There are many macro and micro environmental forces that effect Nokia’s ability to serve its customers. Over the next 1-5 years, the competitive landscape may be shaped by four major market drivers.
Growth in developing markets
China is the largest market by sales and India is predicted to become the second largest market by 2010 (BBC website, 2007). Africa, South America and Eastern Europe are also growth markets. Nokia’s experience in developing markets may provide a competitive advantage over competitors who are only just beginning to venture into what is relatively unknown territory. The fact that Nokia has existing distribution channels (Ewing & Lakshman, 2007) combined with competencies such as knowledge, understanding and experience of these markets (India, China and South America for example) will provide a competitive advantage over their competitors. Further, Nokia’s ability to keep costs down through economies of scale and effective operations means that high margins can be maintained even in the face of price competition. This is important for developing markets as the demand will be for low-cost entry-level handsets until the mobile industry has been established and customers upgrade a s they become more sophisticated (Virki, 2007). Nokia’s ability to cater for the demands of the market whilst maintaining profits provides a significant competitive advantage and acts as a barrier to potential entrants.
Changing technology and digital convergence
According to Nokia (2008) mobile communications, music, media and information technology are converging in to one industry. Ojo (2009) notes that the threat of substitutes from net-books and other computer based products is increasing as phones and PC’s become more homogenous. This rapid technological change increases customer sophistication and heralds the threat of companies such as Microsoft entering the market. These companies may have more experience and resources in areas of relative inexperience for Nokia which may mean that Nokia are at a competitive disadvantage. One means of reducing this threat is through merger and acquisitions (M&A). The economic climate may provide an opportunity for Nokia to take advantage of financially weak rivals (Ojo, 2009. This provides a route for Nokia to gain market share and experience in new industries. Acer who have an 11.9% share in the notebook market (Kwong, 2009) are a possible target and Nokia’s relative financial position may facilitate this, although there may be competition for the acquisition by companies such as Siemens and HP.
Economic climate
Nokia’s large market share in developing markets such as India, which have been insulated against the full extent global economic recession (Parker, 2008), has provided Nokia with a financial advantage over its competitors. However, according to Nokia (2008) 37% of sales originate from the European market which is heavily affected by the global economic crisis. This has affected the ability of customers to purchase reduced profits and has lead to reduced R&D budget (Wearden, 2009; Ojo, 2009). This may lead to a loss of competitive advantage for Nokia as technological innovation is a core competence (Prahalad and Hamel, 1990) and may signal a move from differentiation – a key outcome of Nokia’s R&D activity - to cost leadership. Porter (2004;35) describes cost leadership as yielding “above average returns despite the presence of strong competitive forces” and it could be argued that Nokia has enjoyed the benefits of being the cost leader whilst also having a strongly differen tiated brand and product. Porter (2004) notes that these two strategies are usually incompatible as differentiation is capital intensive and trade offs with cost savings may be inevitable. Increased competition via the introduction of the Iphone, flip phones, RAZR etc has diminished Nokia’s product differentiation and, when combined with the effects of the economic climate, may precipitate a revised strategy.
Increasing competition in developed markets
Increasing price competition in domestic markets (Laurent, 2008) and the maturing industry (Nokia, 2008) has eroded profits (Ojo, 2009). Further, Apple has entered the market and Microsoft is on the competitive horizon, both of whom have huge budgets and perhaps more importantly, greater competence in computing technology. Therefore, to remain competitive in traditional markets may require increased spending on marketing and R&D and an effort to develop competencies in these new technologies before market share, profits and ultimately shareholder value is eroded. However, with R&D cuts announced, there may be a dichotomy. Increased spending on R&D is needed to maintain market share but fewer funds are available. Nokia need to find a way to develop the competencies in new technology that will fend off competition from Microsoft and Apple. R&D may not provide the best return on investment (ROI) in the current climate and M&A may be a more prudent strategy.
References
BBC website. 2007. India now Nokia's second market. [Online] Available from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6960520.stm. Accessed 4th March 2009.
Ewing, J. and Lakshman, N. 2007. NOKIA LESSON LEARNED, REWARD REAPED; Offering products for every corner of he market is paying off for the mobile-phone maker. Business Week. p32.[Online] Available from http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS (Gale Document Number:A173253571) Accessed 23rd February 2009.
Kwong, R. 2009. Acer unveils cheapest ultra-thin notebook. Financial Times. [Online] Available from http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a97c892e-244b-11de-9a01-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=aece9792-aa13-11da-96ea-0000779e2340.html Accessed 10th April 2009.
Laurent, L. 2008. Nokia Losing Price Wars. Forbes website. [Online] Available from http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/16/nokia-apple-technology-markets-equity-cx_ll_1016markets09.html. Accessed 4th March 2009.
Nokia. Form 20-F. 2008.
Ojo, B. 2009. Analysis: Nokia vulnerable to maturing mobile market. Electronic Engineering Times. 23 March, 2009. p8
Parker, A. 2009. Nokia vows to exact revenge on rivals. Financial Times. [Online] Available from http://www.ft.com/cms/s/1c7540a4-d831-11dd-bcc0-000077b07658,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fhttp://www.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F1c7540a4-d831-11dd-bcc0-000077b07658.html&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ft.com%2Fsearch%3FqueryText%3Dnokia%2Bvows%2Bto%2Bexact%2B Accessed 7th February 2009.
Porter, M.E, 2004, Competitive advantage: Creating and sustaining superior performance, Free press, USA.
Prahalad, C. K. and Hamel, G, 1990. The Core Competence of the Corporation, Harvard Business Review. Vol. 68, No 3, pp 79-91.
Virki, T. 2007. Nokia leads race for next billion mobile users. Reuters. [Online] Available from http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKL228063620070625 Accessed 23rd February 2009.
Wearden, G. 2009. Nokia to shed another 1,700 jobs. The Guardian website. [Online] Available from http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/mar/17/nokia-mobiles-telecoms-recession. Accessed 25th March 2009.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Personal Learning Environments In Online Education
Ever since the creation and foundation of the World Wide Web, it has absolutely facilitated and expanded communication modes globally and interestingly, like in any various fields of activity, the Internet has also made considerably great and vast contributions in the world of information and education by assisting the development and enhancement of online educational courses. In the recent times, education online spreads and extends beyond the boundaries of geography and it has been recognized that the online educational industry is presently worth about 38 billion euros. In the United States of America alone, there are about 3.5 million students engaging in different courses on knowledge online.
