Is Severance Pay Required?

Severance Pay Required

While no law or widely accepted rule dictates that companies must pay severance packages to employees who are terminated, many employers do so as a way of showing respect and minimizing the impact on morale of firing an employee. Severance packages typically include a combination of money and benefits, such as unused vacation and sick time, stock options and even company equipment, such as laptops or cell phones. However, companies must be careful to create a consistent policy and apply it fairly to avoid any claims of discrimination.

Severance packages can also help employees cover expenses related to job hunting and moving to a new job, such as continued health insurance, professional licenses, unused vacation and holiday pay, and/or relocation fees. They can also be used to cover severance costs associated with a merger or acquisition. In addition, severance packages may offer additional benefits such as career consultation services, paid time off, or outplacement assistance to assist with finding a new job.

The amount of severance pay is often tied to an employee’s length of service. However, it is important that companies be careful not to provide severance packages that may violate laws prohibiting age discrimination or other types of illegal treatment.

Is Severance Pay Required?

Moreover, companies can face legal action from employees who feel they were treated unfairly, particularly when they are fired for poor performance or other reasons that do not qualify as valid grounds for termination. A severance package could also contain provisions that prevent the departing employee from working for a competitor or engaging in negative publicity, which could run afoul of state and federal employment laws. Therefore, it is important to consult with a New York severance agreement lawyer to ensure that any severance agreement does not violate the law.

Severance pay is not required by law for most people, although companies do have to follow the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) when conducting mass layoffs. This requires a 60-day notice period and full pay for the last 30 days of employment. In some states, such as California and New Jersey, severance pay lawyer is mandatory for employees laid off as part of a mass layoff or closure.

While severance pay is not required, it can be an effective tool to retain top talent and promote loyalty. It can also be a good way to protect a company’s reputation, especially when employees are let go for legitimate, unavoidable and justified reasons.

Severance payments should not be confused with bonuses that are based on performance, which are considered wages and may disqualify an employee from receiving unemployment benefits. In those cases, the bonus is usually pro-rated and only a portion of it is lost upon termination. Nevertheless, this can be difficult to determine, and an experienced employment lawyer can assess an employee’s case for unemployment benefits and any severance payments in light of the WARN Act or other relevant laws. An attorney can also assess whether or not severance pay is taxable income.

What is the Average Bail Amount in California?

Average Bail Amount in California

Navigating the legal system after an arrest can be frightening and confusing. The stress of the situation can be compounded by financial factors, such as the cost of bail. Bail is the amount of money required to guarantee that a defendant will appear in court when they are supposed to, but many people find that they cannot afford to pay the amount and are forced to remain in jail until their case is resolved. This can have negative implications for a person, including loss of employment and housing, and can disproportionately affect communities of color.

There is no set answer to this question, as the amount of bail varies greatly depending on the crime charged. Generally speaking, a lower-level crime will carry a smaller bond amount than a higher-level charge. In addition, the person’s criminal history and individual circumstances may play a role in the court’s decision to grant or deny bail.

Additionally, the court will often consider whether a person poses a flight risk or is a danger to their family, community, and the public at large when setting bail. This factor can cause the judge to set a higher bail amount or, in some cases, not grant San Diego bail bonds at all.

What is the Average Bail Amount in California?

The bail amount can also vary by county, as every county has its own version of a bail schedule. This can impact a person’s ability to post bail, as the schedule is used as a guideline for what the court believes the average person will pay for each particular crime.

In some cases, the bond amount will increase or decrease depending on a person’s criminal history and other factors such as family obligations, employment status, and the severity of the charges. For example, a person who has been arrested for a domestic violence related crime will likely have their bail increased more than someone who is charged with burglary.

If the individual has a significant criminal history or a flight risk, they may be denied bail altogether and will be required to stay in jail until their trial date. However, if the charges are minor and the person has a great deal of ties to the community, they could be released on their own recognizance without having to pay any bail at all.

If a person does not have the money to pay their bail amount, they can opt to buy a bail bond. This is where a professional bail bondsman will post a percentage of the total bail amount on behalf of the accused, and in return, the person will pay a small premium to the bond seller.

This is not an option for everyone, though, as the fees can be quite high and require that a person sell valuable assets to cover the cost. A professional bail bondsman will help individuals understand the specifics of their case and can provide assistance in this regard. They can also offer payment plans, no interest financing with as little as zero down and other options to make the process more manageable.

Can Maui fire lawyers assist with cases involving injuries to firefighters?

