Celebrate Independence a Patriotic Activity

Every nation across the globe has a history about Independence Day. Specifically to those nations that went through a revolution in order to gain independence and liberty from a prior colonizer, separation as a part from another nation or state or an end of a military rule.  The United States of America has its share;

 Source: Wikipedia.org

In July 4^th 1776, the US Continental Congress adopted a Statement which announced  that then thirteen American colonies gained independence from Great Britain (it is commonly called today as the United Kingdom aka UK) and got separated from the British Empire.

The famous sentence in the Statement of Declaration of Independence illustrated the very core of Human Rights of which the United States of America stood through generations, today and in the future. 

To quote; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Since 1941, July 4th has been established as a Federal Holiday in the United States. However, the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83).  From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings.

Cultural Perspectives: 

Today, the celebration of this Holiday has been passed from generations to another. Fourth of July is an official Federal Holiday of the United States. The American generations across the nation take their time to gather with friends and family and enjoy BBQ, have parties, a beach outing or in some areas of the country this 2011 Holiday might be a skiing treat in the month of June because of the changing climate.  

Each State and cities of United States of America has a form of celebration that includes an opulence of fireworks display that citizens will enjoy.  However, be mindful that there are cities and counties that have restricted the use of fireworks. 

            July 4^th 2011 is the Celebration of the 235^th Birthday of America’s Independence!

  ©2010-JNT Consulting

In California, KGO-TV San Francisco  made a list of the cities that will provide Fireworks and Events for the 4th of July celebration.  The city near you may have a similar celebration.

Economically, it is also a celebratory time among big and small merchants to bring their themed products that depict the red, white and blue colors of the American Flag. Restaurants, resorts and hotels as well. A week or two before the 4^th of July, majority of stores, supermarkets, and specialty stores have been selling their merchandize. Foods like chocolates and candies that were wrapped with this holiday theme will be sold fifty percent off on that day. Similar themed oriented goods and food stuffs are seen everywhere across United States during other US holidays like Halloween or Christmas.

On a similar note, our neighboring country, Canada will celebrate their Canada Day on July 1st. Their celebration is only a few days before the United States of America celebrates the Independence Day. Canadians celebrate their Canada Day in a very similar fashion as we in America do - gathering with friends and family and enjoy the Holiday. 

To everyone, wherever the location of your celebration please be safe always. Have a designated driver in your group, and please Do Not Drive When Drunk to keep the safety of everyone.

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Positives Influences Better Outlook

It was a Sunday morning and doing some readings after breakfast. I come across of an article shared by one friend. And a link to another article caught my eyes because of its intriguing title, “Things You Can Give When You Think You Have Nothing Left To Give”. As a critical thinker myself, I clicked on the link and was led to the List of items that was refreshing, simple and easy to read. Indeed, it made my day.

I like to share with you the List of Things that I read. You will then make your own reflection if there is a role of any of them in your daily life. Somehow, it will be great to demonstrate the humane aspect within us every now and then if not always.

This list is a reminder of intangible things that we somehow forget doing during or in between our day to day activities. 

1. Give A Smile
   Give a smile and give it to every single person that you meet, and you will receive smiles in return.

2. Give Out Good Thoughts
   Give out good thoughts about others, and even about what you find yourself doing, and you will live a good life, and good thoughts will be thought about you. 

3. Give A Kind Word
   Give a kind word to others and your kindness will be returned with kindness. Mankind was created to be kind. 

4. Give A Cheerful Disposition
   Give a cheerful disposition and your cheerfulness will be cheered and not jeered.

5. Give Appreciation
   Give appreciation and your life will appreciate (be added to in value), and in turn you will be greatly appreciated.

6. Give Encouragement
   Give encouragement and you will be imbued with fresh courage to face each day, and be prepared to attract encouragers to you.

7. Give Honor
   Give honor where honor is due, for this is the honorable thing to do, and be prepared for fresh applause.

8. Give Happiness
   Give happiness and you will be unable to avoid the happy feeling that accompanies it, and brings happiness to you as well.

9. Give Of Your Time
   Give of your time to a greater cause than yourself, and it will cause you to be rewarded in ways that you can only start to imagine. 

10. Give Hope
    Give hope and watch hopelessness disappear, faith rise, and joy abound.

11. Give Prayer
    Give prayer for your friends and for those who may be perceived as enemies. There is so much anger in the air in our world, and these prayers will go a long way to bringing the miraculous into play amidst the madness.

Disclaimer:  The Author, Peter G. James Sinclair, granted permission to reprint the listed “11 Things to Give..”  Peter G. James Sinclair, is a Heart To Heart Resuscitation Specialist, www.motivationalmemo.com.