Online education involves and consists of the sharing and imparting of knowledge and information with the help of varied and diverse applications in software like the course management systems, learning management systems, and virtual learning environments that provide and give way to infrastructure necessary to create and facilitate in the interaction between the students and the instructors. It was in the year 2000 that the earliest of the personal learning environment systems was formally launched and introduced. It was christened and therefore named Colloquia. Nevertheless, it is necessary to point out and highlight that in Colloquia, personalization was still restrained and restricted although it was very possible for both the tutors and the students to make the considerable contribution to any certain activities or sub-activity.
Later peer-to-peer networking was also launched and originated in Colloquia. It was in late 2004 that the term ‘personal learning environments’ was coined and initially used and since then these environments have vastly and greatly contributed to the cause of the online education. Personal learning environments are deemed and considered as parallel systems that online learning courses by way of supplying the learners or students with a set of tools and resources which help them is self-assessment by means of the 3 main methods. These consist of organizing the contents and therefore the whole processes and procedures, setting personal aims or targets, and finally interacting and acclimating with other people within the process of learning.
These personal learning environments are aided or assisted by the presence of different protocols in networking like those of syndication, peer to peer and web services that allows the joining of diverse resources within this personal space in learning. Furthermore, oftentimes the use or utilization of social sites in networking are enforced and implemented in this personal learning environment. These sites assist fairly in extending and stretching the cause of online education across the world and beyond the boundaries in geography and in increasing and magnifying peer-to-peer training and instructions. It should be borne in mind that in personal learning environment, both unofficial and official modes and methods of training or teaching as a means are formed and combined inside the process and steps of personal training.
Moreover, it is important and essential to point out that the environments might show or manifest themselves in the form of web based services and even as a desktop application.
Online education involves and consists of the sharing and imparting of knowledge and information with the help of varied and diverse applications in software like the course management systems, learning management systems, and virtual learning environments that provide and give way to infrastructure necessary to create and facilitate in the interaction between the students and the instructors. It was in the year 2000 that the earliest of the personal learning environment systems was formally launched and introduced. It was christened and therefore named Colloquia. Nevertheless, it is necessary to point out and highlight that in Colloquia, personalization was still restrained and restricted although it was very possible for both the tutors and the students to make the considerable contribution to any certain activities or sub-activity.
Later peer-to-peer networking was also launched and originated in Colloquia. It was in late 2004 that the term ‘personal learning environments’ was coined and initially used and since then these environments have vastly and greatly contributed to the cause of the online education. Personal learning environments are deemed and considered as parallel systems that online learning courses by way of supplying the learners or students with a set of tools and resources which help them is self-assessment by means of the 3 main methods. These consist of organizing the contents and therefore the whole processes and procedures, setting personal aims or targets, and finally interacting and acclimating with other people within the process of learning.
These personal learning environments are aided or assisted by the presence of different protocols in networking like those of syndication, peer to peer and web services that allows the joining of diverse resources within this personal space in learning. Furthermore, oftentimes the use or utilization of social sites in networking are enforced and implemented in this personal learning environment. These sites assist fairly in extending and stretching the cause of online education across the world and beyond the boundaries in geography and in increasing and magnifying peer-to-peer training and instructions. It should be borne in mind that in personal learning environment, both unofficial and official modes and methods of training or teaching as a means are formed and combined inside the process and steps of personal training.
Moreover, it is important and essential to point out that the environments might show or manifest themselves in the form of web based services and even as a desktop application.
Dollar Store Merchandise to Add in Today’s Economic Environment
In today’s economy all retail business persons need to take a step back and analyze where they can reduce inventory levels without damaging sales. Those opening a dollar store also need to look for new and different dollar store merchandise to help build sales and dollar store profits to new, higher levels. Many will think they have added everything possible. Others will feel they simply need to reduce inventory and then hold tight. However this is the perfect time to build sales by intelligently adding the right items. For more on this topic read on. In this article I present examples of items to add.
Let’s start with household cleaners and supplies. Almost all dollar stores carry some of these items. However the question to ask is do you have the right items to meet the needs of your shoppers. Are there items they would buy if only you had them in stock? Even more important, do they shop at other retailers for some of the items you do not carry. Be sure you look for complementary sales. For example adding a full line of scrubbers, sponges and scrub brushes can mean many dollars in extra sales and dollar store profits.
Repeat this same process with health and beauty and paper products. While you may already carry basic hand soaps and other products, make sure to go the extra mile to understand exactly what your shoppers need, and then to find those very products.
Housewares is another department most who are opening a dollar store have in their store. But into day’s environment more shoppers than ever will gladly purchase cooking gadgets, cups, plates and utensils if you carry a good selection.
This year carry all of the back to school supplies possible. Make sure you have all the basic necessities to meet school requirements. Your shoppers will reward you for adding this dollar store merchandise with other extra purchases for their students. And that means extra profits for your business.
But don’t stop there; everyone needs to eat. If you don’t already carry groceries, maybe now is the time to consider starting. Start slowly and carefully. Add products most consumers need and want. For example, a small selection of breakfast cereals, canned goods and condiments might be the perfect way to test. As shoppers begin buying ask what other products they’d like to see. Cautiously move forward to expand.
When opening a dollar store there is much more dollar store merchandise to consider. You will need to intelligently examine adding the right products for each of the holidays. Don’t forget to consider items for the seasons. For example as the cold weather approaches warm socks, gloves and caps will be in demand. By removing slow sellers and reducing inventory levels overall and then adding the right items to boost sales, your dollar store profits will surely grow.
To your success when opening a dollar store!
Let’s start with household cleaners and supplies. Almost all dollar stores carry some of these items. However the question to ask is do you have the right items to meet the needs of your shoppers. Are there items they would buy if only you had them in stock? Even more important, do they shop at other retailers for some of the items you do not carry. Be sure you look for complementary sales. For example adding a full line of scrubbers, sponges and scrub brushes can mean many dollars in extra sales and dollar store profits.
Repeat this same process with health and beauty and paper products. While you may already carry basic hand soaps and other products, make sure to go the extra mile to understand exactly what your shoppers need, and then to find those very products.