Can Maui fire lawyers assist

In the aftermath of a wildfire, survivors must not only contend with the destruction of their homes and the loss of valuables. They may also lose their jobs, or experience serious health issues from the contaminated air. A Maui fire lawyer can help people obtain compensation from their insurance policies and the companies responsible for the disaster.

A lawsuit filed this week against the Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries alleges that HECO failed to heed National Weather Service warnings of high winds and fire danger in early August. It is alleged that the company failed to de-energize its power lines in anticipation of high winds and that this failure caused the fires that devastated the beautiful town of Lahaina.

The Maui fire lawyers also claims that the fires could have been prevented if HECO had followed an industry standard and proactively implemented Public Safety Power Shutoffs when weather conditions threatened the company’s infrastructure. It also claims that HECO’s negligence caused the fires to rage out of control, burning and destroying homes and businesses in a matter of minutes.

Can Maui fire lawyers assist with cases involving injuries to firefighters?

According to the lawsuit, the blazes destroyed numerous historic structures and caused severe losses to the town’s tourist economy. The county also suffered significant property and financial damage from the fires. The county’s chief of emergency management resigned earlier this month after defending the decision not to sound sirens as the fires raced toward residential areas.

Lawsuits against HECO are reminiscent of California’s response to the 2017 North Bay wildfires and 2018 Camp Fires, when large out-of-town law firms flooded Sonoma, Napa and Butte counties, signing up victims by the thousands and taking on electric utility juggernaut PG&E. Leka Anitema, whose mother lost her home in the Lahaina fires, hired Watts Guerra LLP, which opened a Santa Rosa office but is based in Texas, on her mother’s behalf. She said she has been told that the firm will take a 20 percent cut of any award.

wildfire lawyer

Other attorneys have been offering similar terms. Attorney Lance D. Collins has written to Hawaii Insurance Commissioner Gordon Ito asking him to call on insurers to pay 100% of their coverage limits for the loss of a survivor’s personal possessions and without demanding that they submit an itemized list of what was lost. He says requiring this paperwork is an unnecessary burden that survivors must bear while trying to rebuild their lives after the wildfires.

While it is unclear whether any of these legal challenges will succeed, the fact that some have already begun highlights the growing sense of urgency for those affected by the deadly Lahaina fires. Those who have been forced to leave their homes and are struggling to rebuild their lives must receive adequate compensation for the damages they have sustained. This can come from homeowners’ insurance policies and a successful Maui fire lawsuit against the companies that contributed to the tragedy. It is important to seek the advice of a Maui fire attorney as soon as possible.

Law of Attraction and Quantum Physics – 4 Keys to a Correct Manifestation

The Law of Attraction teaches us that thoughts are things. And that by focusing on our goals and dreams, we can attract those things. Quantum physics looks at how the world works at the subatomic or quantum level. Here is a linear way to understand the powerful connection between Quantum Physics and LOA.

1.newton

Sir Isaac Newton was based on Galileo’s idea that there was a large empty space and that it worked like a mechanical clock. We are familiar with Newton’s classical laws of physics, as a moving object tends to stay in motion. It conforms to our sensory experience of life. To move a rock you have to touch it in some way; A cannot affect B unless something also causes it. Newton’s cause-and-effect worldview seemed like an inflexible law and carried scientists into the 20th century. Then Einstein happened. Suddenly a new dawn came where everything was made of small packets of energy.

2.Einstein

It was Albert Einstein and his discovery that energy and matter (thought and manifestation, for some) can come and go, they are the same. He cracked the old Newtonian way of thinking and quantum physics was born. In essence, everything, including his thoughts, was shown to be either waves or particles of energy, depending on his perspective. Thoughts now had incredible power. But it wasn’t until the quantum worldview merged with the Law of Attraction that we saw the true potential to create reality.

3. Non-locality: perhaps the most profound scientific discovery

Nonlocality refers to the quantum mechanical notion that objects that are far apart in space have connections (or communicate) and can instantly affect each other. Einstein himself called nonlocality “spooky action at a distance.” Fritjof Capra, author of The Tao of Physics, states that “At the instant we make our measurement on particle 1, particle 2, which may be thousands of kilometers away, will acquire a definite spin along the chosen axis. How does particle 2 know which axis we have chosen?” Creepy indeed.

Now, regarding the Law of Attraction, imagine if you intentionally focus using a proven LOA system. The frequency of your thoughts can potentially communicate with other thoughts in your mind, the thoughts of others, and even the universe. This should be reason enough to speed up your LOA efforts.