Perspectives:
The listed actions may seem ‘silly to others’ but your judgment will be as good as mine. We seem to focus heavily on our many business activities on a daily basis. It may be a great idea to incorporate some of these into our daily itineraries. Touching the lives of others in a simple way will make a big difference.

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Competing Readiness Across the Global Landscape

Competition is an absolute game in any business today. Our generation is globally operating regardless of organizational size, small or large companies. With the economic recession, more and more Entrepreneurs are now in the global market place as they are attracted with the possibilities of doing business in the international zone.

Because of opportunities and possibilities - the global market is the arena to compete. But how will you sustain your ability in this competitive landscape? 

Operating a business in an international zone is not as easy as writing your itinerary. It is complex and your patience will be tested. Determination and abilities to combat challenges are required. One of the challenges in doing business in the global environment is the lack of understanding the simple yet common sense of cultural uniqueness of every cultural setting around the world. When you begin interfacing in that zone - you will be challenged to face its nuances. Operating within a micro-cultural environment with inadequate knowledge is terrifying. Your management and or technical skills for your job are not the only requirement. Demonstrating business acumen in many business facets such as taxation, corporate responsibilities, the laws covering employment and immigration, and hiring practices of people within the culture. Competence to assimilate, learn, interact and immerse into the culture of your target market play a bigger role than anything that you have thought about. 

Business owners, individuals who were not culturally oriented will get overwhelmed.  Those who have operated in specific country with their independent goals and objectives have experienced huge difficulties in adjusting with their peers at work and at social settings, the work environment, the bureaucracies, the hierarchical differences, the magnitude of cultural barriers in order to fit-in at a given workplace and most of all the lack of cultural awareness. All of these inadequacies have contributed to their failures, low productivity, higher risks of workforce turnover and losing return on investments. 

Mobility of workforce has increased in some parts of the globe. Especially in areas where recession was not a big deal but growth and expansion of businesses flourished.  Business investors from different countries were equally mobile. People around the world are moving as an effect of recession. There are however, some realities across the globe where jobs and more jobs were being lost as an impact of the global economic recession. Recession is not over yet. Professionals and business practitioners who operate internationally have hands-on experience on these realities.  They are great resource about what is happening outside United States and other parts of the world. 

On the other hand, Human Resource Business Partners are trying to cope up with the demands of global workplace. Many professionals in the areas of Human Resources Management are challenged with their inadequate knowledge and competence to operate globally.  This is because of the US focused operation that they are familiar with. Only very few professionals have taken initiatives in expanding their horizon and acquiring necessary knowledge and competencies in order to operate internationally.  These types of competencies are somehow confused among individuals who are working in an internationally operating organization.  Oftentimes, they assume that they are internationally competent when they have worked in an internationally operating organization but their function did not touch any logistically strategic actions. These are individuals who will need additional learning about global competencies.

Within United States, there are very few companies that are source of quality education about culture. Effective cultural education is not gained through attending a one day or two days seminar. It is not a time bound program of three weeks or two months. It is a program that will expand through nurturance and the individual has gained certain level of proficiency and have gone through the period of Aculturization. This is an immersion based concept and process. Experiential learning is an ideal technique and philosophical approach in assimilating the cultural competencies through hands-on activity, because that will facilitate a maximum cultural adaptability.

There is a big task ahead by any individual who aspire to be within the globalized world. Increase your Global Competencies in order to demonstrate globally operational leadership and management portfolio of competencies across the globe. An option is by meeting globally experienced professionals in your locale and through discussions; sharing and inquiring on the many unique challenges, highlights of experience, nuances, requirements, and inefficiencies of a given culture however don’t be judgmental. One virtue of learning and immersing to a new culture and environment is by being flexible with open mind.

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Best Wishes to HRH Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton

Our Congratulations 

to

HRH Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton

Wedding Day -  Friday, April 29th 2011

Westminster Abbey, London, U.K.

"We are both so delighted that you are able to join us in celebrating what we hope will be one of the happiest days of our lives," said "William" and "Catherine" which appeared in the Official Program of the Royal Wedding.

The Official Program illustrated many aspects of the Celebratory Day on their Wedding Day, Friday, April 29th, 2011. 

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, announced before the Wedding that her gift to Ms. Catherine Middleton as a Royal Title after the wedding will be called "Duchess of Cambridge" - Duchess Catherine!, the wife of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

"The affection shown to us by so many people during our engagement has been incredibly moving, and has touched us both deeply. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone most sincerely for their kindness." - Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton

Well wishers who would like to donate will send donations to the Favorite Charities of William and Kate.

Their Royal Highness Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Photograph by Hugo Burnand

Other Links to the Royal Wedding of HRH Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton.

Post Wedding Glimpse of their Celebrations.