Housewares is another department most who are opening a dollar store have in their store. But into day’s environment more shoppers than ever will gladly purchase cooking gadgets, cups, plates and utensils if you carry a good selection.
This year carry all of the back to school supplies possible. Make sure you have all the basic necessities to meet school requirements. Your shoppers will reward you for adding this dollar store merchandise with other extra purchases for their students. And that means extra profits for your business.
But don’t stop there; everyone needs to eat. If you don’t already carry groceries, maybe now is the time to consider starting. Start slowly and carefully. Add products most consumers need and want. For example, a small selection of breakfast cereals, canned goods and condiments might be the perfect way to test. As shoppers begin buying ask what other products they’d like to see. Cautiously move forward to expand.
When opening a dollar store there is much more dollar store merchandise to consider. You will need to intelligently examine adding the right products for each of the holidays. Don’t forget to consider items for the seasons. For example as the cold weather approaches warm socks, gloves and caps will be in demand. By removing slow sellers and reducing inventory levels overall and then adding the right items to boost sales, your dollar store profits will surely grow.
To your success when opening a dollar store!
Motorola W233 Renew Review - An Environment Friendly Phone
Motorola W233 Renew is an environment friendly phone with decent features at an affordable price. The quality of the W233 Renew is not determined by its features as it has minimal features of any basic mobile phone. Rather, it is the world’s first carbon neutral cell phone. The W233 is built using recycled water bottles and the package material used is also 100% recyclable. Those who want to go green with every product will love Renew for its eco-friendly design. Despite that, the Motorola W233 Renew has very good call quality thanks to the unique CrystalTalk feature of Motorola.
The W233 Renew has a lime green trim reflecting the environment friendly nature of the phone. It is a slim phone with dimensions of 111x45x14.7 mm and lightweight phone of not more than 83 g that can be carried anywhere in your pocket. The shell is made up of recyclable plastic and still, the phone looks solid. However, if you are a person who cares less for the maintenance of the cell phone, avoid the Motorola W233 Renew because it is somewhat delicate to handle. The Motorola W233 comes with a 1.6-inch screen that comes with a CSTN display that can display up to 65K colors. The screen has a low resolution and the graphics are not very great. You can easily read the text, but the display is not exceptionally good.
The navigation keys are user friendly and you can use the left soft key as a shortcut for music player. The navigation controls are all made of plastic, but they are not too flimsy. The keypad is slightly cramped because of the lack of space, but once you start using the phone, you won't find it difficult. The phone does not have surprising new features apart from a 2.5mm headset jack and a mini USB port. Lack of dedicated volume control key is a problem that is found with Motorola W233. {{{The W233 Renew also comes with a standard Li-Ion battery which, according to Motorola will provide you with up to 450 standby time and 9h talk time-Moreover, Motorola has claimed that Motorola W233 Renew will use less energy with an estimated talk time of 9 hours and stand by of 450 hours.
You can store up to 500 contacts in the W233 phone book. The Photo caller id is not supported in the phone though you can set different ringtones for your contacts. There is also a microSD slot that can be used for external memory storage of up to 2GB. As the phone does not have a camera, absence of photo caller id is not surprising. The music player is a good addition to Motorola W233 Renew which makes the phone a little better than a basic model. Games are also available with the Motorola W233 Renew. MP3 and polyphonic ringtones are available in the phone. If you want more games and tones, you can use the WAP browser to download stuff from the internet. However, game play using Motorola W233 Renew is quite slow because of the slow processor.
SMS and MMS messaging feature can be used with the Motorola W233 Renew. File transfer is possible only through the USB port. Absence of Bluetooth in Motorola W233 Renew is disappointing as most modern day cell phones have Bluetooth option as a minimal feature. The W233 Renew runs on the GSM network as GSM 850 / 1900 and GPRS connectivity is pretty good. The exceptional call quality of Motorola W233 Renew makes it more suitable for those users who use their cell phone mostly to do the talking. Even in noisy environments, you can hear the other party legibly. The speaker phone is also good to use.
The Motorola W233 Renew is not essentially for modern technology geeks as it lacks many modern features. The customization options are available with Motorola W233 Renew and you can rearrange menu icons in the way you wish. This is a cool feature of Renew as it can be found only in smart phones. Those who are looking for a little entertainment for their first mobile phones can readily go for the Motorola W233 Renew.
The W233 Renew has a lime green trim reflecting the environment friendly nature of the phone. It is a slim phone with dimensions of 111x45x14.7 mm and lightweight phone of not more than 83 g that can be carried anywhere in your pocket. The shell is made up of recyclable plastic and still, the phone looks solid. However, if you are a person who cares less for the maintenance of the cell phone, avoid the Motorola W233 Renew because it is somewhat delicate to handle. The Motorola W233 comes with a 1.6-inch screen that comes with a CSTN display that can display up to 65K colors. The screen has a low resolution and the graphics are not very great. You can easily read the text, but the display is not exceptionally good.
The navigation keys are user friendly and you can use the left soft key as a shortcut for music player. The navigation controls are all made of plastic, but they are not too flimsy. The keypad is slightly cramped because of the lack of space, but once you start using the phone, you won't find it difficult. The phone does not have surprising new features apart from a 2.5mm headset jack and a mini USB port. Lack of dedicated volume control key is a problem that is found with Motorola W233. {{{The W233 Renew also comes with a standard Li-Ion battery which, according to Motorola will provide you with up to 450 standby time and 9h talk time-Moreover, Motorola has claimed that Motorola W233 Renew will use less energy with an estimated talk time of 9 hours and stand by of 450 hours.
You can store up to 500 contacts in the W233 phone book. The Photo caller id is not supported in the phone though you can set different ringtones for your contacts. There is also a microSD slot that can be used for external memory storage of up to 2GB. As the phone does not have a camera, absence of photo caller id is not surprising. The music player is a good addition to Motorola W233 Renew which makes the phone a little better than a basic model. Games are also available with the Motorola W233 Renew. MP3 and polyphonic ringtones are available in the phone. If you want more games and tones, you can use the WAP browser to download stuff from the internet. However, game play using Motorola W233 Renew is quite slow because of the slow processor.