4. Potential

Another quantum discovery was that quantum particles do not possess definite possessive qualities until the moment they are measured. In that sense, all the laws of atomic physics [and quantum physics] They are expressed as probabilities. Capra says: “At the subatomic level [quantum level also]matter does not exist with certainty in a definite place, but shows ‘tendencies to occur.’” This understanding, when applied to thought, leads one to see that he or she has infinite control over what can be influenced, moment by moment. Instead of the old idea that one thing must act on another, we see very clearly that thoughts and actions can affect the world instantly, across space. Your power to shape your reality is only limited by your imagination: your thoughts.

Conclusion

The purpose of understanding these ideas of Quantum Physics is twofold. First, they will help shift your conscious or non-conscious perception of the world from a Newtonian model of cause and effect to a world of unlimited potential. Second, you can embolden your Law of Attraction efforts with your new quantum understanding of how vibrational energy is in everything. There is no such thing as empty space, but infinite vibratory energy everywhere. Stars, humans, and even rocks are in a constant state of vibration. So we are always co-creating with our environment.

By embracing a quantum worldview, we allow ourselves to attract what we want into our lives, assuming we follow a proven system of the Law of Attraction. Although quantum physics teaches us a new way of looking at the universe, which is understood from our mind, of course the real focus should be on changing your thoughts. Reprogramming your non-conscious mind with new beliefs, thoughts and intentions changes your vibrational energy and subsequently you are acting in harmony with the universe and its quantum laws.

This requires a proven system and a master mastery of conscious and subconscious mind control.

How to prevent fraud in your small business

Most small business owners don’t even consider that their employees might be stealing from them until it’s too late.

The average small business fraud lasts 24 months and costs $200,000 by the time it’s discovered, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) 2008 Report to the Nation.

Three former employees of PBS&J, a Miami engineering firm, have pleaded guilty in federal court to their role in embezzling $36 million in a scheme that spanned more than 12 years. (According to a September 29, 2006 Miami Herald report.)

The average American business loses 7% of revenue (sales) due to fraud, more than the total profit at many small businesses. There are five main causes of a higher incidence of fraud in small businesses.

1. Trust. Small business owners tend to be closer to their employees, knowing them personally and from a business standpoint. For an employee to steal from you, you must trust him. Employees tend to be more trustworthy in small companies.

. Small workforce. With a small number of employees, many business owners believe controls are impossible. That’s not true. Even with a small number of employees, some controls can be implemented. Even a small number of checks can reduce the likelihood of fraud. For example, the ACFE report indicates that companies with a mandatory vacation/job rotation policy had 61% fewer losses due to fraud.

3. Lack of delegation. Small business owners tend to want to be in control. As a result, employees are hired, given a job, but the owner retains significant parts of the work for himself. As a result, there seem to be controls. Unfortunately, the owner has overloaded himself with too many tasks; and, as a result, they do a poor job of running them. For example, signing checks without thoroughly reviewing the documentation.

4. Overlapping and unclear job responsibilities. In a small business, it often seems like everyone is responsible for everything. If a job needs to be done, everyone is expected to pitch in. Unfortunately, this provides an opportunity for a dishonest person to bypass checks by being able to work in more than one part of the business.

5. Controls are not a priority. Finally, controls just don’t seem to be a priority for most small business owners. There is a pervasive “it can’t happen to me” attitude. Unfortunately, it can happen to you! Spending some money now to install a series of preventative controls should be seen as an investment (just like an insurance policy), not an expense. Like insurance, you hope you don’t need it, but if you do, the controls may be there to help you.

A former Home Depot employee pleaded guilty in a New York federal court to accepting millions of dollars in kickbacks from vendors to ensure the company stocked their products. He shared more than $2.5 million in leftovers with other company employees in a scheme that spanned three years. (According to a Reuters report on June 30, 2008.)

Prevention

1. Recognize the possibility that it could happen to you. Fraud against businesses is rampant and most employers don’t realize it until it’s too late.

2. Know the common indicators of fraud. There are many indicators of fraud. Business owners need to be aware of these red flags and be on the lookout for them. They do not always mean that fraud is taking place, but they do mean that more control may be necessary.

3. Review and strengthen internal controls and take other anti-fraud measures. There are many measures that have proven effective in reducing opportunities for fraud and providing deterrence. The business owner should be aware of the most common controls and other measures for their particular type of business.

