How to Handle Discrimination and Harassment Complaints

Most states have passed laws that require equal employment opportunity to people by prohibiting discrimination. Equal employment opportunity means giving people a chance to succeed. It is a principle that expresses the fundamental principle of fairness.

In accordance with state civil rights laws, employers in California try to adhere to discrimination and harassment laws and enforce similar policies in their workplaces. Not only as a matter of law enforcement but implementing these rules can save employers from lawsuit and avoid possible costly legal battle.

Here are guidelines on how employers should handle discrimination and harassment complaints:

o Investigate complaints right away – Employers should keep an open mind and initiate an investigation whenever a complaint is lodged. Investigate every complaint and complete it.

o Treat the complainant with understanding and concern – Show your concern to the complainant and take every complaint seriously. An employee who complains about discrimination will not escalate his case to a court or a government agency if you show genuine concern for the cause.

o Do not blame the complainant – Employers should remember that the complainant is the victim in a discrimination or harassment complaint. Employers should not blame nor begrudge employees who complain of unfair treatment in the workplace.

o Do not punish complainants – Employers should not threaten complainants with termination, discipline, suspension, demotion or pay cuts. It is against the law to retaliate and punish someone for complaining against discrimination and harassment.

o Follow employee handbook on procedures – When faced with discrimination complaints, follow the policy and procedures and proceed with the investigations.

o Educate yourself – Read and make a personal study of discrimination laws and issues. Consult your lawyer to enlighten you in some issues, if possible.

o Interview the involved people – To get a clear and better picture of an issue, it is best to ask the people involved in the incident. The first part is talking to the complainant and then the other people mentioned in the complaint.

o Look for other sources and clues for information on the complaint – Employers should not rely on the complainant’s words alone but should look for other sources of information.

o Keep the matter confidential – An employer should keep matters undisclosed until the investigation is not concluded.

o Take note of all things that happened in the meeting, including dates and places of interviews.

o Cooperate with government agencies during investigations – Employers are asked to helped government agencies when conducting investigations to show impartiality to the proceeding.

o Hire an experienced investigator to look into the matter – An employer can hire an outside investigator who is independent and reliable.

o Take appropriate actions against the culprit – Once investigation is finished and the problem is identified, take the necessary measure, document it and notify the accused.

California law also requires employers to post their companies’ discrimination policies in public view. The state law also requires all supervisors to take a two-hour training program every two years to prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation in the workplace. New supervisors are also asked to take the same training six months after hiring.

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Low Maintenance Gardening Does Not Mean Boring Gardening