SMS and MMS messaging feature can be used with the Motorola W233 Renew. File transfer is possible only through the USB port. Absence of Bluetooth in Motorola W233 Renew is disappointing as most modern day cell phones have Bluetooth option as a minimal feature. The W233 Renew runs on the GSM network as GSM 850 / 1900 and GPRS connectivity is pretty good. The exceptional call quality of Motorola W233 Renew makes it more suitable for those users who use their cell phone mostly to do the talking. Even in noisy environments, you can hear the other party legibly. The speaker phone is also good to use.
The Motorola W233 Renew is not essentially for modern technology geeks as it lacks many modern features. The customization options are available with Motorola W233 Renew and you can rearrange menu icons in the way you wish. This is a cool feature of Renew as it can be found only in smart phones. Those who are looking for a little entertainment for their first mobile phones can readily go for the Motorola W233 Renew.
Environmental Jobs Impact: Good for Earth and Economy
According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) environmental jobs “reduce the environmental impact of enterprises and economic sectors ultimately to levels that are sustainable.” Furthermore, green jobs are defined as “work in agriculture industry services, and administration that contributes to preserving or restoring the quality of the environment.” However, categories of environmental jobs are as diverse as the biodiversity they serve.
The UNEP study goes on to state that universally green jobs are casual and most do not provide a living wage. Many of these low end green workers are, for example, scavengers who pick through trash to find recyclables to sell to other areas in various countries where below sustainable wage green jobs, in bio-fuels and construction where wages may be on a subsistence level or below. Therefore, the UN, labor unions, and many governmental agencies world-wide have made sustainability part of the definition of what constitutes an environmental or green job.
Collaboration between governments, private business, labor unions, community groups, and profession organizations etc., are crucial to create environmental jobs. Without such collaboration a strong foundation for the environmental economy cannot be built; informal jobs will continue to grow, but the growth of a sustainable environmental job will not. Additionally, the complexity of the factors that require the coordination may not always be fully understood therefore this needs to be a formal process.
It does help that “going green” has become good for the bottom line. Early on Ben & Jerry’s, Nike, SC Johnson, Johnson & Johnson, PG & E, Shaklee, Canon, and Unilever PLC adopted socially responsible policies and practices. Currently, it is not uncommon to find even local businesses touting their eco-friendly adaptations in advertising. Many grocery stores will give nickel/bag incentives for bringing in your own reusable bag and others may even charge you if they supply your grocery bag.
Awareness through education has also helped efforts to develop environmental jobs that contribute to a growing green economy. In 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin set April 22nd as the first Earth Day. That first celebration included an environmental “teach-in” that 25 million people participated in. Now, schools and communities around the globe organize lesson plans, activities, and festivals. Activities range from clean up the local park field trips to presidential campaign stops and speeches. Here again we can see obviously the informal jobs created, but it requires coordinated efforts to help develop sustainable green careers.
Investors are also looking to green technologies and its rapidly growing global market. Clean technology investment has increased by 50% from 2006 to 2007 (92.6 billion to 148.4 billion.) Areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, mass transit and green construction, all create and redeploy jobs. The investment that creation of these jobs requires is a miniscule part of the GDP of industrialized countries, and we are not yet close to getting this amount, but it is entirely attainable. Furthermore initiatives for green business do not take a lot of extra capital investment. They can be quick and easy to accomplish; paying for themselves in a short amount of time.
The future of environmental jobs is ours to create. Through collaboration, awareness, direction education, and economic development incentives, we can foster an environment in which green jobs are not only available, but highly desirable.
The UNEP study goes on to state that universally green jobs are casual and most do not provide a living wage. Many of these low end green workers are, for example, scavengers who pick through trash to find recyclables to sell to other areas in various countries where below sustainable wage green jobs, in bio-fuels and construction where wages may be on a subsistence level or below. Therefore, the UN, labor unions, and many governmental agencies world-wide have made sustainability part of the definition of what constitutes an environmental or green job.
Collaboration between governments, private business, labor unions, community groups, and profession organizations etc., are crucial to create environmental jobs. Without such collaboration a strong foundation for the environmental economy cannot be built; informal jobs will continue to grow, but the growth of a sustainable environmental job will not. Additionally, the complexity of the factors that require the coordination may not always be fully understood therefore this needs to be a formal process.
It does help that “going green” has become good for the bottom line. Early on Ben & Jerry’s, Nike, SC Johnson, Johnson & Johnson, PG & E, Shaklee, Canon, and Unilever PLC adopted socially responsible policies and practices. Currently, it is not uncommon to find even local businesses touting their eco-friendly adaptations in advertising. Many grocery stores will give nickel/bag incentives for bringing in your own reusable bag and others may even charge you if they supply your grocery bag.
Awareness through education has also helped efforts to develop environmental jobs that contribute to a growing green economy. In 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin set April 22nd as the first Earth Day. That first celebration included an environmental “teach-in” that 25 million people participated in. Now, schools and communities around the globe organize lesson plans, activities, and festivals. Activities range from clean up the local park field trips to presidential campaign stops and speeches. Here again we can see obviously the informal jobs created, but it requires coordinated efforts to help develop sustainable green careers.
Investors are also looking to green technologies and its rapidly growing global market. Clean technology investment has increased by 50% from 2006 to 2007 (92.6 billion to 148.4 billion.) Areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, mass transit and green construction, all create and redeploy jobs. The investment that creation of these jobs requires is a miniscule part of the GDP of industrialized countries, and we are not yet close to getting this amount, but it is entirely attainable. Furthermore initiatives for green business do not take a lot of extra capital investment. They can be quick and easy to accomplish; paying for themselves in a short amount of time.
The future of environmental jobs is ours to create. Through collaboration, awareness, direction education, and economic development incentives, we can foster an environment in which green jobs are not only available, but highly desirable.
Creating a Harmonious Work Environment
We meet different kinds of people in each job we take. Most of them come from sexual orientations, age group, and ethnicity different from ours. To have a good working relationship with them and other co-workers, it is important that we always take into consideration their rights and feelings.
Common Workplace Issues
Many employment disputes result from actions and omissions of the administration to resolve various issues that trouble their employees. Below are some of the bases of complaints that can be used by a person against anyone who would neglect their rights as workers.
• Harassment. Harassment happens when an employee’s benefits and promotions rely upon his willingness to give in to the sexual advances made by his boss or co-workers.