Culture Note:
British Monarchy and its History was recorded as early as 400ad-1603. The English Crown has evolved up to the 21st Century which include the globally celebrated Royal Wedding of  Prince William (the future King of England) and Ms. Catherine Middleton (the future Queen of England).

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Easter Brings Joy and Peace to the World

Wishing Everyone the Joys, Peace and Love of Easter!

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ following his crucifixion on Good Friday as described in the Bible's four canonical gospels. Easter Sunday also marks the end of the 40-day Lenten season when many Christians observe special regimens of fasting and prayer.

"Pope Benedict XVI urged an end to fighting in Libya, using his Easter Sunday message to call for diplomacy and peace in the Middle East."

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Following Rules and Laws Undermines Inefficiencies

The Final Rule has been issued regarding the Employment Eligibility Verfication Form, most often referred to as the I-9 Form.

The USCIS has adopted without change, an interim rule to improve the integrity of the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9, that was in effect since April 3, 2009.

Highlights of the Interim Rule Adopted by the Final Rule:
1. Prohibiting employers from accepting expired documents
2. Revising the list of acceptable documents by removing outdated documents and making technical amendments
3. Adding documentation applicable to certain citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

To read the details of the Interim Rule dated April 3rd, 2009, please click the link below;

USA: Revised I-9 Guideline Takes Effect Today - April 3rd 2009

Please click on the link to read the revised I-9 Employer Handbook 

Perspectives:
Review the actual  documentation guide of the I-9 Form on pages 51, 52, and 53 of the I-9 Employer Handbook, it illustrated the different legitimate documentations that are valid and acceptable for US Employment Eligibility. The current version of the Form I-9 (Rev. 08/07/2009) is the Form that employers must use when performing the Employment Eligibility Verification of any New Hire.

A good business practice in managing Human Capital is to have all hiring managers and everyone involved in the "hiring and on-boarding process" to get trained and coached with the different concepts and appropriate documentation for I-9 compliance and management.  In that way, the risks of hiring the wrong individual will be minimized and avoid additional burden to the organization.

Oftentimes, Start-ups and small organizations miss the value of this aspect during hiring - I - 9 Eligibility Verification.  It is often looked at as a bureaucratic impediment to their  fast pace environment. However, when they see the benefit of having employees who passed the Eligibility Verification - this will keep their Human Capital Assets and organization into higher level of competency.  Risks were strategically diminished in that area.

If your organization does not have a Human Capital Management Department, hire an experienced  External HR Business Partner / Consultant, who will assist you in the execution of this 'On-Boarding Process' in that way the compliance and management of the I-9  will be executed properly.  An external HR Business Partner can help you in navigating the many areas of your Human Resources and People Management.

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Managing Expatriates During Crises

Recently,  an article on Disaster Plan was published based on recent Tsunami and 9.0 earthquake that shook Japan. It provided a list of reminders for everyone who is living in a zone that has a prevalent catastrophic activity like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis etc. 


Evacuation of Expatriates in Critical Zones


Expatriates living in different countries are not exempted in this area.  While an expat is living in a foreign country, it was a part of his/her orientation about learning the nuances of living in the new home country.  The nuances are not only related to culture, business practices, schooling for children, language barriers, and way of life and lifestyles.  It also cover learning about current local rules, regulations and laws that might affect your temporary living in that particular country.


Disaster Plan is also a part of an Expatriate Program Management. Organizations with competent Human Capital Program Managers should have this plan incorporated in their Mobility Program.  However, the most important of that equation is the how and logistics of exit.  It is a a very challenging activity when an expat will take an exit at the soonest in a country that is in turmoil. Have you thought of that logistics when you were creating your program or the least your policy?


Recently, numerous British expats living in Bahrain were surprised with the impact of a current local law that will not allow those individuals to leave the kingdom if they have outstanding debts with banks and private firms regardless of the situation of the country. 


Solutions Planning and Management

The Human Capital Manager who is in-charge in the deployment of Expats in any country must take every efforts in putting together important pieces of Evacuation Plan. One part of that plan is providing adequate knowledge, guidance and training to their expatriates.  The same dedication is expected on the part of the Expat so that they know when and how to exit when such situation present itself.


On the case of Bahrain, expats have down-played the reality of having debt while they are in a temporary living status in this kingdom. Are they aware on the existence of the law? or not? 


Perspectives:
In any situation and regardless of location of expatriate living. One must take responsibility in understanding what are the things that are convenient and advantageous while living as an expat.  But one must not ignore the force of a local law that will prohibit their exit from such country when there is a turmoil or similar event that will take place. 


The Evacuation Plan must illustrate actionable logistics that employees can execute immediately from their current location.  Human Capital Management must be the Lead at the very beginning of planning by informing their expat employees on the limitations and prohibitions including privileges of certain laws at specific countries.