4. As the business owner, take personal responsibility for ongoing follow-up. In a small business, the owner himself must accept responsibility for fraud efforts and control. Trusting an employee with this critical task can be a big mistake if that employee turns out to be a con artist. The ACFE Report also shows that the higher up a person is in the organization and the longer they have worked there (ie the more they are trusted), the more fraud they commit before being caught.

A 63-year-old man who worked as the Director of Financial Services for a nonprofit organization pleaded guilty in federal court to diverting more than $400,000 in incoming checks payable to the nonprofit organization to a fictitious bank account. (According to a report from the Washington Post on September 24, 2008.)

Where to get help

Internal audit. If you are a larger company, the first line of defense should be your internal audit department. Under Sarbanes-Oxley, public companies must have an internal audit report directly to a board committee. But even if it’s not a public company, internal audit should report directly to the top. The department with the most fraud incidents is accounting, so it generally doesn’t make sense to have internal audit within the accounting or finance functions.

company lawyer. It is important to actively involve the company’s legal counsel in any anti-fraud programs or investigations of suspected fraud. If you are a larger company, this should be your corporate council. If you are a smaller firm, you need a trusted outside attorney with experience in this area to guide your preventive and reactive actions.

external CPA. Many CPAs have been trained and have experience reviewing controls and recommending improvements. This can be a standalone task or will be done as part of an audit. Remember that accounting controls focus solely on the accounting system. Additional types of controls are needed in other areas to effectively reduce opportunities for fraud. It is important to understand that an accounting audit is not designed to find all fraud, nor is it likely to.

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). CFEs are specifically trained and experienced in the area of ​​fraud prevention and investigation. They may also have additional backgrounds in accounting, law enforcement, or other fields.

If you suspect fraud

When the owner (or manager) of a business suspects that an employee is stealing from the company; the most common reaction is emotional. He probably wants to call them into his office, confront them and fire him. In most cases, this reaction will only cause additional headaches and possible financial losses.

In general, it is best to withhold your suspicions until after you have consulted with a qualified professional and legal counsel. There are many possible issues to consider before deciding on a course of action.

Even if the employee actually stole from you (and we usually don’t know for sure yet), the legal system gives you numerous rights. Get professional help right away to avoid exposing yourself to potential liability.

Foreword

A hospital warehouse supervisor in Spokane, Washington, pleaded guilty in federal court to collecting more than $600,000 from his PayPal account by selling stolen hospital supplies on eBay. The fraud continued for more than three years. (According to a report from the seattle times on December 21, 2006.)

If you’re a business owner, the time to act is now, not after you’ve suffered a major loss. Go back to the four steps in the prevention section of this article and start implementing them now.

Not sure how to do it? The right professional assistance can be a wise investment.

As a final thought, remember that although checks can, in some cases, detect fraudsters; they cannot stop a determined thief. A robust and ongoing monitoring program is essential to detect fraud earlier, before it becomes a major loss.

Good luck in your business and in your fraud prevention efforts!

The secret to success is focus and perseverance

The secret to success is focus. It’s the one secret that ties everything together. According to the law of attraction, what you focus on is what you get. Therefore, when you focus on all the qualities of success, you attract them to you. The more actions you take to success, the more success you will experience. The success of anything you do starts with focus. That’s when you muster all your powers to achieve something. The focus is an act of will that is the faculty that governs everything.

When you sit down to do work that requires thinking, you may not get inspired at first. But when you focus on the job at hand, you will begin to attract thoughts about it that you can work on. Then those thoughts will attract more thoughts and before you know it, you’re in the flow. Each time you stop, continue to focus and you will find yourself moving again. This is the secret of creating from nothing. You draw all parts of the job together simply by using the power of focus.

Lack of focus is the reason for failure. When you’re procrastinating, hesitating, dragging and stopping, it’s because you’re focusing on the things that divert your attention from the things that contribute to your work. Focusing on the problems causes a lack of focus on the solution. Focusing on the negative causes a lack of focus on the positive aspects. Focusing on other things causes a lack of focus on the main thing. So if you want to achieve maximum and fastest results, keep an eye on the ball.

Perseverance is what you continually focus on. There are people who don’t persevere because they keep changing their focus. They think and act in a certain direction and then think and act in the opposite direction. Every time you move away from what you want, you erase the movement you have made towards it. So it’s not going to work if you keep moving towards what you want but also walk away often. True perseverance is staying in one direction most of the time until the end.

