Consumerism Essay Example for Free

Consumerism Essay THE DISHONEST FACE OF CONSUMERISM A statistic illustrates that in 1950, there is one car for every fifty people but in 2009, there are more than one car for every twelve people in America. This example demonstrates the increasing effect of consumerism by the end of the 20th century. According to Cambridge Dictionary, consumerism is the situation in which too much attention is given to buying andowning things. In the light of this definition, it can be concluded that consumerism usually leads to materialism since materialists claim that happiness can be increased through buying and spending as well . It is inevitable that there exist a dissidence between people about this issue. Authors like Juliet Schor, Annie Leonard and Danielle Todd support consumerism is a foe whereas Peter Saunders and James Twitchell, advocates the idea that consumerism is a friend. Consumerism has many negative outcomes like overspending, overworking, credit card debts, social and economic problems etc. These negative aspects of consumerism are in majority therefore consumerism is a foe. Consumerism is a foe since it causes overworking by triggering the insatiable nature of human. Each person aims to reach a good, qualified life and this ambition causes competition between people. As Annie Leonard mentions, we have become a nation of consumers (9). The reason behind this situation is exactly the competitive life circumstances, each person buys more and more to be the best. It is acknowledged that human has an insatiable nature by birth and the consumerist system triggers this stimulation substantially since people do not want to stay out of the competition. Todd states that consumers are well aware of the insatiable nature of consumerism, but recognize that in their society it is the only possible way to live (1). The most negative aspect of consumerism emerges at that point; since consumers can never be fulfilled with the goods they consume there occurs a circle which tucks people into a trap. The empty and miserable consumers buy more and more goods with the hope of finding fulfillment and reaching the best. For instance, a young man buys an Iphone 4 and just three months later he sees his friend’s Iphone 5  and decides to buy an Iphone 5 immediately for reaching his friend’s level . To purchase more, this man obliged to work exceedingly so his life passes with heavy working conditions. According to Leonard, this situation creates a c razy work-watch-spend treadmill (13). This circle damages people’s lives since it is almost impossible to get rid of this circle because of the unsatisfied nature of human. With the existence of this circle, people turn into robots, they cannot think anything except money, working and shopping. Eventually, people’s psychological and physical healths are damaged because of stress, they become tired, they do not have individual times, they do not have any hobbies, they drift apart from nature and get stuck into shopping malls etc. Briefly, it can be said that consumerism is a foe since it triggers the unsatisfied nature of people and ensnare their lives with the work-watch-spend circle. Advertisements cause the problem of overspending which is the most mischievous outcome of consumerism. Advertisements have seven functions like identifiying brands, supplying information, persuasion previewing new trends etc. but persuasion is the best function which is related with consumerism. Advertisements and consumerism definitely have a positive correlation since powerful and visual advertising directs consumers to purchase goods and services. As Juliet Schor states, it can be said that the growing importance of television causes consumerism (1). It demonstrates that people who watch TV are more inclined to purchasing more. Schor also asserts that an avarage level of TV watching of 15 hours a week equals nearly $3,000 per year (1). So it can be concluded that television is very effective on people’s buying decisions, advertisements direct people to spend more money. These tricky advertisements lead people to buy redundant goods. For instance, Twitchell mentions that he bought a Mazda Miata although he did not need this car (1). Moreover, he states that he bought the car because of an advertisement which promotes the idea that if you buy this car, all of your dreams will come true (2). This is a clear example of overspending, an effective advertisement made Twitchell buy a luxury and redundant good which was pretty expensive. Twitchell’s experience is just the tip of the iceberg, the rate of overspending will increase more and more with the growing importance of television. Due to overspending, people become unable to afford their basic, biological needs since they spend all their money for visible status  goods. Shortly, it is verified that advertisements direct people to consume more and more but this huge effect of advertisements are destructive since over-consumption makes people unable to afford their basic needs. Credit card debts is another destructive outcome of consumerism. In Turkey, one million and sixty thousand people have credit card debts by 2014. This statistical data demonstrates that consumerism is not a friend for one million and sixty thousand people in Turkey. As it is mentioned before, human has an insatiable nature therefore people see products as a hero and they purchase more and more. Banks take advantage of people’s fralities and give them lots of credit cards. This situation brings a trouble into society like credit card debts. Juliet Schor argues that one of the most fascinating things about credit card debt is how m any people are not conscious of their behaviour (3). While buying goods people cannot be aware of what they spend since they are not aware that these credits are borrowed. They assume that these credits are free and limitless. Credit cards are presented as hero by banks, consumers