Fringe benefit plans Essay Example for Free

Fringe benefit plans Essay What, really, are fringe benefits? Fringe benefits are a significant share of a workers total compensation package, which has grown over time (Flynn, 2000). They are of two types: One type of fringe benefit is the spreading of an employee’s pay, which was earned while working, over periods when the employee does not work. The other type of fringe benefit includes all sorts of things which became substituted for money pay, which the employee may spend for things of his or her own choice. Instead of getting one’s entire money wage, the employee may get some of it in the form of specified goods or presumed services. All sorts of things become substituted for money pay. They range all the way from better toilet facilities in the plant to golf courses for members of the families of employees perhaps even help in building a church of some denomination in the community. It may be more company picnics, or a Christmas party, or insurance of one sort or another, or a pension for old age all sorts of things. Retirement pensions, even though all workers may be covered by a basic age-related state pension, the vast majority of firms operate an occupational pension scheme for their employees to which the firm contributes. In spite of the onus for pension provision shifting towards the individual in a number of countries, including the UK, company pension schemes remain a substantial and widespread fringe benefit. Other benefits include redundancy payments and discounts on company products and the use of company cars. Sometimes these fringe benefits are the result of employee pressure, either through the union or without any union. But often they are initiated by management; a company plan is put into effect. However they come about, fringe benefits of this type have one aspect in common. Smith (2003) has asserted that in each instance its cost comes out of the money due the employee as pay. Fringe benefits are not just a demand of last resort by men living in a society which already supplies them with almost everything they need. They satisfy some fundamental human needs which, but for conservatism on both sides of industry, would probably have become matters for the bargaining table long before now. Fringe benefit plans increase the benefits available to employees through provision of such benefits as better pensions, year-end bonuses, paid vacations, sick leave, and holidays and an air-conditioned working place, in addition to the employees’ basic salary. In some instances, profit-sharing agreements are also included, as well as store discount privileges of workers. At this stage, the desire for security and continuity of income may well have become as great, or greater, than the desire to raise income. Thus the social logic of fringe benefits in an advanced society. When it comes to health insurance and pensions, fringe benefits help compensate for myopia in an individuals consumption decisions. High marginal tax rates, for both firms and workers, encourage the use of fringe benefits. As workers have become better off in real terms this has increased their demand for fringe benefits. Fringe benefits conferred tax advantages on both workers and firms. In theory it was possible to determine the optimum combination of wages and fringe benefits in relation to the firms desire for profits. A substantial proportion of the average workers costs to his employer are in the form of fringe benefits. As far as private fringe benefits are concerned, large firms are able to obtain group discounts and larger numbers of employees ensure lower per-worker costs of administration. Often fringe benefits are taxed at relatively low rates, if at all. This creates strong incentives for the firm and its employees to increase the proportion of fringe benefits within total compensation. Further, taxation coverage is rather incomplete at the employee level owing to technical difficulties in taxing individual fringe benefits and because welfare income is relatively small. Fringe benefits also have an advantage to the employers not just because the benefits were tax deductible but also because they reduced turnover and thereby boosted productivity. Also, the use fringe benefits improved the overall morale of the employees. The social equation was working. WORKS CITED Flynn, B. (2000). Fringe Benefits. New Statesman, 129 (4499), 32. Smith, S. (2003). Labour Economics. (2nd Ed. ). London: Routledge.