Consequence of Situations:
At the event that there is a turmoil at host country of the expat, and they cannot exit due to certain obligations such as debt in Bahrain that is enforced by local laws. How can an employer assist the expat? At what extent that the employer will play a role even though certain obligations are incurred by personal activities? It's a tough decision but someone will have to bite a bullet in order to evacuate expats from danger zones. 


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Business Acumen Translates Effective Management of Human Capital and Resources

Today's organizational structures are becoming more and more complex. The globalization has emerged as the platform of a modern businesses. With the impact of workforce diversity as a main component of current market, there are dilemmas on the effectiveness of navigating the global organizational goals in every enterprise. 

Globalization became apparent that  there is a competency gap within the Human Resources Management and the Business Units in relation to business acumen. It became apparent that 'business acumen' is a deficiency in many HR organizations. 

Is 'business acumen' really a part of the Human Resources Management?  Many HR professionals' organizational purpose was to push and file papers that are brought into their desk.  Yes, it is time to transform this role and become a participant in the business arena. Acquire the skills and knowledge that reflect business mindset.

Strategically, if your objective was to maximize at  the fullest the capability and effectiveness of people who work in your organization. Then think and act strategically. Integrate both HR management and business principles into your environment.  This will require a demonstration of the financial acumen that relates to the human capital and looking into the bigger landscape of your organization. Aligning these to your overall business objectives that begins from business units to the top of the organization. 

When renaming my 'Generalist' as HR Business Partner, would it align my organization to having competencies with 'business acumen'?  It is suggested to review thoroughly the day-to-day functions of your Generalist. Majority of people in this role do not demonstrate a skill of a business partner. In the preceding  paragraph it provided some cues on  strategic mindset that integrate human capital, business, and bigger landscape.

Hiring HR Business Partner became  a fashion among many organizations that went out in droves advertising their need of a HR Business Partner.  They thought that there are zillions of people with that competencies. However, there were many unrealistic truth among organizations. When an organization advertises a job that calls a 'strategic mindset' the job functions do not measure up to the intended position because it asks for a tactically demonstrated skills plus some blurbs of partnerships and strategic.  These descriptions alone are factual evidence of lack of knowledge and competencies in defining what is a strategic role as HR Business Partner. 

©2011 JNTConsulting

Perspectives:

When your competencies are short to be in line with the current practices and trends of global business, invest on your self development and education. Seek the help of an experienced Coach in this field. This Coach can provide you with necessary yet practical guidance and acquaint you with realistic and pragmatic techniques. Learning is always a gateway of immeasurable opportunities.




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Natural Catastrophe Versus Disaster Plan

When natural catastrophe occurs, often times individuals, families and organizations are caught off guard on what they do next.  The overwhelming emotions and fears overpowers everything.

Photo by: Reuters

With the recent disaster in Japan .. it is an eye opener and a reminder to everyone that a natural catastrophe is something that cannot be avoided by mankind. However, a need for some coping mechanism is essential. Disaster Plan is necessary in order to have an immediate and alternative approach in coping with a natural disaster.

Reminders and Tips for Disaster:
1. Create an Action Plan for Disaster
2. Identify areas for safety and let everyone involved become aware of the location
3. Identify alternative means of communications
4. Identify alternative routes and approaches when seeking for safety
5. Identify emergency supplies that are essential and useful in the event of calamity
6. Have accessible supplies of foods, medicines, and drinkable water. Oftentimes there is a shortage of food and other supplies during disasters. When homes are not habitable seek for nearest available shelter
7. Habitually fill your gas tank when it reach half full. This can be useful when a transportation will be needed
8. Ideally, in an earthquake zone - have a strong table or desk accessible for safety when buildings or homes begin disintegrating.
9. Have a batterized radio that provides you information, and item that provides light when there is a disruption of utilities.
10. Identify locations of your closest family, relative or a friend
11. Keep extra pairs of clothes and warm blankets in your emergency supply
12. Do not panic, be alert of your surroundings and monitor other possible calamity that may follow like fire or tsunami.

Every setting is different but precautionary measures are handy. Personal and group safety is necessary.

When your organization is operating abroad, one of the important reminder is to identify what natural disasters exist in the Host Country for your employees safety.  Then create a Disaster Plan that is relevant and practical within that locality.

Perspectives:
It would be ideal to review your disaster plan regularly with all involved so that everyone will be ready at any time a natural disaster will take place.

When  creating an Expatriate Disaster Plan do not copy and paste a plan that was specifically made for a particular location or made from another country.  A Rule of Thumb is to create a plan that is sensible, realistic and appropriate to the conditions at the Host Country and specific location.

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