can buy what they want without making payment by cash but at the end this dream concludes with a disappointing end, hoarded credit card debts. Victims of credit cards have to sell their houses, cars etc. to pay their credit card debts. So, it can be concluded that although many people believe to the misleading friendly face of consumerism actually it is just an invisible enemy which drags people to debt spiral. Some may say that consumerism is a friend. However, this assertion is not true. It should not be forgotten that the capitalist system leads to the occurrence of consumerism. Saunders defends that capitalism is good for the soul since it gives people a chance to live a good life (6). That assumption can be accepted to an extent since each person aims to reach a good life. This is a common will of all humanity but it should be considered that human being is insatiable and this system exploits people’s weaknesses which is coming from their nature. As it is mentioned in second and third paragraphs, advertisements exploit people’s weaknesses dramatically by giving the message that they are insufficient. Peop le cannot reject the desirable choices that the system provides and they become a part of this system even if they cannot afford the requirements of a good life. Saunders also hypothesizes that no socioeconomic system can guarantee people a good life, they can just provide happy and worthwhile lives and capitalism  passes with flying colors on this test (19). There exist a social stratification in today’s world so these flying colors are just accessable for upper and middle classes but what about the working class? Their labor is exploited all the time by this capitalist system. A good system should provide a happy and worthwhile life to everyone, not just the selected rich ones. To sum up, it is true that capitalism can be seen as desirable and attracts many people’s attention but this does not mean that capitalism is a friend since it just provides tricky and temporary dreams to a minor group of rich people. In conclusion, negative aspects of consumerism like overspending, overworking, credit card debts, social and economic problems etc. outweigh so consumerism is a foe. Although some argue that it is a friend, actually in real life it is impossible to support that argument since consumerism triggers the unfulfilling nature of human and it is not desirable or beneficial in the long run. Consumerism is just a foe which make s you a victim with empty promises. Schor believes that, to avoid this situation people should decrease the time they spend in front of the TV, use no credit cards, stop buying unnecessary products and try to make logical, consciously decisions while purchasing (4). If people take these suggestions into account, they can reach a good life without these tricky systems. It should not be forgotten that spending less makes people feel better. WORKS CITED Leonard, Annie. â€Å"The Story of Stuff.† Free Range Studios, 2007. 20 Aug. 2009. Web. Saunders, Peter. â€Å"Why Capitalism Is Good for the Soul.† The Insider 23.4 (2008): 14- 21. Insider Online. The Insider Heritage Foundation, Apr. 2008. Web. Schor, Juliet. â€Å"Juliet Schor on The Overspent American.† TIME.com. N.p., 20 May 1998. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/schor-overspent.html Todd, Danielle. â€Å"You Are What You Buy: Postmodern Consumerism and the Construction of Self.† Fall 2011. Web. Twitchell, James. â€Å"How I Bought My Red Miata.† August/ September 2000. Web.

To Save a Life is not an Option :: Essays Papers

To Save a Life is not an Option As America has progressed through the years, its citizens have grown more and more conscientious about their health and safety, and through science and technology have designed many things to be safer and increase health for little money. Laws have been passed so that health may be maintained and in many cases it is cheaper to live a healthy lifestyle rather than an unhealthy one. Cigarettes put deep holes in pockets, and fines keep people from not wearing their seatbelt, yet despite the low cost of many safety advances made for automobiles, consumers are still forced to pay more for safety features in cars. With the low cost of manufacturing and installing safety features such as anti-lock brakes and side airbags, safety features should no longer be an option on automobiles, but standards. Over 9,000 deaths are caused by side impact passenger vehicle accidents in America every year. (IIHS) Crash tests conducted by the institute have shown great potential for side airbags, especially for protection in smaller vehicles being hit from the side by larger vehicles such as SUVs which are becoming very popular these days. â€Å"Side airbags that include head protection are reducing deaths by about 45 percent among drivers of passenger cars struck on the near (driver) side,† claims the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The effectiveness of head protecting side airbags is a 53% reduction in risk of two-vehicle accidents and an estimated 74% reduction when a smaller vehicle is struck in the side by a larger vehicle. Without side airbags, the is no protection for a passenger’s head from protruding objects such as trees, poles or other vehicles causing far more deaths or permanent injury than if the head were protected. (IIHS) Side airbags are available on 40 percent of 2003 model passenger vehicles, 16 percent on which they are optional. (IIHS) The option of side airbags for different manufacturers varies in cost; for Chevrolet it is a $400 option, for Ford it is a $300 option and for Honda it is a $250 option. Using the Chevrolet Malibu as an example as a side airbag optional vehicle, side crash tests show much better results for the Malibu with side airbags. On a scale of 1-4, 4 being the best, in a side collision test, the Malibu with side airbags received a 3 while the Malibu without side airbags received a 1.