Many huge tasks seem impossible to tackle in one fell swoop. That is why many people do not undertake them. Only a few make it big. His secret is to work one step at a time. Think of it like trying to destroy a large rock. You can’t break it to pieces with a single blow if you’re using a small hammer. But if you keep breaking it down, you’ll start to see it crumble bit by bit over time, until it finally falls apart in many pieces before you. This is how your biggest dreams can come true.

Sometimes a lot of work is done for a long time but it seems that there are no results on the surface, that does not mean that nothing is being achieved. There is a species of Asian bamboo that, even after five years of watering, weeding, and fertilizing, is barely visible. Then, over a span of about six weeks, it grows from two and a half feet a day to ninety feet or more. It grows so fast that you can literally “hear” it grow. It was developing a massive root system that would later support its magnificent growth.

How quickly success comes depends on how much you focus in the right direction as opposed to how much you focus in the wrong direction. Focusing in the wrong direction is what causes doubt, fear, and worry. When you allow yourself to be distracted by other things that capture your mind, you will draw less power to do the work you are supposed to do. Therefore, it is important to get away from useless things as much as possible so that you become completely free and focused for optimal success.

When you tackle a task to the fullest, put other things off your mind. The more you allow your focus to drift, the slower you will be at achieving it. Stay in the frame of mind for the job as much as possible and you will keep moving forward with it. Focusing on doing what you do is how you practice putting the law of attraction into action. It is also how you develop and exercise your reality-creating powers. The greater your focus, the more successful you will be.

All power is mental power, and the secret of mental power lies in the power of concentration. Mental power is universal power that is fully available to all beings in the universe. But it is the quality of concentration that determines the various levels of manifestation of mental power among men. A gun loaded with a thimble of powder will make more force than a cannon burned in the open. A greater force is needed to overcome all other lesser forces. He who has a firm will shapes the world.

The focus is how you create the habits of success for yourself. The more you think thoughts and perform actions that create success, the more you attract similar thoughts and actions. Anytime you want to break the habits of failure, all you have to do is focus on the thoughts and actions that create success. It is difficult at first as the energies of current thoughts and actions will draw you in. But if you persist long enough, you’ll free yourself like a rocket escaping the planet’s gravitational field.

All this is for the development of your being. To experience success, you must be successful. You must be the qualities of success. Success is simply the result of the things that are accomplished. There are many requirements for something to be achieved. They are the qualities required to start, continue and perfect a process until completion. The work towards success is to develop focus, courage, wisdom, will, faith, flexibility and perseverance in you to experience who you are as a divine creator.

Health, safety and environmental management for the 21st century: my experience in Kazakhstan

Introduction

This article summarizes my experiences in developing a highly successful HSE (Health, Safety and Environmental Management) program within PetroKazakhstan (a Canadian owned oil company) which had very few HSE systems and programs before I arrived. In this document, I try to present as clear a picture as possible of where the organization PetroKazakhstan was when I arrived and what actions I took on the path to HSE success.

My arrival:

I had never been to Kazakhstan or any of the former Soviet republics before. I researched the country online and found that Kazakhstan was not the barren desert I had imagined, but a beautiful and diverse country with mountains and plains (called steppes) and even a part of the Caspian Sea, the largest freshwater lake in the world. PetroKazkhstan’s headquarters were located in Almaty, a beautiful city that was a mix of Asian and European architecture and culture.

My first day on the job was January 4, 2004. Like all new staff, I had to meet the people, understand the organization, and find a place to live. I rented a nice apartment in a perfect location called Samal 2. This area is close to the mountains and my apartment was next to RamStore, a mall with a grocery store which made my initial experience very pleasant. I only had a 2 minute walk to meet my needs.

The job:

My position, Director of HSE, was a new position reporting to the President. Previously, there was a Director of HSE and Training located in the oil field, but his role was primarily related to training. My first task was to go to the oil fields and see what was going on there and talk to people both in HSE and in operations. PetroKazakhstan (PK) had 2 main operating groups, one called PKKR, which was the oil producing side and the other called PKOP, the refinery. PK also had rail freight terminals, oil storage facilities, and retail gas stations.

My visits:

I had decided before leaving on my field visit that I would:

Get to know as many key people as possible and hopefully persuade them to tell me about HSE in their areas, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Visit oilfield operation sites and see for myself, assessing the hazards and the risk measures taken to control them.

Review company HSE policies and procedures.

