Quitting a Job

In today's world of enormous employment opportunities, we read a lot about sacking, quitting, shifting, shuffling, rotating, attrition, recruitment and so many jargons. The recruitment has become one of the key functions required in a company today. The HR function has been redefined to a large extent now, from a level of getting reduced to handle only IR issues.

Although there are number of new opportunities coming up every day, most of the recruitments are a result of existing vacancies. I would say more than three quarters of the recruitments are in this category and the number may be higher who knows.

There was a time when the job security was considered of paramount importance. Not so long ago, it was perceived that a person has to have a job that will last till his retirement at the age of 60. He was not socially accepted if he did not have that kind of job.

But in the current generation, may be due to the abundant opportunities available, people tend not to stay in an organization for a longer period of time. With every movement, the employee tends to grow, in pay as well as position.

Factors influencing this decision in an employee can be put into two broad classifications, viz., External Pull and Internal Push. External Pull is the one where a better prospect pulls an employee from outside and forces him to leave his current job. Even this pulling in most cases happen because the employee is registered in a job site or with a job consultant whereby he gets to know the existence of the pull. The pull is the result of the advertisement the employee has given for himself after making up his mind to leave the current job.

The major factor, according to me, is the push from inside and here I have tried to analyse and ponder upon various factors causing this push. These are not ranked and it will vary upon case to case. So friends, read on:

1.Job Satisfaction

Either the Employee is not satisfied about the job or the Employer is not satisfied. In both cases, there is a sense of non-performance building in the employee. This in some cases even arises from the Employee not being clear on his deliverables.

2.Inferior Superior

If an Employee is reporting to a person who is inferior to his competencies, in action, he develops an irritation for the superior, which in turn reflects on his activities. He either tries to over-do his job to thrive on his superiority or under performs to cope with the Superior. In both cases over a period it ends up on “Job Satisfaction” described above.

3.Superior Sub-ordinate

In the above case, let us look at it from the Superior Employees perspective. When the Sub-ordinate over does his job, he becomes a point of laughter and when the Sub-ordinate under performs, his performance also comes under question. He again gets into job dissatisfaction mode.

4.Pay - Need Mismatch

With family and responsibility growth, a person tends to need more money with age. However, with age and monotony, his performance tends to decrease over a period of time. At this juncture, it would be more apt for the employee to find a new job with his experience where in the new set up he gets more recognition and reward for his work. He also gets rejuvenated with his new tasks.

5.Pay - Work Mismatch

It is a general phenomenon, when you look at the organizational ladder; more work gets you less pay and more pay means less work. This when becomes very apparent and obvious to every one’s eyes, at both ends, it necessitates quitting.

6.Business Performance

When a business is on its recession trend, there is a general tendency for most employees to leave. Naturally, no one would like to travel in a sinking ship. Even the management, given a choice, would like to quit under such circumstances.

7.Work - Life Imbalance

This is a serious jeopardy in current generation. Some tend to forget that they have a life and family in running for work cause. This over a period develops an imbalance in life. This leads to huge mental trauma and after realizing often there is no opportunity to change the work style. On the other side, if there is a person who is not utlised to his potential, even if paid heftily, also tends to look for a change in order to protect his skills and capabilities.

8.Work Culture

This is the existing work culture in the organization and the policies of the company. If the employee is not able to fit into this and if this culture is not able to absorb the employee, then he thinks of quitting.

Conclusion

As management, whenever an employee calls it quit, whatever be the reason attributed by him, you better get into an introspection as to what might have made him to look for option and rectify it so that at least the remaining talent is held together for the betterment of the organization.

Train

When I went for my vacation, I went by Train.
We boarded train in Railway Station.
We wait in the platform.
Trains run on the rails.
Train stops for red signal.
Train starts for green signal.
Train was very long.
It had an engine and many coaches.
Train has seats for sitting and berth for sleeping.
Train will have one driver and one guard.
Our ticket is verified by Ticket examiner.
We can get water, cool drinks, biscuits, fruits, food and books in railway station
At railway gate, cars and buses stop for train.
Only after train goes, other vehicles can go.
There are goods trains and passenger trains.
There are steam engines trains, diesel engine trains and electric trains.
There are express trains, super fast trains, mail trains and passenger trains

I would tell more about train after my next travel.

Maslow’s Theory on Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow has classified the human needs and put them in a hierarchy. Let me try to understand and explain his theory in my own thinking.

Firstly, I will take it away from Organisational perspective. It fits into and gives a clear representation of human livelihood. This applies to any living being under the sky and no single being can escape this classification. The needs vary from person to person. So does this classification. Although this classification shall fit to any human, it varies from person to person, in the sense that, what might be a safety need to a person shall be an esteem need to another person, or social need of one person may be a safety need for another. It depends on how one looks at it.