Role of Industrial Manager

The modern industrial manager is largely responsible for overlooking management operations at the workplace along with the management of people and technology. The role of the industrial manager is mainly personnel management initiatives for the employees as well as operational management and technology management through HR principles and knowledge management involving technological advances. Some of the theories that could be discussed in the context would be McGregor’s theory X-Y, Taylor and Fayol theories of management and how leadership skills of the manager could affect output and general performance of employees and the company. Role of manager: The focus here is on the role of the industrial manager, what he does and the tasks he is expected to perform. McGregor has formulated his X-Y theory by examining theories of individual behavior at work and his assumptions for theory X and theory Y vary considerably (McGregor, 2006). The theory X assumptions are that employees inherently dislike work and the managers feel that workers are in the job mainly because of the money. This sort of management style has inherent flaws as tight controls could go against the freedom of employees and will finally make people unproductive and resentful. The theory Y shows the management style marked by open-mindedness allowing individuals to work with their own responsibility. In this case, the manager believes that employees commit to their organizations through imagination, and creativity (McGregor, 2006; Weisbord, 2004). If the job is satisfying, individuals will more often commit to their organization which is always good from any HR perspective. Theory Y is often considered a positive set of assumptions for workers and reflects higher order needs. The other theories of management that could be used in practice would be Taylor’s scientific management theory that suggests that man is a rational economic animal concerned with his own economic gain and people tend to respond individually. Taylor’s theory suggests that people could be treated like machines and these principles suggest that high wages could be linked to motivation. However, considering humans as standardized machines would be like overlooking several individual differences and this would not be advantageous for any organization. Fayol’s theory emphasized on team dynamics and employee efforts in an organization (Fayol, 1988). Division of labor, authority and responsibility, discipline, unity of command and direction, emphasis on general interest, remuneration, centralization, line of authority, order, equity, stability of tenure, initiative etc are some of the features in Fayol’s theory that points out to a successful management system within an organization. Conclusion: In conclusion the role of the industrial manager is associated with bringing out a balance between people’s sense of responsibility and economic and other gains of the company. The theories used here suggest that the industrial manager is responsible for understanding individual needs of employees as also their opinions and sense of responsibility. Bibliography Fayol, Henri. (1988) General and industrial management /Â  Henry Fayol. Pitman McGregor, Douglas. (2006) The human side of enterprise /Â  Douglas McGregor, updated and with new commentary by Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld. New York ;Â  London :Â  McGraw-Hill, Weisbord, Marvin Ross. (2004) Productive workplaces revisited :Â  dignity, meaning, and community in the 21st century /Â  Marvin R. Weisbord. [2nd ed.]. San Francisco, Calif. :Â  Jossey-Bass ;Â  Chichester :Â  John Wiley

Teaching Cinco de Mayo to Kids

Cinco de Mayo! Its everyones favorite Mexican holiday, a chance to listen to cool music, grab some chips and salsa and maybe even speak some Spanish with friends. But whats it all about? Most folks know enough Spanish to understand that Cinco de Mayo is May fifth, so it must be a special date in history, but why do Mexicans celebrate that particular day? What is Cinco de Mayo? On Cinco de Mayo, Mexicans remember the Battle of Puebla, fought on May 5, 1862. On that day, Mexicans won an important battle against the French army, which was invading Mexico. Why Was France Invading Mexico? France had a long history of interfering in Mexicos business, dating back to the famous Pastry War of 1838. In 1862, Mexico was having big problems and owed money to other countries, mainly France. France invaded Mexico to try and get their money. Why is the Battle of Puebla So Famous? Basically, the battle is famous because the Mexicans werent supposed to win. The French army had about 6,000 soldiers and the Mexicans had only about 4,500. The French had better guns and were better trained. The French had already beaten the Mexicans a few times as they made their way to the city of Puebla, from which they planned to go to Mexico City. No one thought the Mexicans were going to win the battle†¦except maybe the Mexicans! What Happened at the Battle of Puebla? The Mexicans had made defenses around the city of Puebla. The French attacked three times, and each time they had to retreat. When the French cannons ran out of ammunition, the Mexican commander, Ignacio Zaragoza, ordered an attack. The Mexican attack forced the French to run away! The Mexicans cheered and President Benito Juarez said that May fifth would forever be a national holiday. Was That the End of the War? Unfortunately, no. The French army was driven off but not beaten. France sent a huge army of 27,000 soldiers to Mexico and this time they captured Mexico City. They put Maximilian of Austria in charge of Mexico and it was a few years before the Mexicans