• Discrimination. Discrimination against workers of different age, sex, ethnicity, and religion among others are prohibited as to give equal job opportunities to everyone. A pregnant employee or someone who is disabled is also covered by discrimination laws and so they cannot be retaliated against for their condition.
• Whistle-Blowing. Workers who expose their company’s illegal transactions and wrongdoings can file for protection once they are considered as whistle-blowers. Any party in the company cannot make threats of violence or retaliation against them for their legal actions.
However, they must inform the concerned government agencies and gather evidence regarding the illicit dealings immediately. This is to ensure that they are covered by whistle-blowing laws before retaliatory actions are made against them.
• Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay. Federal law is clear in providing minimum wage for employees. But, in different states, the rate of minimum wage may vary but it should not be lower than the minimum wage mandated by federal law as the latter will prevail.
Overtime pay should also be given to employees, who are not exempted from such benefits, if they have worked for more than 40 hours a week. Tips given by customers and clients cannot be counted as a part of overtime pay.
• Wrongful termination. Aside from demotion, transfers, and lower pays, victims of retaliation can also be wrongfully terminated.
Many hesitate to file claims especially if they signed an “At-Will” employment contract wherein the employer can terminate the employment for any reason at all. This reason, however, should not be the result of retaliation for discrimination, harassment, whistle-blowing, and queries about the salary.
• Meal and Overtime Breaks. Breaks between works are not always compulsory. However, in states where worker should get them, they should be provided with meal and overtime breaks which could improve their productivity and performance.
Helping the Victims
Abuse of power and authority can be traumatic to an employee, but, he should not stand down and ignore his sufferings. He must:
• Gather all evidence that could prove his accounts of the incident.
• Ask co-workers to truthfully verify his claims.
• Get help from employment lawyers in your area who are expert in dealing with cases regarding breaks, discrimination, sexual harassment, whistle-blowing violation, minimum wage, and overtime pays violation.
Common Workplace Issues
Many employment disputes result from actions and omissions of the administration to resolve various issues that trouble their employees. Below are some of the bases of complaints that can be used by a person against anyone who would neglect their rights as workers.
• Harassment. Harassment happens when an employee’s benefits and promotions rely upon his willingness to give in to the sexual advances made by his boss or co-workers.
• Discrimination. Discrimination against workers of different age, sex, ethnicity, and religion among others are prohibited as to give equal job opportunities to everyone. A pregnant employee or someone who is disabled is also covered by discrimination laws and so they cannot be retaliated against for their condition.
• Whistle-Blowing. Workers who expose their company’s illegal transactions and wrongdoings can file for protection once they are considered as whistle-blowers. Any party in the company cannot make threats of violence or retaliation against them for their legal actions.
However, they must inform the concerned government agencies and gather evidence regarding the illicit dealings immediately. This is to ensure that they are covered by whistle-blowing laws before retaliatory actions are made against them.
• Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay. Federal law is clear in providing minimum wage for employees. But, in different states, the rate of minimum wage may vary but it should not be lower than the minimum wage mandated by federal law as the latter will prevail.
Overtime pay should also be given to employees, who are not exempted from such benefits, if they have worked for more than 40 hours a week. Tips given by customers and clients cannot be counted as a part of overtime pay.
• Wrongful termination. Aside from demotion, transfers, and lower pays, victims of retaliation can also be wrongfully terminated.
Many hesitate to file claims especially if they signed an “At-Will” employment contract wherein the employer can terminate the employment for any reason at all. This reason, however, should not be the result of retaliation for discrimination, harassment, whistle-blowing, and queries about the salary.
• Meal and Overtime Breaks. Breaks between works are not always compulsory. However, in states where worker should get them, they should be provided with meal and overtime breaks which could improve their productivity and performance.
Helping the Victims
Abuse of power and authority can be traumatic to an employee, but, he should not stand down and ignore his sufferings. He must:
• Gather all evidence that could prove his accounts of the incident.
• Ask co-workers to truthfully verify his claims.
• Get help from employment lawyers in your area who are expert in dealing with cases regarding breaks, discrimination, sexual harassment, whistle-blowing violation, minimum wage, and overtime pays violation.
A Way of Life: Toxicity in Our Environment and Eco-friendly Cleaning Products
Because toxicity has become a way of life, and we must breath and eat, we are continuously exposed to pesticides and polluntants, some stored right under our kitchen sinks, says a report from the Silent Spring Institute in Newton, Mass., and the Harvard University School of Public Health.
The study was published last October in Environmental Science & Technology, Sedona, Ariz., naturopath doctor Teresa Dale, Ph.D. says "demonstrates that we are exposed daily to a wide array of chemicals that affect our hormone systems." Chemicals like phthalates and alkyphenois may heighten the risk of hormone-linked diseases like breast cancer and testicular cancer.
To limit your exposure, "read labels carefully, use nontoxic cleaning products and avoid using indoor pesticides," says Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Dave Dergan. There are nontoxic cleaning products and pesticides right in your kitchen. If you have baking soda, white vinegar, borax, and rubbing alcohol in your pantry and bathroom, you have the basic ingredients to make your own cleaning products and pesticides that don't cost you an arm and a leg. I have included formulations for making your own products from these items and many more at the end of this article.
There are plenty of effective, earth-safe cleaners that you can buy or make. Using these alternatives will reduce the toxic burden in your house and environment. By switching to environmentally friendly cleaners protects your health and that of the community you live in while reducing air, water, and ground pollution.
I bet you are asking yourself, "So why isn't everybody doing it?" There are very few people who actually read the labels of the products they purchase and even fewer who know the impact these chemicals can have on our bodies. Most people do not take the time or have the time to research the chemicals that go into these products.
Not all "green" products are created equal, some have simply added essential oils to make it smell like the formula has changed. "You need to read the labels carefully to check for irritating chemicals, such as chlorine, ammonia and artificial fragrances and dyes," says Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., a preventive-medicine specialist in Tucson, Arizona. "Buy cleaners from health-food stores or retailers specializing in environmentally friendly products."
"Eco-friendly cleaning and laundry products are the next frontier of environmentalism," says Marci Zaroff, former publisher of Macrocosm and CEO of Under the Canopy, an organic fabric clothing company. "It's an inexpensive, easy and effective way to protect our planet and commitment to life."
Here are some options to get you started onto the path of "thinking green":
* CITRUS OILl; sold in health-food stores and home improvement stores, fills rooms with the smell of oranges and is far more pleasing to your nose (unless you like the smell of hospitals).