Also, when a person goes up the ladder, the needs at the bottom of the table undergo a sea change. The theory is represented in pyramid; only when the base becomes big enough you can climb up. In other words, only when the physiological needs are satisfied you think of safety needs.

Physiological Needs:

These are the basic for the livelihood of a being. The primary and foremost requirements are air, water, food, and so on…

These are the needs of the body or the physiology and are not in absolute control of a being. In other words, whether you want or not, you have to have air without which a person cannot survive. Similarly with water and food.

However, even these things can be brought under one’s control through constant practice. There are people who control their breath to control the need of air for the livelihood. There are certain people whose food requirements is barely anything. This is achieved over a long period of time through controlled practice.

Nonetheless, there is no being in the world that can totally escape the physiological needs. Even if it is controlled or restricted, the need is essential.

Safety Needs:

Once your physiological needs are satisfied and your living is assured, you have to look for keeping up that assurance; for today and tomorrow too. These are the boundaries you put around your basic needs to make one feel secured. The primary purpose is to protect the continuity and consistency of getting physiological needs satisfied. Now when a person leaving by the roadside and eats whatever he gets, would classify food as a physiological need and a place to live as a safety need and for him a compound walled bunglow will fall under social need. When he get a work and starts earning daily, he makes a shelter for himself, then when he continues to work and earn regularly, he looks for a proper house to live. In addition, now he looks for a wife and family and wants to provide them the best and safe place of stay. Now this house becomes a basic need for him.

Social Needs:

Man is a Social Animal. He has to live in groups. The groups called Society. To be part of and be accepted, in the society, he has to have a few things. For instance, the way you dress depends entirely on the society you live in. If you live in a village as a farmer, you can live with basic dhoti. However, if you are a bank manager, you have to wear neat trousers, shirts and tie.

Man lives for and with Social acceptance

Esteem Needs :

If you are working in a large company in a senior position, if you commute by Public Transport, you will be seen as a miserly creature. If you go by a two wheeler, you are accepted but not respected. If you go by a Car, you are respected.

The means for having a car is definitely there for this executive. But look at the need perspective. Even if he doesn't need the car, for social reasons, he has to have it.

Self Actualisation:

After you get satisfied with all the above needs, you finally look up and look back at what you actually yearn for. Every time you have a target, you achieve it. Every time you achieve a target, you set the next target. Finally what is that you are running for. There should be something to satisfy the self. I am not getting into any spiritual/philosophical note. As is seen in one Insurance Company visual, a man foregoes swimming as a kid, for his father. Then his self respect in the office for his wife. Then a comfort of a car for his kids. When he retires from work, he goes back to his childhood and jumps into water for swimming.

Then what is that we are running for. As per Maslow, one has to get into this thinking, only after climbing up the ladder on the heirarchy of needs.

Conclusion:

Look at where you are, plan what next, think where you want to be and be successful in life. Be Happy

Palindrome

The word palindrome is derived from the Greek palíndromos, meaning running back again (palín = AGAIN + drom–, drameîn = RUN). A palindrome is a word or phrase, which reads the same in both directions.

Some Examples are,

EYE

DEED

LEVEL

RACECAR

LIVE EVIL

REDIVIDER

DENNIS SINNED

NEVER ODD OR EVEN

NO TRACE; NOT ONE CARTON

Panama Palindrome

A MAN, A PLAN, A CANAL – PANAMA

A MAN, A PLAN, A CAT, A CANAL – PANAMA

A MAN, A PLAN, A CAM, A YAK, A YAM, A CAT, A CANAL – PANAMA

A MAN, A PLAN, A CAT, A HAM, A YAK, A YAM, A HAT, A CANAL – PANAMA

Value Added Tax

In the year 2005, when VAT was to be implemented, i made this write up... still most of it would be useful...

History of VAT

·VAT was first introduced in France in 1954.
·It was primarily aimed at simplification of commodity taxes
·More than 130 countries in the world have adopted VAT system
·Out of the bigger countries, except India and USA almost all the nations have adopted VAT
·All over the world VAT is levied on both goods and services
·Compliance system in VAT Nations is very simple with minimum interface between taxpayer and the tax collector. However, non compliance involves very high penalty

VAT in India

·When reforms started in 1991, National Institute of Public Finance & Policy (NIPFP) studied the indirect structure and recommended VAT system to replace CST / LST system
·In 1994, Empowered Committee of All States’ Finance Ministers constituted for successful launch VAT System in India
·The Empowered Committee has accomplished the following :
a)Abolition of incentive schemes in sales tax effective 01/01/2000
b)Uniform rates of tax for almost all major commodities
c)Compensation towards loss of revenue to the states
d)Implementation of VAT by the states from 01/04/2005
e)Phasing out plan for CST