could kick the French out. So Cinco de Mayo isn't Mexico's Independence Day? Lots of people think so, but no. Mexico celebrates its Independence Day on September 16. Thats the day when in 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo stood up in his church and said that the time had come for Mexico to be free from Spain. Thats how Mexicos battle for independence began. How Do Mexicans Celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Mexicans love Cinco de Mayo! Its a day that makes them feel very proud. There are parties, parades and lots of food. There are festivals with concerts and dancing. Mariachi bands are everywhere. Where Are the Best Places to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Of all the places in the world, the city of Puebla in Mexico is probably the best. After all, thats where the big battle was! Theres a huge parade and a re-enactment of the battle. There is also a mole festival. Mole, pronounced mo-lay, is a special food in Mexico. After Puebla, the best place to go for Cinco de Mayo is Los Angeles, California, where they have a big party every year. Is Cinco de Mayo a Big Deal in Mexico? It is, but September 16, Mexicos Independence Day, is a bigger holiday in most of Mexico than Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo is a bigger deal in other countries like the USA. Thats because Mexicans who live in other countries like to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and because most foreigners think its the most important Mexican holiday. Cinco de Mayo is surprisingly NOT a national holiday in Mexico, although its a local holiday in Puebla. How Can I Celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Thats easy! If you live in a city where there are a lot of Mexicans, there will be parties and festivals. If you dont, your local Mexican restaurant will probably have special food, decorations and maybe even a mariachi band! You can host a Cinco de Mayo party by getting some decorations, serving some Mexican food like chips, salsa and guacamole and playing Mexican music.

Comparative Study of Wuthering Heights, Translations, and...

The texts that I have studied and prepared for my comparative course are: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Translations by Brian Friel, and I’m not scared directed by Gabriel Salvatores. When I address the cultural context of a text I refer to the worlds of the texts, the circumstances which face the plots and the characters of the texts. Some elements of the cultural context of each and every text are the world’s attitudes, social rituals, and structures. Coming to grips with the general norm of the society with in each texts and how the characters behave enables me to enjoy each text all the more. Understanding the world in which each text is set in and thus being able to compare the aspects of their society and what is involved in†¦show more content†¦Anna dreams of visiting the seaside and eating in a restaurant. The people in Southern Italy were poor and run-down. The difference between the social standing of Southern Italy and Northern Italy lead to the country experiencing spate of kidnappings hence the kidnapping of Filippo. Filippo is from a family among the ranks of the higher hierarchy of Italy at that time. This caused him to be held against his will to be held for ransom by the people of Acqua Traverse in hopes that their lives might change for the better and for them to be able to climb higher in their social ladder. Similar to the situation in Translations, Maire desires to go to America in order to acquire a better subsistence. In each text, class structure plays an important role and affects the behaviour of the characters in how they respond to society and the norm and in what choices they make in connection with their rank the class system. Studying the significance of class structure in the cultural context of each narrative benefitted me in my understanding of each text which made my study all the more pleasurable. The setting in the cultural context of a text is definitely important when looking at character development, conflict, and the overall plot. Its the setting for all that is to come; it can convey so much about whom the people are and the way they live. The setting of a narrative can be a character of its own. In all three narratives, the setting is conveyed in a remote, ruralShow MoreRelatedComparative Study of Wuthering Heights, Translations, and IM No Scared2092 Words   |  9 PagesThe texts that I have studied and prepared for my comparative course are: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Translations by Brian Friel, and I’m not scared directed by Gabriel Salvatores. When I address the cultural context of a text I refer to the worlds of the texts, the circumstances which face the plots and the characters of the texts. Some elements of the cultural context of each and every text are the world’s attitudes, social rituals, and structures. Coming to grips with the general norm Comparative Study of Wuthering Heights, Translations, and... The texts that I have studied and prepared for my comparative course are: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Translations by Brian Friel, and I’m not scared directed by Gabriel Salvatores. When I address the cultural context of a text I refer to the worlds of the texts, the circumstances which face the plots and the characters of the texts. Some elements of the cultural context of each and every text are the world’s attitudes, social rituals, and structures. Coming to grips with the general norm of the society with in each texts and how the characters behave enables me to enjoy each text all the more. Understanding the world in which each text is set in and thus being able to compare the aspects of their society and what is involved in†¦show more content†¦Maire: â€Å"The best harvest in living memory,†¦ (Showing Jimmy her hands.) Look at these blisters.