Ray Bradbury’s There Will Come Soft Rains and James Tiptree Jr.s The L

Ray Bradbury’s "There Will Come Soft Rains" and James Tiptree Jr.'s "The Last Flight of Dr. Ain" - Probable Futures of our World Since the beginning of time mankind has predicted the end of the universe. From early Christians to science fiction authors of the 20th century, each generation has had its own vision of how life on earth will cease to exist. In earlier times though, most apocalyptic ideas consisted of the "hand of God," or God’s figures punishing humankind for its sins and ending human existence. However, in the mid-twentieth century many more scientific ideas of the apocalypse appeared. Ray Bradbury’s "There Will Come Soft Rains," which was published in 1950, is a post-nuclear apocalyptic tale. "The Last Flight of Dr. Ain," written in 1969 by James Tiptree Jr. is a story about the world ending due to biological terrorism. Amazingly, over 30 years since the publication of the latter, these ideas are currently two of the most prevalent thoughts on how the world will come to end. "There Will Come Soft Rains" illustrates the devastating effects of nuclear warfare. Bradbury’s use of vivid and poignant details to describe the end of world shows exactly how unforgiving nuclear weapons are. "The house stood alone in a city of rubble and ashes†¦. At night the city gave off a radioactive glow which could be seen for miles" (Bradbury 719). It is almost impossible to imagine this landscape appearing in real life; almost everything destroyed, and the buildings that are still standing left in shambles. Weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear warheads, seem to have God-like powers. They can level an entire city in one swift blow, and whoever has possession of the most of them rules the world. In an instant everything is d... ...both be probable futures of our world. In the case of these two stories, science fiction and reality seem to almost overlap, and in a not too distant future they could become one. Bibliography Anthrax. 5 November 2001. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 30 November 2001. http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/anthrax.htm Bradbury, Raymond Douglas. "There Will Come Soft Rains." The Prentice Hall Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Ed. Garyn G. Roberts. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 718-722 "Bush Bioterrorism Funding Request Low, CDF Chief Says" Baltimore Sun. 30 November 2001. 30 November 2001. http://chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.anthrax30nov30.story Tiptree Jr., James. "The Last Flight of Dr. Ain." The Prentice Hall Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Ed. Garyn G. Roberts. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 915-921

Beowulf Discussion Questions

E4-9-2-Beowulf Discussion Questions #11. Herot was the place in which men would gather with their King, drink mead and listen to bards sing songs of God. 2. Grendel’s lair is like a swamp it is far away from the kingdom and it is where the other monsters live as well. Grendel’s lair compared to Herot which is lavish and elaborate and not swampy and stinky. 3. The significance of Grendel being descended from Cain was so significant because Cain killed his own brother, Abel the first murder in the Bible. 4.Grendel attacks Herot because he does not like the songs about God’s creation of the earth sung by the bards it makes him angry. 5. Herot symbolized the greatness of the kingdom before the coming of Grendel. Unfortunately after it became a place of fear and concern many people stopped coming to celebrate the King’s excellence because they were afraid of Grendel. 6. Hrothgar’s lieutenant was concerned about the arrival of Beowulf & men because he was not sure of what they wanted, he was being cautious. 7.The lieutenant soon realizes Beowulf as a hero when they arrive onshore as outsiders without fear stating his business as being a help to the King by killing Grendel. 8. Unferth brings up Beowulf ’swimming match with Brecca because he wanted to prove Beowulf isn’t the hero everyone says he is. In return, Beowulf responds by saying first of all that he is drunk and that he did slay the monster and eight other sea beasts. 9. Welthow is the Queen and also the hostess in Herot. The narrator praises her for being so kind and serving other before herself. 10. Hrothgar’s speech is significant because he speaks to all telling them to bond together in battle trust no one else other than your men and you will all have true victory. 11. As Beowulf and his men wait for Grendel’s arrival, Beowulf thinks that he is as dangerous as Grendel and that his men fear for their lives doubting if they will even live until morning. 12. Grendel is referred to as a demon or dreadful monster. Grendel symbolizes the evil that is tormenting the Danes.

College And University Leadership Program Essay - 1081 Words

INTERVIEW WITH DR. PATRICIA MCDONALD When it comes to the topic of making a difference in the lives of students, most of us will readily agree that it can be very gratifying when college and university leaders inspire students and impact their lives, while developing them into future leaders. It is believed that making a difference in the lives of student is a shared effort that cannot be done alone even the smallest act of kindness can impact the world if people come together. A future desirable outcome, hoping to be accomplished from the Leadership program, is to make a difference in the lives of people and making an impact. In addition to a shared effort, when we make small deposits of effort in an attempt to make a difference, collectively, we are adding to the bigger picture of transforming lives, which will inspire movement towards achievement, in my opinion is leadership. As a graduate student in the Masters of Art, Higher Education Leadership program, the career and educational goal being explored is to develop the knowledge to help people achieve something to enrich their lives. ABOUT THE INTERVIEW The interview was recorded via voice recorder using a cell phone, and the duration of the interview lasted 35 minutes. The quoted answers from Dr. McDonald were several seconds into her response to the questions. When editing this paper, only small sections of quoted responses were pulled out from her answers for the purpose of this assignment, meaningShow MoreRelatedJohnson University : A Private Higher Learning Institution Essay1072 Words   |  5 PagesJohnson University Johnson University is a private higher learning institution that is located near Knoxville, Tennessee. This Christian college system offers associate, baccalaureate and graduate degrees through their various campuses and online programs. 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