Proposed Tax System

By the Central Government

·Excise Duty – Cenvat System
·Service Tax – Cenvat System

Through Indian Goods & Services Tax Act (Central – GST) (Dr.Kelkar committee report)

By the State Governments

·VAT to replace present state taxes like sales tax, works contract tax, lease tax, turnover tax etc. However, levies like Octroi not within the jurisdiction of Central or State Governments would not be replaced by VAT immediately
Through State Goods and Services Tax Act (State GST) (Merger of all state taxes and service tax levy by the state

Note : On the same goods or services the Central Government would levy Central GST and States would levy State GST

Constitution and Sales Tax

·The Constitution of India empowers State / Central Governments to levy, collect and retain sales tax and sales tax is the largest source of revenue for States.
·Sales Tax is a tax on sale of movable goods, i.e., the transaction should involve, sale (transfer of title), goods, which are movable.
·Movement of goods decides the tax collectors entitlement
·The Central Sales Tax is collected by State of despatch and also retained by it and the administration of CST is delegated to the States
·Imports, Exports and Sales in the course of imports / exports are exempted from sales tax

How the VAT system works

·VAT is a system of taxation of local sales tax
·It is a multipoint tax system with set off available for tax paid on corresponding purchases
·Full tax is collected at each transaction but paid on the value added portions only. Hence it is called value added tax.
·Since the input tax burden is nullified, there is no cascading effect in the supply chain.
·The tax is ultimately levied on the final consumption and is fully borne by the final consumer

Design of VAT (To be implemented from 01/04/2005)

·No resale concept, i.e., all the sales is taxable and fully taxable.
·All local declaration forms which allow concessional rates or tax free purchase withdrawn
·Uniform tax rates across states on the commodities
o Essential Commodities – Nil
States empowered to have flexibility in deciding exemption for some items
o Raw Material and Industrial Inputs – 4%
This will include medicines, capital goods, IT Goods etc
o Residuary rate – 12.5%
This covers those items which have not been specified in the above two categories
·Gold and silver articles would carry 1% and Liquor etc would carry 20% as per the existing tax structure. Also for HSD, Petrol, ATF the current tax structure would continue in 05-06
·If any State decide to levy entry tax, that will also be Vatable
·4% tax (Current CST Equivalent) retention by the State Government on Local Inputs when the corresponding Finished Goods are transferred to Outside the State. This is to ensure smooth transition from CST regime (where the State Government enjoys retention of tax on Interstate Sale) to VAT regime. By this process full input tax credit would not be allowed to manufacturers on interstate sales / transfers till CST rate becomes Nil)
·Carry forward of VAT balance is allowed for a period between 24 months to 36 months as the States may deem fit.

Incentives Schemes under VAT Regime

·No exemption scheme would continue. States to decide on conversion of exemption scheme to deferral scheme
·Considering the Interest of the Incentive Units, States to redesign the Incentive schemes so that no VAT design is disturbed
·There is a composition scheme which allows Traders / Retailers having annual turnover of less than 50 Lakhs to pay a composite tax of 1% of the turnover and stay out of VAT chain. These traders are not allowed to issue VAT invoice

Tax Invoice

·VAT / CST Registration (Tax Identification No – TIN)
·Any declaration, if prescribed, under the Local VAT Act
·Local sales tax (VAT) should be separately charged
·Input tax credit would be allowed only on the basis of the Tax invoice from the seller

Comparison of Current Sales Tax and Proposed VAT Systems

Present – State Sales Tax Design
Proposed VAT Design
Single Point System of Tax – No Tax on resale
Multipoint system of Tax with set off available on corresponding purchase. No resales.
Forms for concessional tax rates
No local declaration forms or concessions
Many tax rates – TOT, SC, Resale tax, Cess etc.,
Only 3 basic rates
No composition scheme
Optional composition scheme for small traders
Separate Acts for different types of taxes, viz., Works Contracts, Lease, Entry etc.,
All are covered under one State VAT Act
No defined invoice controlling tax flow
Mandatory tax invoice
Concession Forms for Input purchases to manufacturers – Net Burden 3 – 5 %
Full input tax credit available – Net Burden 0 – 4 %
No sales tax on AED Products viz., textiles, sugar, tobacco etc
AED Products not covered under VAT system
Annual Assessments
Periodical Sampled Compliance Audit

Important Areas – Vague issues under VAT System

·Discounts
·Sales Returns
·Free Samples / Gifts
·Unregistered Dealer Purchases
·Closing stock as on 31/03/2005
·Set Off on Capital Purchases and Capital Goods definition
·Overlap of VAT and Service tax in
o Job works / Labour Jobs
o Outsourced Jobs
o AMCs, Erecition & Commissioning, Authorised Service Stations

Documentation / Records under VAT

·Tax Invoice
·Purchase Register
·Sales Register
·Identification Register for Traders
·VAT Registration Certificate
Any State Specific record prescribed, if any.