Make a summary of the gaps I saw and evaluate the gaps vs. best HSE management systems in the industry

Our 10-point HSE plan (based on a gap analysis against industry leaders) included:

Improving HSE Management Leadership: We needed to understand how company managers/supervisors viewed their role in HSE. We then needed to develop workshops identifying the key HSE roles and responsibilities for managers and supervisors. Performance targets for HSE would be included in management’s Annual Performance Appraisal.

Incorporate risk assessment and management: Hazard identification training should be provided for all workers, as well as Introduction to Risk Management for all managers and supervisors.

Improve HSE Training – HSE training plans were not developed for each site based on risk. New training plans for workers based on risk needed to be developed, as well as training for supervisors on how to assess their workers on HSE performance.

Develop HSE systems for contractors: There were no HSE management systems for contractors. HSE programs for contractors were identified as a critical need. It was suggested that an experienced HSE specialist contractor be hired to start the programme.

Build Design Safety – PK had relied on EPC contractors to ensure design safety in the past. A “security by design plan” would require uniform security design procedures for all future EPC contracts. A key requirement would be a mandatory design safety plan.

Update Operations and Maintenance Plans – There were many gaps in operator training, as well as a lack of standard operating procedures (SOPs) on many key job tasks. A contractor was proposed to develop operator training and SOPs. Maintenance and integrity procedures needed to be reviewed and updated. A proposal for a computerized integrity maintenance system was suggested.

New reporting and documentation system: Various HSE reports are generated within PK, but not to uniform standards and not combined for review by senior management. A centralized and uniform HSE database and reporting system was proposed.

Improve crisis and emergency plans: In general, the emergency response plans were very good and complied with Kazakh law. However, PK lacked a corporate crisis management plan. We proposed that all local site emergency response plans be reviewed and updated and that workers be trained in accordance with these plans. The plans must also be translated into the two languages ​​used in the field, ie English and Russian. Hiring an experienced emergency response consultant to develop a Corporate Crisis Management Plan was seen as a logical way forward.

Renew incident investigation and prevention: Since there were no uniform accident investigation procedures or accident reporting forms, we proposed that new incident investigation procedures and forms be developed. Training would be provided to all environmental/safety engineers and supervisors on root cause analysis and accident investigation principles.

HSE System Assessment and Improvement: Plans for HSE system audits were to be developed that would review these 10 points annually and report the results to senior management.

What did we do first?

When faced with 25-30 gaps in the HSE system, what would you do first? I have always gone back to my basic core belief that you prioritize based on risk. This is what we did. For example, the refinery had no PPE (personal protective equipment) requirements, so we wrote a PPE regulation and began procuring PPE. At the same time, we secured a training company to come for PPE training. The accident reporting and investigation system was not a reliable indicator of accidents that occurred on the ground. Very few contractor accidents were reported and few supervisors knew how to complete an accident investigation form. The typical cause of an accident was “negligence.” The typical corrective action was to “send the wounded to the clinic.” The same accidents were repeated over and over again. We immediately reviewed the accident procedure and forms and then implemented an incident investigation training program. A fatal accident in February 2004 prompted me to review and update the Hot Work Permit system and start implementing HSE Management for Contractors. Until then, contractors were on their own as to how to get their job done. The fatal accident changed all that. We started by issuing senior management rules that all contractor activities would be overseen by a local site supervisor. We also changed the Permit system to require local site supervisors to sign off and audit the work. Meanwhile, the Permit system was reviewed and training provided.

On a broader scale, he knew that the company needed to understand its risks and how to manage them. I engaged a well-respected risk management company to perform a QRA (quantitative risk assessment) and update our Emergency Response System. The QRA would identify our core process and HSE risks and provide recommendations to reduce these risks. Our Emergency Response System was basically limited to what the Kazakhstan government required. We needed a corporate crisis management plan that would monitor and direct actions at the time of a major incident.

These necessary measures were fully endorsed by PK’s senior management and were fully supportive in ensuring that the 10 points for HSE success were implemented.

Summary and results

By the end of the first year, every phase of PetroKazakhstan’s HSE performance had improved significantly. The 10 elements of the PK HSE Safety Management System were implemented with better results in HSE, morale and productivity. The keys to PK’s HSE success were:

– Identification of HSE gaps vs. Industry Best Practices

Development of a “Fit for Purpose” HSE Management System

Senior management involvement and support

Measurement of HSE gaps, assessment of gaps with corrective actions taken

Celebrate HSE success often

Note: I handed over my HSE Director position to my Deputy HSE Director (a local Kazakh) after the end of the assignment year in December 2004. I left with the confidence that PK would become an industry leader in HSE. In August 2005, the China National Petroleum Corporation acquired PetroKazakhstan.