To clean or polish wood floors, dilute 1 c. of citrus oil in one gallon of hot water, and mop with a sponge. For floors that are greasy, simply use a stronger solultion. You can also clean kitchen counters and tabletops with this solution. Citrus doesn't strip the protective sealants. On porous surfaces like marble or granite, only use diluted oil and it should never be allowed to sit on a surface, always wipe it dry when finished.
* TEA TREE, THYME AND LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OILS: these have been proven to have more antiseptic in some studies than phenol, the most common chemical disinfectant. Many disinfectants contain chlorine, which reacts with organix matter in drinking water to produce potentially carcinogenic trihalomethane.
To make a natural disinfectant mix 20 drops of one of the above mentioned essential oils and 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Apply and let sit for 15 min. or until dry.
* BAKING SODA: Baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda), an alkaline substance is used in fire extinguishers, antacids, and sparkling water.
You can use it to clean your tubs, sinks, countertops in the kitchen and bath. Combine 3/4 c. baking soda, 1/4 c. of borax and enough diswashing liquid to make a smooth paste or if you prefer a pleasant smell, add 1/4 t. lemon juice to the paste; pour down your sink drain to deorderize and to unclog your drains you put 1/2 cup of baking soda in drain and add a cup of vinegar, wait 30min. and pour hot water down drain. I use this method once a month on all the drains in the house to keep them clear.
*BORAX: Borax, like is's close relative, boric acid, has relatively low toxicity levels, and is considered safe for general household use, but the powder can be harmful if ingested in sufficinet quantities by young children or pets. Keep it out of their reach.
Borax is toxic to plants, so in the yard be very careful when applying borax onto or near soil. It doesn't take much to leach into the ground to kill off nearby plants and prevent furture growth.
But it is great for rubbing out heavy sink stains, even rust in your stainless steel or porcelain sinks. Make a paste of 1 cup of borax and 1/4 cup of lemon juice, put some of the paste on a cloth or sponge and rub it into the stain, then rinse with running warm water, the stain should wash away with the paste.
You can also remove mildew from uphostery and other fabric by soaking a sponge in a solution of 1/2 cup of borax dissolved in 2 cups of water, and rubbing it into the affected areas. Let it soak in for several hours until the stain disappears, then rinse well. To remove mildew from clothing, soak it in a solution of 2 cups of borax in 2 quarts of water.
Want a way to clean your toliet bowl and leave it spakeling whiite without those dangerous fumes? Use a stiff brush to scrub it using a solution of 1/2 cup of borax mixed with a gallon of water.
VINEGAR: Vinegar is known as nature's most practical liquid and is so versatile that you can use it in the kitchen and bath, laundry and garden, housecleaning and car cleaning, even pet care and personal care.
Damp mopping with a mild vinegar solution is widely recommended as a way to clean wood and no-wax vinyl or laminate flooring. Be sure to check with the manufacturer of the flooring because even when diluted vinegar's acidity can ruin some floor finishes, and too much water will damage most wooden floors. But if you want to try vinegar on your floors, use 1/2 cup white vinegar mixed in 1 gallon warm water. You may want to start with a trial application in an incomspicuous area. Before applying the solution, squeeze out the mop sthoroughly (or just use a spray bottle to moisten the mop head).
To liven up dull wood paneling, mix 2 cups warm water, 4 tablespoons white or cider vinegar, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a container, give it a couple of shakes and apply with a clean cloth. Let it soak in for several minutes, then polish with a dry cloth.
To keep your computer, printer, and other home office gear clean and dust free, dampen a clean cloth in equal parts white viegar and water, sqeeze it out well and start wiping. Before you start, make sure that your equipment is shut off, and never use a spray bottle; you don't want to get liquid on the circuis inside. Have a few cotton swabs on hand for getting into tight spaces (like between the keys of your keyboard).
To make a scratch on a wooden tabletop much less noticeable, mix some distilled or cider vinegar and iodine in a small jar and paint over the scratch with a small artist's brush. Use more iodine for darker woods; more vinegar for lighter shades.
To remove white rings left by wet glasses on wood furniture, mix equal parts of vinegar and olive oil and apply it with a soft cloth while moving with the wood grain. Use another clean, soft cloth to shine it. To get white water rings off leather furniture, dab them with a sponge soaked in full-strength white vinegar.
For the great outdoors, vinegar can get rid of bugs and ants or you can use it as an insect repellent and clean you outdoor funiture and decks.
Pour equal parts white vinegar and water into a spray bottle and spray it on anthills and around areas where you see ants. Ants hate vinegar, and it won't take long for them to move on. Also, you can spray picnic and children's play areas to keep ants away. If you have lots of anthills, pour full strength vinegar over them.
Going camping or fishing? Here's an old army trick to keep away ticks and mosquitoes: About three days before you leave, start taking 1 tablespoon cider vinegar three times a day. Continue throughout your outing and you just might return home without a bite.
Before resorting to bleach to remove mildew on your deck or your patio furniture, try these milder vinegar-based solutions.
*Keep full-strength white vinegar in a spray bottle and use it wherever you see mildew. The stain will wipe right off must surfaces, and the vinegar will keep it from coming back for a while.
*Remove mildew from wood decks and wood patio furniture by sponging them off with a solution of 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 gallon water. Use an old tootbrush to work the solution into tight spaces.
*To deodorize and inhibit mildew growth on outdoor plastic mesh furniture and patio umbrellas, mix 2 cups white vinegar and 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid in a bucket of hot water. Use a soft brush to work it into the grooves of the plastic and for scrubbing seat pands and umbrella fabric. Rinse with cold water; then dry in the sun.
RUBBING ALCOHOL: Be sure to not confuse denatured alcohol with rubbing alcohol. Denatured alcohol to ethanol (drinking alcohol) to which poisonous and foul-tasting chemicals have been added to render it unfit for drinking. Often, the chemicals used in denatured alcohol are not ones you should put on your skin. Rubbing alcohol is made of chemicals that are safe for skin contact, most often it's 70 percent isopropl alcohol and 30 percent water.
Ticks hate the taste of rubbing alcohol as much as they love the taste of your dog. Before you pull a tick off Fido, dab the critter with rubbing alcohol to make it loosen its grip. Then grab the tick as close to the dog's skin as ou can and pull it straight out. Dab again with alcohol to disinfect the wound. This works on people too.