† Maire: â€Å"There are ten below me to be raised and no man in the house†¦.† During the Victorian era in Wuthering Heights, women were expected to be obedient, disciplined and faithful. Catherine does not conform to these expectations. There is also a subtle reversal of roles in young Cathy’s marriages where, contrary to traditional norms, she appears to be the dominant partner. She tended to Linton who was a spoilt, sickly weakling. Later Hareton also needs help and encouragement to develop after years of degradation at the hands of Heathcliff. Comparing the cultural context of the narratives heightened my enjoyment and helped me have a better experience and insight into the role of women and how they lived their lives subservient under men in a patriarchal society. One of the aspects of cultural context I enjoyed covering on my comparative course is how the class structure in each narrative is divided up. Social class is not solely dependent on the amount of money one has. Rather, the source of income, birth, and family connections plays a major role in determining one’s position in society. England in the nineteenth century was an extremely class-conscious society and social class is an important element in Wuthering Heights. We see the distinction between the two families in Emily Bronte’s novel and their rank on the socialShow MoreRelatedComparative Study of Wuthering Heights, Translations, and IM No Scared2105 Words   |  9 PagesThe texts that I have studied and prepared for my comparative course are: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Translations by Brian Friel, and I’m not scared directed by Gabriel Salvatores. When I address the cultural context of a text I refer to the worlds of the texts, the circumstances which face the plots and the characters of the texts. Some elements of the cultural context of each and every text are the world’s attitudes, social rituals, and structures. Coming to grips with the general norm

Analysis Of The Book Redeployment By Phil Klay Essay

In the United States, thousands of men and woman join the army every year. Post-war trauma effects can influence the emotional and psychological state of the soldier when coming back from combat or reentering civilian life, however, people are not fully aware of such problem. Winner of the 2014 National Book Award for fiction, Phil Klay in his first book Redeployment, delivers readers a unique experience to the front lines of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through the narratives of different characters and their experiences. The first chapter Redeployment exposes the life of a soldier reentering civilian life, who takes action for the life of his suffering dog Vicar after killing hundreds of dogs during the war while having to address his post-war emotional and psychological state. The last chapter of Redeployment, Ten Kliks South, a Lance Corporal gives the readers an insight of his emotional and psychological state after a mass shooting on a nearby location. In consequence of his lack of experience in the battlefield, the Lance Corporal is faced with several questions, while searching for the true responsible for the fatalities caused by the U.S. soldiers. Both chapters demonstrate a connection as they portray the effects of the war on the emotional and psychological state of the main characters of the two chapters discussed. Such stories help bring awareness to the readers about the importance in understanding how situations can affect the life of soldiers in real life,Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book Redeployment By Phil Klay2018 Words   |  9 Pagesand further studies are ongoing into the unseen horror. Some say it is caused directly in relation to combat; others may say that it is from the images seen. In the book Redeployment by Phil Klay, he develops several stories from fictitious Marine Corps veterans that represent veterans one may encounter in the real world. Phil Klay’s book contains stories of relationships at home falling apart all the way to the high stress of patrols as Marines. With these stories it better shows the unseen horrors

Employee Life Cycle-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Human Resousce Management-Employee Life Cycle. Answer: Introduction Human resource management Human resource management is an approach that aims at studying the behaviour of employees in a working environment and taking all the necessary steps that can help in improving the work conditions for them and achieve higher efficiency and productivity. Human resource management helps in optimisation of the workforce performance levels by improving the work conditions and by establishing strong relations between employers and employees (Hendry, 2012). Employee life cycle The employee life cycle, commonly known as ELC, is a popular model under the management of human resources that divides the career of employees into different stages so that they can be guided and can be managed by the management while walking on their career paths (Rouse, n.d.). The different stages in an employee life cycle are listed below: Recruitment Onboarding Orientation Career planning Career development Termination The above stages are the most commonly accepted stages accepted under the employee lifecycle model but the stages can vary from company to company or from managers to managers. For example, some companies might consider onboarding and orientation