Process for Making Ethical Decisions

There are six steps to ethical Decision making.
1. Define the Problem
A. Describe why a decision is needed and identifying the most desired
outcome.
B. How one defines a problems drives how you define the cause and where we
search for the solution.
C. How you define the problem determines where you look for the solution.
2. Identify Alternatives
A. Don't limit yourself to what is obvious or what has worked in the past.
B. Be open to new ides and better alternatives.
C. You are better off identifying as many alternatives as possible.
D. Five alternatives is a good threshold to use.
E. Prevents limiting your choices to opposing views.
3. Evaluate the Alternative
A. Look for the positive and negative outcomes of each alternative.
B. Ensure you differentiate between what you know and what you believe.
C. Determine what results each alternative could yield and how probable it is
that those results will occur.
D. The more the evaluation is fact based, the more confident he/she can be
That the expected outcome will occur.
4. Make the Decision
A. This is the next natural step whn acting alone.
B. When acting as a team this is when a proposal is made to the team.
1. Include complete difinition of the problem.
2. Clear list of the alternatives that were considered.
3. A clear justification for the proposed solution.
5. Implement the Decision
A. The action of implementing the solution is the first real tangible step in
changing the situation.
B. A decision only counts when it is implemented.
6. Evaluate the Decision
A. Every decision is intended to fix a problem.
B. Need to determine if the problem was fixed.
C. Did your resolution fix the problem.
D. Did your resolution create any new problems?

Challenge for all working Americans

I would like to challenge all working Americans to a year of better health, productivity and support of our fellow Americans. It was by working together that our Nation became great and has stayed great. If we continue to work together on all aspects of our lives-health, work, family, politics--what ever your life is---we will continue to be a great nation!

Who's up for the challenge?

Don't forget about filing your taxes - easily!

This is the time of the year when many people have forgotten about filing their taxes in the early part of the year. It is always a good idea to get it done before the 'crazy' part of the season (ie. April) and the IRS, for once, is making it easier and easier to file your taxes. Last year was the first year I used the online method to file. E-file, which is the IRS' gives plenty of information on how to file electronically and how to pay/receive any money that your owe/are owed. The following link will take you to all of the information you need on the E-filing system.

http://www.irs.gov/efile/index.html

If you have to do it, you might as well do it the easy way!

How to Be a Healthy and Productive Employee

Money is always a factor in everyone's life. We must work and make money in order to survive. Instead of working to live, many Americans have it the other way around and live to work. Taking time off for yourself is so important to live a fullfilling life. I recommend that every working person take at least 2 weeks of vacation a year and certainly a personal day here and there to do something not related to your job. Personally, this makes me a better employee. Also, taking a short break in the middle of a work day is very important. I recommend going outside for a walk to get some fresh air and exercise. This energizes me to be productive for the second half of my day.

Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)

Did you know that some of the pharmaceutical companies (such as Pfizer© and Novartis©) have assistance programs for people who cannot afford their medications and don’t have any type of insurance? You can get much needed medication for a discounted rate or even free with qualification.

Are you working a job that doesn’t offer insurance, but you need a prescription that you can’t afford? You can search for the website of the pharmaceutical company, then go to it and look for Patient Assistance Programs. Some companies have several types of PAPs. I checked out two sites and found that you fill out an application and have your doctor fill in some things on the application, send it in with proof of income, such as copies of your W-4’s, and the original prescription. If approved they will send the medicine to your doctor’s office, and they can call you to come pick it up!

Online Banking

I just learned the joys and convenience of online banking. It's great. You have to check it out if you haven't already. My son first told me about this banking method, which is easy to use and offers good interest rates for this day and time. I even read recently that online banking accounts offer better rates than most banks and credit unions. As far as I can see they are right. If you have access to a computer try it out.

Healthcare savings accounts

With all the different terminology, I am confused on the difference between a Healthcare Savings Account, a Medical Savings Account, and a Healthcare Reserve Account. Are there differences?

Understanding and Managing Money

It is important to know what to do with the money you make every month. Whether you put it in a retirement fund, or want to invest a little more aggressively, it is important to know how to manage your money. One book that we have come across recently does a really good job of that. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.

In it, he advocates financial independence by means of investing, real estate, owning businesses, and the use of finance protection tactics. Rich Dad, Poor Dad is written in what is meant to be an entertaining anecdotal manner to make finances interesting. The most central element stressed by Kiyosaki is the advocacy of owning the system or means of production, rather than being an employee of someone else. In other words, making your money work for you instead or working for your money.

Whether from this book or another, it is important to understand how to manage your money and make it grow, rather than just letting it sit there in your checking account.....

Cost of Living

I found this interesting "Cost of Living Calculator" webpage. You can enter your salary and compare your cost of living in your current city to what would be more or less in another city. It's amazing how cost of living can vary so drastically from city to city. Is your salary sufficient in your city? Would it be enough in another city?