Proper Tax Planning

·Till phasing out of CST
o Interstate purchases would not be vattable and hence will have negative impact
o Stock transfer would not be eligible for input VAT and hence will have negative impact
o The best scenario would be to have 100% Inputs locally purchased and 100% of sales from the manufacturing location
·Post CST Phase out
o All the negative impact listed above would stand rectified
o Undisturbed flow of VAT across the value chain would get established and would work in line with the current Excise Cenvat System

Conclusion

·In spite of all the guidelines and procedures, if VAT embraces industry specific anomalies similar to those in the current Excise Structure, abnormalities in those industries would persist.
·With implementation pending in some states, Industries are not properly placed to adopt the benefits of VAT structure yet.Without phasing out the CST effect, VAT would not be available to the industries in its entirety.

Technological link to ancient science

This topic is to discuss about how science and technology has proven so many facts, which originated as fiction or passed through somebody’s mind as a dream.

Let us begin with a sneak peek into the understanding of what is science and technology.

Science is the effort to discover, and increase understanding on what and how everything works, through controlled methods and use of observable physical evidence, collect data, and analyze this information to explain. Knowledge in science is gained through research.

Technology is a broad concept that deals with a species' usage and knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects a species' ability to control and adapt to its environment. Though a strict definition is elusive; "technology" can refer to material objects of use to humanity, such as machines, hardware or utensils, but can also encompass broader themes, including systems, methods of organization, and techniques.

With this let us move into the works of fiction that were proven later in Science and Technology.

Let me first talk about Astronomy, one of the oldest sciences and with everlasting discovery even today. As late as 1930 our science was talking about 8 planets and our great scientists went on with discovery of 9th planet, Pluto. However, in 2006, when for the first time the term “planet” was defined, Pluto did not fit into the definition.

In Contrast, Indian Mythology was talking about 9 planets or navagrahas, which dates back to unknown times. This number includes the Sun and the Moon. So restricting planets to seven. Now adding earth to it makes it eight which is now accepted by our astronomers. Not only was there a matching of numbers but also the characteristics defined.

For instance, planet Mercury, termed “Chevvai” in Mythology is defined as the most fuming planet and we see in our science that it as the closest to the Sun and stay at highest temperature.
Here methodology described in astrology is the very same as the technology proved in astronomy

Secondly, In Ramayana, Ravana was using an air bound vehicle called ‘Pushpakavimanam’. Consider Ramayana a mythology, which is believed to have been written by Valmiki around 4th Century BC. Since then there are evidences of kite flying used as a punishment in China around 5th Century AD. There are evidences of desire to fly in many paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci, who lived in 15th Century. But actual efforts for flight were taking place only as late as 18th Century.

The wright brothers made the first most successful record of flying only in the 20th Century.

In this case, although the concept of flight was evident in the Ramayana, the technology used in modern flying is different.

Moving on to the next great epic of India, The Mahabaratha, in which Kunthi’s gave birth to all her 6 Children by non conventional methods.

In the late 20th Century all of us had the shock or may be surprise of our lives when we came to know about the IVF or more commonly termed as test tube babies. Today any of the three major requirements of pregnancy, Sperm, Egg, Uterus can be provided by a third person and the person providing it need not even be known to the owner of the process.

In Mahabaratha, which is believed to have been writted in 9th Century BC, the Heroes, Pandavas and their step brother Karna were given birth by Kunti through a boon obtained from The God.

There is no reference of any technology in Mahabaratha. However, when we see that there is an unconventional method of child birth, that sparks discoveries by our technologists.

Also there are so many aspects in our ancient literature, accepted now, Ayurveda and Yoga to name a few.

Though there are so many proven facts from the mythology or literature, which gets proven by our Science, there are still a lot of unexplored avenues that might be of great use to the human community. Let me share some of the areas of my interest where there has not been much of proof to believe the myths and fiction.

The 27 stars named in Hindu mythology or even in the Tamil Calendar. The existence of these and reason for mythology to leave out so many other stars that we see on sky.

The physical qualities described for the ancient sages in controlling the mind and body and the resultant exhibition of the powers called Sithu

A super human creation or may be a robot, matching a Hanuman from Ramayana or more recent fantasy Superman or He-Man.

Witchcraft or Wizardry as depicted by Ms Rowling in Harry Potter Series

To concur with the definition of Science and what Tirukural Says, unless there is proof of fact supported by data analysed in proper method, nothing is true. It should be our endeavor to know how and know why for so many things that we see, hear or read.
As Dr.Abdul Kalam said, you have to dream before your dreams come true, any invention starts as a dream.