The problem with ice packs is they won't conform to the shape of the injured body part. Make a slushy conformable pack by nixing 1 part rubbing alcohol with 3 parts water in a sel-closing plastic bag. The next time that sore knee acts up, wrap the bag of slush in a cloth and apply it to the area.
This is just the tip of iceberg of ways to use eco-friendly products that you can make yourself. I have used most of these recipes for the past 10 years. They cost next to nothing to make and the results are fabulous. I use olive oil and vinegar to clean my furniture and I don't have to dust again for a month. The solution seems to repel dust, just mix the olive oil and vinegar like you would for a salad dressing.
The study was published last October in Environmental Science & Technology, Sedona, Ariz., naturopath doctor Teresa Dale, Ph.D. says "demonstrates that we are exposed daily to a wide array of chemicals that affect our hormone systems." Chemicals like phthalates and alkyphenois may heighten the risk of hormone-linked diseases like breast cancer and testicular cancer.
To limit your exposure, "read labels carefully, use nontoxic cleaning products and avoid using indoor pesticides," says Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Dave Dergan. There are nontoxic cleaning products and pesticides right in your kitchen. If you have baking soda, white vinegar, borax, and rubbing alcohol in your pantry and bathroom, you have the basic ingredients to make your own cleaning products and pesticides that don't cost you an arm and a leg. I have included formulations for making your own products from these items and many more at the end of this article.
There are plenty of effective, earth-safe cleaners that you can buy or make. Using these alternatives will reduce the toxic burden in your house and environment. By switching to environmentally friendly cleaners protects your health and that of the community you live in while reducing air, water, and ground pollution.
I bet you are asking yourself, "So why isn't everybody doing it?" There are very few people who actually read the labels of the products they purchase and even fewer who know the impact these chemicals can have on our bodies. Most people do not take the time or have the time to research the chemicals that go into these products.
Not all "green" products are created equal, some have simply added essential oils to make it smell like the formula has changed. "You need to read the labels carefully to check for irritating chemicals, such as chlorine, ammonia and artificial fragrances and dyes," says Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., a preventive-medicine specialist in Tucson, Arizona. "Buy cleaners from health-food stores or retailers specializing in environmentally friendly products."
"Eco-friendly cleaning and laundry products are the next frontier of environmentalism," says Marci Zaroff, former publisher of Macrocosm and CEO of Under the Canopy, an organic fabric clothing company. "It's an inexpensive, easy and effective way to protect our planet and commitment to life."
Here are some options to get you started onto the path of "thinking green":
* CITRUS OILl; sold in health-food stores and home improvement stores, fills rooms with the smell of oranges and is far more pleasing to your nose (unless you like the smell of hospitals).
To clean or polish wood floors, dilute 1 c. of citrus oil in one gallon of hot water, and mop with a sponge. For floors that are greasy, simply use a stronger solultion. You can also clean kitchen counters and tabletops with this solution. Citrus doesn't strip the protective sealants. On porous surfaces like marble or granite, only use diluted oil and it should never be allowed to sit on a surface, always wipe it dry when finished.
* TEA TREE, THYME AND LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OILS: these have been proven to have more antiseptic in some studies than phenol, the most common chemical disinfectant. Many disinfectants contain chlorine, which reacts with organix matter in drinking water to produce potentially carcinogenic trihalomethane.
To make a natural disinfectant mix 20 drops of one of the above mentioned essential oils and 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Apply and let sit for 15 min. or until dry.
* BAKING SODA: Baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda), an alkaline substance is used in fire extinguishers, antacids, and sparkling water.
You can use it to clean your tubs, sinks, countertops in the kitchen and bath. Combine 3/4 c. baking soda, 1/4 c. of borax and enough diswashing liquid to make a smooth paste or if you prefer a pleasant smell, add 1/4 t. lemon juice to the paste; pour down your sink drain to deorderize and to unclog your drains you put 1/2 cup of baking soda in drain and add a cup of vinegar, wait 30min. and pour hot water down drain. I use this method once a month on all the drains in the house to keep them clear.
*BORAX: Borax, like is's close relative, boric acid, has relatively low toxicity levels, and is considered safe for general household use, but the powder can be harmful if ingested in sufficinet quantities by young children or pets. Keep it out of their reach.
Borax is toxic to plants, so in the yard be very careful when applying borax onto or near soil. It doesn't take much to leach into the ground to kill off nearby plants and prevent furture growth.
But it is great for rubbing out heavy sink stains, even rust in your stainless steel or porcelain sinks. Make a paste of 1 cup of borax and 1/4 cup of lemon juice, put some of the paste on a cloth or sponge and rub it into the stain, then rinse with running warm water, the stain should wash away with the paste.
You can also remove mildew from uphostery and other fabric by soaking a sponge in a solution of 1/2 cup of borax dissolved in 2 cups of water, and rubbing it into the affected areas. Let it soak in for several hours until the stain disappears, then rinse well. To remove mildew from clothing, soak it in a solution of 2 cups of borax in 2 quarts of water.
Want a way to clean your toliet bowl and leave it spakeling whiite without those dangerous fumes? Use a stiff brush to scrub it using a solution of 1/2 cup of borax mixed with a gallon of water.
VINEGAR: Vinegar is known as nature's most practical liquid and is so versatile that you can use it in the kitchen and bath, laundry and garden, housecleaning and car cleaning, even pet care and personal care.
Damp mopping with a mild vinegar solution is widely recommended as a way to clean wood and no-wax vinyl or laminate flooring. Be sure to check with the manufacturer of the flooring because even when diluted vinegar's acidity can ruin some floor finishes, and too much water will damage most wooden floors. But if you want to try vinegar on your floors, use 1/2 cup white vinegar mixed in 1 gallon warm water. You may want to start with a trial application in an incomspicuous area. Before applying the solution, squeeze out the mop sthoroughly (or just use a spray bottle to moisten the mop head).
To liven up dull wood paneling, mix 2 cups warm water, 4 tablespoons white or cider vinegar, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a container, give it a couple of shakes and apply with a clean cloth. Let it soak in for several minutes, then polish with a dry cloth.