The site link is http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html

Principles of Management

Companies have attempted to institutionalize ethics in many ways. First they have a code of ethics which is a formal statement that acts as a guide for making decisions and acting within a organization. Then Managers can take the following steps to establish an ethical workplace:
1.) Create, distribute, and continually improve a company's code of ethics
2.) Create a special office or department with responsibility of ensuring ethical practices within the organization.
3.) Furnish organization members with appropriate training.
4.) Managers can feel confident that a potential action will be considered ethical by the general public if it is consistent with one or more of the following standards:
~The Golden Rule
~The utilitarian principle
~Kant's categorical imperative
~The professional ethic
~The T.V. test
~The legal test
~The four way test
5.) Managers can take responsibility for creating and sustaining conditions in which people are likely to behave ethically , and minimizing conditions in which people might be tempted to behave unethically.

Diversity is such an important contemporary management issue because diversity is the characteristics of individuals that shape their identities and experiences they have in society. Advantages of a diverse workforce include:
1.)Work group drawing on contributions from a multicultural workforce enhance the pool of information and approaches available to the group.
2.)Gaining and keeping market share
3.)Cost savings
4.)Increased productivity and innovation
5.)Better-Quality Management
6.)Diversity Spotlight

There are three aspects of international environment managers must be aware of. The three aspects are:
1.)Respecting Core Human Rights
2.)Respecting Local Traditions
3.)Determining Right from Wrong by Examining Context

IRA - Individual Retirement Account

Many people work in jobs that don’t offer a retirement program. But you can open your own IRA, at a bank or credit union near you, for little down and little per month. One I found offers that you can open an IRA with $100 down and a minimum $10 per month and there are no service fees (unless you withdraw) or set-up fees. All banks and credit unions may vary, so check around first to find the best rate.

There’s a lot of confusion as to which IRA is better. There are five types but only two are really for an employee trying to save towards retirement: the Roth and the Traditional. You can find information at www.ira.com/faq1.htm on the different types of IRA’s so that you can decide which is best for you.

Filing "Single"

It's Income Tax time again and I always feel that it is unfair the way the government discriminates against the single taxpayer. There always seems to be tax breaks for the married with children or unmarried with children, low income or high income, small business owner or large business owner. When does the "single" filer get a tax break?

Accountability

In addition to Congress being accountable, we need to look at our state and local leaders and make sure they are held accountable for their actions. If we "go up the legislative ladder", we won't have the professional politicians in Washington. In going up that "ladder", we need to look at ourselves and be accountable for our own actions and reactions. Everything we do is of our own choice and we are responsible for ourselves.

Find out what your local leaders, district supervisors, school supervisors, county managers etc are doing and choose to make a difference in that one area. Our children depend on us to show them how!

Make your choice today.

Online Tax Organizer

Taking into consideration that it is tax season, I thought I would share this bit of information with you. I found a website where you can go to download a free online tax organizer to prepare for filing your taxes. All you have to do is answer a few questions and they will supply you with a free tax preparation checklist based on the information you provide. Was very helpful for me. Especially helpful for salespeople.

Go to: https://organizit.hrblock.com/default.aspx?PID=2443

Eliminate Workplace Discrimination through Education

One issue that is important to me is to eliminate workplace discrimination through educating about legal rights on the job, monitoring enforcement agencies, and expanding anti-discrimination laws. America has come a long way but not far enough. There are still so many ignorant people out there. Educate, Educate, Educate!!

Speak up and Work Together for Positive Change!

There is an endless list of issues that America needs to focus on improving and it is we, the hard working citizens of this country who can make a difference. As a young, single working woman, I feel it is my responsibility to use my knowledge to help others succeed. It is clear as day that our administration has let us down throughout the past few years, but we need to stop complaining and step up to help make the necessary changes for our country. We all have voices, no matter where we work or at what level. I encourage and challenge everyone to speak out. AAWP seems to be a great venue to ban together as working people and make some changes.

Accountability

It's time for the workers of America to hold the politicians in office accountable for what is happening in this country! We need to stand up to them and not take their lies, cheating and greed any longer!

TAXES

Taxes. Did you know that the working people are taxed when they earn; taxed when they spend; taxed when they save; and taxed when they die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When does it stop? What do you get for it and what input do you have in how they are spent. NONE!!! Join AAWP and let's take the system back and move our elected officials to accountability by the working people who pay the BIGGEST majority of taxes!!!!!!!!! Visit our website at www.aawp.org today and JOIN. Tell your friends and let's keep America great!!!!!!!!!!!

For the Working People

Hi everybody. This is AAWP!!!

AAWP

This is the American Association of Working People - We are here to help the working people!