Study in Australia

Everyone talks about Australia as a great place to live or visit, but what about studying there?

Australia is one of the world’s leading providers of education and training. There are over 400,000 students from 200 countries studying in Australia each year!

There are several reasons why you should study in Australia.

Education in Australia is challenging and flexible. Australia is a safe, modern and dynamic country that is a leader in the Asia-Pacific region and plays an important role throughout the world. Australian education is also recognized around the world.

There are several reasons to choose Australia as an educational destination. Education in Australia is challenging and flexible, but most importantly it is internationally recognized and respected. Australia is a safe, modern and dynamic country, a leader in the Asia-Pacific region and playing an important role globally.

Here are some excellent reasons to study in Australia: a) Quality, b) Affordability, c) A well-rounded educational experience, d) Reputation and e) Safety

Quality

Australian institutions have an international reputation for excellence in all areas of education and training. In fact, Australia offers the world’s best practice in education and training quality assurance. The education system is subject to continuous checks and controls by government, industry and professional bodies to maintain and improve its already high standards. Several institutions in Australia are also ISO 9001 certified which guarantees the quality of service they provide.

Australian universities are widely recognized in many areas. In fact, the Times Higher Education rankings placed seven Australian universities in the top 100 universities in the world in 2006.

Australia has a reputation for creating and adopting new and innovative technologies. Australian universities have placed great importance on developing world-class research facilities and centers of excellence. This reputation has been confirmed with eight Australian researchers receiving Nobel prizes in different areas.

Finally, you will find that Australian graduates are very successful in getting jobs soon after graduation and developing successful careers around the world. When you study in Australia, you study programs that have often been developed in consultation with various industries. This ensures that the studies you undertake are relevant and meet the needs and requirements of the very companies and industries that are looking for highly qualified individuals with an internationally recognized qualification.

affordability

Living expenses and tuition fees in Australia are considerably cheaper than in other countries like the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The structure of the Australian education system is affordable and of high quality.

In addition, international students have the opportunity to work up to 20 hours a week informally during their studies and full-time during vacation periods, provided they hold a relevant work visa. This gives students the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and/or earn extra money to support themselves while in Australia.

A complete educational experience

Studying in Australia is a complete life experience!

International students in Australia, while undertaking their chosen study program, have the opportunity to enhance their studies by participating in the many extra-curricular activities offered by all Australian institutions.

Most Australian institutions incorporate internships, exchange programs and volunteer programs into the normal study programs to allow students to add value to their international study experience. In Australia, institutions know that companies are looking for graduates with a well-rounded profile, with international experience and an understanding of the world around them.

In addition, Australia’s multicultural perspective allows students to meet people from hundreds of countries around the world. Remember, there are students from over 200 countries studying at Australian institutions! Where in the world can you walk into a classroom and have the opportunity to network and make lifelong friends with people from all corners of the world?

Australia’s geographical location also allows you the ability to travel to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This is if you consider yourself a global citizen!

Reputation

Australia is a popular study destination for thousands of international students and has been for many years. During 2006, almost 400,000 international students from around the world studied in Australia.

Australian institutions are sensitive to cultural and religious needs and provide well-equipped, safe, welcoming and quality-assured services to international students studying in Australia.

Australian institutions have years of experience and knowledge in receiving and supporting international students and this is delivered through extensive support services. They place a lot of importance on making your experience in Australia as easy as possible and adapting quickly to your new environment. They will help you to the best of their ability to ensure that you enjoy your time in Australia and get the most out of your study experience. In fact, all Australian institutions are required to provide extensive student support services to their international students under Australian law.

We encourage you to visit each institution’s website to find out more about the services they provide to their students.

Security

The Australian government has put in place legislation to protect international students while they study in Australia. In Australia, you get the world’s most stringent protection for international students through the ‘Overseas Educational Services (ESOS) Act 2000’.

The ESOS Act is Australian legislation that regulates institutions that provide education to international students. ESOS Laws ensure that they meet consistent national standards in educational delivery, facilities and services. It also mandates a nationally consistent approach to registering education providers so that the quality of programs and associated support services offered to students remains high.

We invite you to learn more about Australia and don’t wait any longer for an extraordinary life experience!