To keep your computer, printer, and other home office gear clean and dust free, dampen a clean cloth in equal parts white viegar and water, sqeeze it out well and start wiping. Before you start, make sure that your equipment is shut off, and never use a spray bottle; you don't want to get liquid on the circuis inside. Have a few cotton swabs on hand for getting into tight spaces (like between the keys of your keyboard).
To make a scratch on a wooden tabletop much less noticeable, mix some distilled or cider vinegar and iodine in a small jar and paint over the scratch with a small artist's brush. Use more iodine for darker woods; more vinegar for lighter shades.
To remove white rings left by wet glasses on wood furniture, mix equal parts of vinegar and olive oil and apply it with a soft cloth while moving with the wood grain. Use another clean, soft cloth to shine it. To get white water rings off leather furniture, dab them with a sponge soaked in full-strength white vinegar.
For the great outdoors, vinegar can get rid of bugs and ants or you can use it as an insect repellent and clean you outdoor funiture and decks.
Pour equal parts white vinegar and water into a spray bottle and spray it on anthills and around areas where you see ants. Ants hate vinegar, and it won't take long for them to move on. Also, you can spray picnic and children's play areas to keep ants away. If you have lots of anthills, pour full strength vinegar over them.
Going camping or fishing? Here's an old army trick to keep away ticks and mosquitoes: About three days before you leave, start taking 1 tablespoon cider vinegar three times a day. Continue throughout your outing and you just might return home without a bite.
Before resorting to bleach to remove mildew on your deck or your patio furniture, try these milder vinegar-based solutions.
*Keep full-strength white vinegar in a spray bottle and use it wherever you see mildew. The stain will wipe right off must surfaces, and the vinegar will keep it from coming back for a while.
*Remove mildew from wood decks and wood patio furniture by sponging them off with a solution of 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 gallon water. Use an old tootbrush to work the solution into tight spaces.
*To deodorize and inhibit mildew growth on outdoor plastic mesh furniture and patio umbrellas, mix 2 cups white vinegar and 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid in a bucket of hot water. Use a soft brush to work it into the grooves of the plastic and for scrubbing seat pands and umbrella fabric. Rinse with cold water; then dry in the sun.
RUBBING ALCOHOL: Be sure to not confuse denatured alcohol with rubbing alcohol. Denatured alcohol to ethanol (drinking alcohol) to which poisonous and foul-tasting chemicals have been added to render it unfit for drinking. Often, the chemicals used in denatured alcohol are not ones you should put on your skin. Rubbing alcohol is made of chemicals that are safe for skin contact, most often it's 70 percent isopropl alcohol and 30 percent water.
Ticks hate the taste of rubbing alcohol as much as they love the taste of your dog. Before you pull a tick off Fido, dab the critter with rubbing alcohol to make it loosen its grip. Then grab the tick as close to the dog's skin as ou can and pull it straight out. Dab again with alcohol to disinfect the wound. This works on people too.
The problem with ice packs is they won't conform to the shape of the injured body part. Make a slushy conformable pack by nixing 1 part rubbing alcohol with 3 parts water in a sel-closing plastic bag. The next time that sore knee acts up, wrap the bag of slush in a cloth and apply it to the area.
This is just the tip of iceberg of ways to use eco-friendly products that you can make yourself. I have used most of these recipes for the past 10 years. They cost next to nothing to make and the results are fabulous. I use olive oil and vinegar to clean my furniture and I don't have to dust again for a month. The solution seems to repel dust, just mix the olive oil and vinegar like you would for a salad dressing.
Make Money at Home: Preparing Your Environment
When you are committed to make money at home, it's just as important to prepare an adequate working space for yourself as it is a product and find a market. If you have space, but are not organized physically, you will find your work reflects a casual attitude and you may find that you can't find the latest files that are needed in order to prepare your quarterly tax returns. Some of the factors that must be considered when you are preparing your environment are lighting, furniture and security. Here are a few tips to help you establish a great working environment.
Lighting
The proper lighting in a working area where you make money from home is just as important as in an office. Ideally, you can adjust the light level so that you have a mixture of natural and artificial lighting in your work space. The proper lighting levels at different times of the day and night can mean the difference between eye strain with accompanying headaches and blurred vision and a stress free environment. You should look into the value of long life light bulbs for savings over the years of use. The softer light emitted by some bulbs also make eye strain less likely.
Furniture
The basics of the furniture that you use in a home office are important. You will almost certainly need a computer to make money at home and thus will need a computer desk on which to place the computer equipment. Be sure to leave room enough so that the computer peripherals are also placed in a position to be easily reachable. You will need a good chair that supports your back and hips correctly, particularly if you are working at the computer for extended periods. You will need other furniture such as cabinets and work tables in order to stay organized.
Security
The security of your documents, correspondence, financial transactions and other computer files are critical if you plan to earn money from home. You must be able to assure customers that their sensitive information is never compromised by actions you take. Today, there are constant threats to the integrity of computer systems and computer files either directly or through internet hackers online. You must also be certain that you don't allow children or pets to destroy critical documents related to your online business. A third area of security is that of protecting vital information needed for tax purposes. Use good security practices on the internet.
By Richard Harley
Lighting
The proper lighting in a working area where you make money from home is just as important as in an office. Ideally, you can adjust the light level so that you have a mixture of natural and artificial lighting in your work space. The proper lighting levels at different times of the day and night can mean the difference between eye strain with accompanying headaches and blurred vision and a stress free environment. You should look into the value of long life light bulbs for savings over the years of use. The softer light emitted by some bulbs also make eye strain less likely.
Furniture
The basics of the furniture that you use in a home office are important. You will almost certainly need a computer to make money at home and thus will need a computer desk on which to place the computer equipment. Be sure to leave room enough so that the computer peripherals are also placed in a position to be easily reachable. You will need a good chair that supports your back and hips correctly, particularly if you are working at the computer for extended periods. You will need other furniture such as cabinets and work tables in order to stay organized.
Security
The security of your documents, correspondence, financial transactions and other computer files are critical if you plan to earn money from home. You must be able to assure customers that their sensitive information is never compromised by actions you take. Today, there are constant threats to the integrity of computer systems and computer files either directly or through internet hackers online. You must also be certain that you don't allow children or pets to destroy critical documents related to your online business. A third area of security is that of protecting vital information needed for tax purposes. Use good security practices on the internet.
By Richard Harley
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