.

Additionally, even at companies that provide sick time or adequate PTO, many people don\’t take sicks days because they don\’t want their manager to think they are slackers. Remember perfect attendance awards back in elementary school? Those were dumb back then, and they are dumb now. Contracting an illness isn\’t a moral failing or a sign of disengagement—it\’s a sign that we are human and sometimes we get sick.

So, what should you do to prevent sick employees from coming into work in the first place?

Establish a reasonable sick policy. Check with your state and local laws, because places like Connecticut and New York require employers to offer sick leave.
Allow people to work from home (if applicable) when they are feeling under the weather.
Tell employees that they should stay home if they have a fever, vomiting or diarrhea.
Do not punish people for staying home. You can require a doctor\’s note, but that places an unnecessary burden on employees, since many illnesses don\’t require a doctor\’s visit. If employees are lying about sick days, chances are they\’re not performing well in other areas of his job. Focus on those.

It may seem expensive to allow people to take time off for illness, but one sick person can spread germs to everyone else, which will drop your overall productivity as everyone drags themselves around, trying to work while feeling terrible.

We all need sick days once in a while

Two Easy Steps for Comparing Job Offers

Surely someone in your family still talks about the fact that ‘back in the day’ people stayed at the same job for many, many, many years – sometimes for all or most of their careers.

But, in recent years, at least the past 10 years, the length of that perceived loyalty has dramatically decreased. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in a September 2014 press release (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/tenure.pdf) the median number of years workers held their jobs was 4.6 in 2014 and in 2012; 4.4 in 2010, 4.1 in 2008 and 4.0 in 2006 and 2004. But really, it isn’t at all about loyalty to your employer. It is about loyalty to your own career and the reality of the job market.

Tony Beshara, president and owner of Babich & Associates employment and recruitment firm, advised in an email interview that job hunters focus on the short-term rather than the long-term when evaluating job offers.

“If and when a company talks to you about the long-term possibilities of promotion opportunities, don’t buy into it. Instead, judge a job offer based on what it can do for you and your career now and over the next two or three years,” he said.

And, if you have two (or more) job offers, follow these two easy steps to make the best decision. Step One: Judge each of them separately, using these questions from Beshara:

Q: If I get two to three years of experience in this job how have I enhanced my experience for the future?

A: Look for aspects of the job that stretch you into doing things you haven’t done before.

Q: If I get two to three years experience with this company, will having worked there be of any value.

A: Look for the kinds of companies that people in your industry or profession recognize and respect.

Q: Can this type of company help me down the line?

A: Try to work for a variety of firms within your profession to show your range of flexibility.

Q: Does this organization offer positions that I can build upon from previous ones?

A: Avoid becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. “That will make it difficult to ‘reach higher levels of the profession because you can never get beyond ‘first or second base’ in any one arena,” Beshara said. “Hiring organizations want to hire the best quality of candidate they can, with the documentation and track record in what they do.”

Step Two: Compare the jobs to each other. Remember, to make the best decision, you have to compare apples to apples, so use the same ideas from the questions above. Job hunters who have a career goals and/or a career plan will fare best in the step because their milestones will guide them. So, if you have neither of these, don’t go any further until you do. Based on your goals, answer these questions.

Of the two jobs, which will prepare you better for your next goal?
Of the two companies, which is more respected by your colleagues?
Of the two types of companies, which one exposes you to a culture or experiences that are different from your past experiences (for example, start-up company versus traditional company)?
Which of the two positions moves you closer to being a specialist in your field and therefore a candidate who can compete with colleagues who have the same amount of time in the field?

Portfolio Development Seminar: A New Process for Student Success

Bryant & Stratton College has changed a lot throughout its 157 years of operation, but a few things have remained the same. We have always put student success and preparation for a career as our top priorities.

One of the ways we are helping to add value to your education as an online student is a process called Portfolio Development Seminars (PDS), which are modeled after Portfolio Development Days held for our campus students. This process includes four career preparatory seminars that all Bryant & Stratton College Online students will eventually take as they progress through their respective programs.

Three of the four seminars will be attached to three general education courses: SOSC102: Introduction to Sociology, PHIL250: Practices in Analytic Reasoning & Critical Thinking, and the Capstone course unique to each major. The fourth Portfolio Development Seminar stands alone in the form of the Career Management Seminar, which is meant to be taken before a student enrolls in their Capstone course.

The launching of Online’s Portfolio Development Seminars started about a year ago when the Career Management Seminar was introduced for the first time. The second installment will commence this fall with the first PDS attachment to SOSC102. The goal of these seminars is to help students prepare for their career by building portfolios in the Optimal Resume program, creating and updating a resume, learning job searching and interviewing skills, as well as many other subjects to increase your chances of landing your dream job and advancing beyond graduation!

Keep an eye out as Bryant & Stratton College continues to add programs and benefits to fulfill our goal of producing prepared and competent graduates ready to succeed in a competitive economy!

5 Tips for Leaders During Layoffs

By Rocki-Lee DeWitt

Instructor Blog: Home Study Skills for College Students

I’ve been teaching online since before my three-year-old was born. So when students share how difficult it is to complete assignments with young children at home, I understand! While everyone enjoys working from home, there are some disadvantages. I wanted to share some study strategies for college students to use amidst the distractions at home.

Create a Study Schedule

One disadvantage to attending class online and studying at home is that there is not always a set time to spend time on schoolwork. There is always something that seems more pressing like housework, or more enticing like the internet. I encourage all online students to log in on Sundays to look at the discussion topic and the assignments for the week. Writing down all of the tasks for the week (four days in discussion, reading, activities) can ensure you allow time for everything. If it helps, you can write specific assignments into your calendar. For example, “Monday, 10 p.m., write initial post for discussion and read textbook reading.” Writing deadlines on the family calendar will help your family remember your commitment. Setting boundaries that you can live with- such as staying off social media during your study time, or waiting to answer a text- can provide some accountability.

Manage Distractions

The most challenging distraction is, of course, children. While children naturally want your attention, there is a benefit to them seeing you study. Treat studying with the seriousness of going to a job, and you model healthy habits to even young children. Explain why you are studying and what the benefits will be for completing your degree. For older children, connect your homework to the importance of theirs. Your study time can be time for them to play on their own, or, depending on their age, “lesson time” for them to color while you study and complete assignments.

There may also be times when it is necessary to arrange for childcare. I tell my daughter she will have more fun playing with friends than playing by herself while I am working. Paying for childcare (or swapping with friends, if possible) also helps me be the most productive. It can be hard to invest in childcare, but, remember, your degree is the ticket to a new career. Devoting time to understanding the course content and producing your best work is an investment in your future. I’m also able to enjoy my time with daughter knowing the work I completed.

In the short term, it can be hard to plug in the headphones, turn off social media and open a textbook. But the rest of the world will be waiting, and you will be proud of yourself for each well-completed assignment!

If you are interested in knowing more about online study at Bryant & Stratton College, check out our online degrees and contact the Admissions office at 1.888.273.2758 for information on how to get started.

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