Taking the first step to manifest what you want in life

We all know someone who seems to always make the best out of any situation. Someone who is capable of manifesting everything he could ever need or want in life, seemingly magically. How is it that these people can manifest a full and happy life and yet you seem challenged to do so?

You may think that person is just lucky, and you might even feel a little jealous. The truth is that they are out of luck. They just understand the concept of attraction and manifestation. And it’s time you learned it too.

Attracting wealth, prosperity and all the good things in life requires education. No, I’m not talking about sitting in the classroom. I’m talking about studying the Law of Attraction and practicing the act of manifestation. It may sound strange, but it’s something you can learn quite easily. You just need to consistently apply it to get good at it, just like any skill.

Some people seem to be naturally good at attracting abundance. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn to be good at it too. An important factor is believing that you deserve what you want so strongly that it becomes a part of your very being. It has nothing to do with luck. It’s about aligning yourself with what you want.

To get on the path of attracting everything you want in life, you must first understand the basics of the Law of Attraction.

Understanding how this law works is vitally important. It all starts with thought, which is the first step in manifestation. Those thoughts then affect the people and things that come into our lives, and also determine the actions we take. These things combined are the core of the manifestation process.

The Universe loves details. You must focus on the specific thing you want. Don’t just say “I want more money.” Focus on the exact amount you want.

The Universe loves speed too, so make sure you’re ready to act immediately when inspiration strikes. Being inspired to act and then doing nothing is unnatural and will cause you to reject exactly what you want to attract.

A quick note on the manifestation of money. Never, ever say you can’t afford something. In fact, eliminate the word “can’t” from your vocabulary entirely. When you say “I can’t,” your mind shuts off all ideas and inspiration, and you will never manifest what you want.

Manifesting the things you want and need in life is not difficult. You simply need to educate yourself, learn the basics of the Law of Attraction, and take consistent steps toward what you want. You will soon discover that manifestation is as easy as breathing.

Five movies to watch before you turn 30

Not all movies are the same. The beauty of creating and directing movies is the myriad of styles, themes, and messages that can be created. Some remain timeless and seem to become more relevant as time goes by. Others are just great movies that make you feel good about yourself, about life, and about the world you live in. Still, some capture the exact times in your life so directly and precisely that they leave you with a sense of nostalgia and excitement. No matter what movies you enjoy, there is something for everyone. Here are five movies to watch before you turn 30.

  1. Eternal glow of the mind without memories

This movie resonates with anyone who has fallen in love or been through a horrible breakup. After parting ways with her, Clementine, played by Kate Winslet, signs up for a procedure that will essentially erase all memories of her former lover Joel, who is played by Jim Carrey. After learning about this procedure, Joel decides that he too will undergo the procedure so that he can forget about her lost love as well. As the memories begin to fade, so does his identity and the connections they have made not only with their loved ones, but also with themselves.

  1. the breakfast club

For everyone who has ever struggled and survived their high school years, which is pretty much all of us, the Breakfast Club seems to hit the spot. This classic film captures the angst and discomfort high school students experience with identity, groups, and authority. When 5 high school students from different gangs come together for Saturday detention, each member gets the chance to tell their side of the story so the others can potentially see themselves in a different light. By the end of their detention, they have slightly changed in their view of themselves, others, and the school.

  1. The silence of the lambs

Although this movie seems to be well known for its terrifying villains and haunting subject matter, the movie is overall a nod to women’s equality. Clarice Sterling, played by Jody Foster, is one of the top students enrolled in the training academy at FBI headquarters. After a serial killer begins hunting down and capturing women to use as fur, Clarice is ordered to interview Hannibal Lector, played by Anthony Hopkins, to try to get insight into the case. As Clarice comes face to face with Hannibal’s manipulations, she realizes that he has her own plans and ideas regarding her and her own escape from her.

  1. The death poet Society

Robin Williams stars as John Keating, a teacher at an all-boys preparatory school who places a high value on obedience and abiding by his strict standards and tradition. Using his unique methods and relationship building, John is able to reach students who are struggling under intense pressure from their families and school authorities. With his guidance, students can develop the confidence to pursue their interests and challenge the concept of absolute obedience to authority.

  1. clueless

Though not as in-depth as many of the aforementioned movies, Clueless showed many what could be the world of rich, shallow, and socially quirky living in all its brutally honest and confrontational glory. Cher, played by Alicia Silverstone, is the boss of Beverly Hills high school until she encounters competition that forces her to reevaluate herself, her status, and her love life.

Watch any of these 5 movies for a great evening of fictional fun.