as one stage and use specific stages, such as talent development and retention in place of career development. Company Background ABC Hotel Pvt. Ltd. is a hotel based in Sydney that was started in 1992 by an Australian. The hotel started as a small hotel that offered some basic amenities and around 30 rooms to its guests and has grown to become one of the most reputed hotels in the location. The hotel now offers all the amenities that a five-star resort is bound to offer and has 10 luxury suites, 12 cottages and 30 luxury rooms. The hotel has a workforce of around 800 staff members that handle different operations of the hotel, such as laundry, housekeeping, services, food, reservations, etc. The excellent managerial skills of the human resource management department of the ABC Hotels Pvt. Ltd. has proven to be one of the key factors that has helped the company in growing at such a faster pace and in becoming one of the top hotels in Sydney. This report has been prepared to gain a better understanding of the employee life cycle and how the hotel management can adopt some of the best practices that can contribut e more towards the success of the hotel. Best human resource management practices Some of the best practices that the human resource management of ABC Hotel can undertake to ensure better understanding and execution of employee life cycle stages are discussed below: Recruitment and selection Recruitment and selection is defined as the process of forecasting job vacancies or the human resource requirements in the near future, inviting applications by advertising the identified human resource demands and selecting the right candidates to fulfil the demand identified (Newell, 2005). Some of the best practices that the hotel management can use to make their recruitment and selection stages more effective are discussed below: First of all, to fill up the higher level human resource demands, the hotel management should always go for internal recruitment methods as it will help them in keeping the employees engaged and selecting potential candidates from an existing workforce who have already blended into the organisational culture and have an experience in the industry. Secondly, wherever internal recruitment is not possible, the hotel management should adopt external recruitment strategies such as employee referrals and job portals. In hospitality industry, it is very important that the employees are experienced and can deal with practical issues within real time (Reddy, n.d.). Using employee referrals and job portals will allow the hotel management in making the recruitment and selection process easier, cheaper and more effective because online job portals will provide greater details about the candidates while employee referrals are highly accurate. Further, employee referrals can also help in keeping the existing workforce engaged. Lastly, the hotel management should standardise a selection process for every field in which they operate, such as housekeeping, room service, etc. The hotel management can include simulation tests, case study tests, mock tests, etc. to test the practical problem solving ability of the candidates, which is of utmost importance in the hospitality industry (Sullivan, 2006). Orientation and onboarding Onboarding or orientation is a process that helps business organisations in introducing the new employees to the workplace environment, which in turn helps the new employees in adopting to the new conditions and dealing with their anxiety levels. Orientation and onboarding processes are a necessity because new employees need time to adjust in a new environment, which would otherwise lead to reduced performance levels and lack of job satisfaction (O'Toole, 2016). Some of the best practices that can help the management of ABC Hotel in strengthening its orientation and onboarding processes are discussed below: First of all, to ensure effective orientation and onboarding of new recruits, the hotel management should make it a necessity for the new employees to take an entire tour of the hotel and get to know more about it. Further, the new employees should should also be introduced with the work operations and the processes of the hotel during the guided tour or in a separate introduction presentation. The management should welcome them on their first day and make it memorable for them so that they feel motivated and look forward to working with the hotel. Secondly, the new employees should be made clear about the expectations of the employers and should be handed papers that have a detailed account of all their job duties and responsibilities (Halvorson, 2015). The employers or the management should also introduce the new employees with the work culture and customs of the hotel so that they do not end up doing something wrong or offending somebody unintentionally. Thirdly, the management can divide the new employees into different teams and can assign a mentor to them. A mentor will act as an experienced and trusted advisor to the new recruits and the new recruits will be able to reach out to their respective mentors in case they are unable to carry out their job duties or responsibilities properly. The mentors will also be helpful in keeping a continuous check on the progress that the new recruits make in the workplace. Employee services Employee services can be defined as anything that the employer feels are necessary to provide as a perk to the employees who are working for their companies. In the real world, there is no limit to the employee services or the perks that the employers can offer to their employees in exchange of their services. Employee services can be a burden on the profitability of a company as it can bring about an increase in the operational costs (Lewis, n.d.). Therefore, it is must that the employee services are carefully planned and managed to avoid wastage of resources and still be able to keep the employees motivated and satisfied with their jobs. Some best practices that the ABC Hotel management can implement to increase the effectiveness of their employee service program are discussed below: First of all, the hotel management should carefully design the perks in such a way that they are in accordance with the culture of the hotel or the industry in which the company is operating. The benefits of such practices will not only be in favour of the employees but even the employers can reap the benefits in terms of reduced turnover rates, greater productivity, etc. (Principal, n.d.) Secondly, showing concern about the health of the employees can help the hotel management in gaining their trust and long term loyalty. The hotel management can invest in employee health insurance plans, which is one of the best perks that the employees require. It will help the hotel management in keeping the employees motivated and in optimising their performance levels, while the rate of employee absenteeism will also decrease. Performance management Performance management is an approach that allows business organisations in bringing the employers and employees together to plan, monitor and review the performance objectives of the entire workforce. Using performance management programs, it becomes easier for the companies to identify the gaps between actual performance levels and expected performance levels (Heathfield, 2016). Some of the best practices that can help ABC Hotel management in strengthening their performance management strategies are discussed below: First of all, a continuous and systematic system of performance management system should be implemented in the hotel so that a performance oriented environment can be established in the workplace. It is also important that the performance management system is practical and intends to measure the right behaviour in the employees because dysfunctional performance management systems can cause more damage to a company than the possible benefits of an efficient performance management system (Bruce, 2012). Secondly, performance appraisals should be combined with the performance management system so that the employees who contribute towards the fulfilment of organisational goals and objectives can be adequately be rewarded for their efforts and the behaviour of those employees who fail to meet their performance objectives can be corrected. Thus, performance management practices will help the employers in keeping the employees motivated and more inclined towards performing better to achieve recognition and rewards associated with the performance management systems. Transitions This is the last stage in the employee life cycle in which an employee either leaves the organisation due to retirement or is fired/terminated by the management due to any reason. Transition is the end of an employees relation with an employer and it is important that it is done in the right way to avoid a bad name in the market as an employer. Some of the best practices that can help the hotel in strengthening their transition strategies are discussed below: First of all, the hotel management should provide a compensation, which can be in terms of retirement plans, to the outgoing employees for the services that they have offered in their careers (Fallon, 2015). Secondly, the hotel management should also ensure that the outgoing employees fill up a detailed survey about their work experience while they were working in the company and any recommendations that they would like to provide for the betterment of the workplace. Such feedback can help the company in improving the work environment for their employees in the future and deal with those problems that the outgoing employees had faced during their working period in the hotel. Thirdly, the hotel management should ensure that there are no unfair dismissals and the employees being fired or terminated should be done only in accordance with the law. Terminating or firing any employee illegally can lead to legal troubles for the hotel management and it will lose its reputation in the market as an employer as well. Thus, such actions in the transition stage should be clearly avoided by the management of the hotel. Findings The best practices discussed above have proved to be very efficient in the past and can greatly help a business organisation in strengthening their human resource management strategies, which would ultimately lead to a happier and a performance oriented workforce. Thus, the management of ABC Hotel should take the above practices into their consideration and implement them wherever possible. Conclusion The management of human resources is easier said than done. It takes a lot of experience and professionalism to manage the human resources properly and to keep them motivated to perform better. The stages involved in the employee life cycle can help business organisations in getting a better view of what all the employees are to go through in their career paths and the managers can target these stages individually to ensure proper management of the human resources. References Rouse, M. (n.d.). employee life cycle . Retrieved August 1, 2017, from searchfinancialapplications.techtarget.com: https://searchfinancialapplications.techtarget.com/definition/employee-life-cycle Hendry, C. (2012). Human Resource Management. Routledge. Newell, S. (2005). Recruitment and selection. In S. 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