Low maintenance gardens need not look like the bare type, not many plants, lots of rocks, paving, gravel etc. You can have a beautiful garden following a few principles. Choice of plants, type of plants, garden layout, mulching and a well thought out garden design.Planning a low maintenance garden is how you should start, with the planning. Visit your local nurseries, find out from your local council what plants are native to your area. These are usually the ones that will thrive for you for little effort on your part.Choice of plants.Today there is a wonderful variety of plants to choose from, to help with your low maintenance gardening. Drought tolerant and native plants should be your first consideration. These plants will require less attention from you, less attention means less garden maintenance.Start a reference file, write down all the plants that will be suitable for your area, then reference them either on the Internet or through garden plant books. Find a good garden book that will give you the expected growth height and width. This is very important to allow the growing room and deciding how densely you want the planting to be. The more densely a garden is planted the less moisture loss from the ground and so the less garden maintenance.Types of plantsAny plants that need pruning regularly, don’t go there. If it says quick growing, always check the estimated height and width, these can get out of control quickly. Annuals, vegetables and herbs are not what you call low maintenance gardening. Although in containers these can work well and the maintaining need not be great because of a small number. After all a low maintenance garden doesn’t mean no maintenance.Go for leaf structure, variegated, assortment of leaf sizes and colors. There are some wonderful plants in the drought tolerant range and these will be your low maintenance plants.Choose plants of various heights and go for mass plantings of the various types you choose.Garden layoutHow you set out your garden is so very important when planning a low maintenance garden. It is all in the garden design.The walkways, areas for seating, maybe outdoor dining under shady trees in summer and trees that lose their leaves in winter.Raking up leaves doesn’t sound like low maintenance but a leaf vacuum will take care of that for you and it is only once a year.Lawn areas should be kept to a minimum. Lawns do take much upkeep especially in summer. The use of pavers, gravels, even timber can add interest. Curves look better than straight lines for a more relaxed garden. Straight lines can make a garden look more formal.You can add contrast to your garden with the use of different textures. That’s where the use of pavers, gravels, pebbles and timber come into play. The use of large pots, raised garden beds, water features, a wall or trellis for a vine to climb on and if the garden is small, why not a mirror on a fence to reflect the plantings.Take the eye through from one area to another with the use of plantings to create interest and extend the garden. Cleverly designing your low maintenance garden will not have it look like a ‘low maintenance garden’ but a wonderful place to enjoy.Incorporate in your low maintenance garden design, things that are low maintenance, like pavers, gravel, pebbles, rocks etc but make sure you either have them professionally put down for you or learn how to do the jobs like the professionals. Everything is in the preparation, learn to do the tedious first and the end result will definitely be low maintenance.The same applies to your garden beds. There are some very good weed mattings available today and the garden mulches or pebbles are a must. Combine these two for low maintenance gardening, no weeds or very little in the way of weeds. Mass plantings will help stop weeds growing too, give plants some room to grow but keep them tighter than recommended. Be careful with ground covers as some of these can get out of hand too and become almost like a weed.Often times people water their gardens too much, that is, more than the plants require. I live in Australia and we have some long drought times. Our native plants thrive during summer when there is a drought. The ones that flower are just so beautiful during these drought times, many of them have massive amounts of flowers, unlike when there is adequate rainfall.Many of the cultivated plants and shrubs during our current drought are doing the same, very tough water restrictions, no hosing at all and they are flowering so much better than other years when the home owner has been able to hose the gardens. So it is obvious, we water our gardens more than many of our plants require.Color in the garden to add interestWhen you start looking at the plants that are available in the low maintenance area, you will find the colors and variations in the leaves. There are some wonderful plants, plants like crotons, cordylines, with the number of varieties available, they can add that splash of color against the green tonings of other plants.If you want to add more color, then the pot-o-color available today can do the trick. Even though they are annuals, the maintenance is virtually low as all the hard work in establishing the plants has been done for you.So you can see, low maintenance gardening need not be boring gardening. You can have a garden to enjoy without the labor, it is all in the how planning a low maintenance garden is done.

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Payday Loan Provider Help Cannot Mask A Leak For Long

Are you masking your personal debt problem with safe payday loan provider help? The sooner you take a real look at how debt affects your overall financial outlook, the less mess there will be to pick up. Once debt takes over, budgets struggle to manage everyday living expenses. Credit card use becomes part of the budget plan. When you borrow money to pay for household expenses, it’s time to reevaluate the current money situation.Too often, leaks are found within their budget. Everything looks good on paper so it comes as a shock when there isn’t enough money in the account to cover certain costs. Some households will end up using fast cash payday providers in order to bridge the gap until their next paycheck comes. Access to fast money helps make on-time payments. Once the bills are paid, the budget is left to carry on until the next problem occurs. This quick loan has just masked real trouble as a bump in the road. A person who takes care of the impending problem and then stops to ask themselves why it happened in the first place is taking necessary steps to prevent future problems. It doesn’t matter whether the budget leaks are slow or fast, the next problem is just around the corner. Add a payday loan payoff to the mix and your bank account will definitely struggle that much more.Time and money go hand in hand. Look at your pay cycle and divvy up the monthly costs. First thing is first. You have to get the short-term loan out of the way. What financial obligations are depending on your next paycheck? Is it possible to juggle one or more to a different pay cycle? Where will the money to cover the finance charge come from? It is now time to find the leak and plug it. You need every penny of that paycheck to make matters right. The payday loan direct provider expects it. You can’t afford not to get that emergency loan paid off quickly.It’s time to get real. Redefine budget categories and compare how much was budgeted verses how much was spent. How realistic is the budget plan? The initial step is to develop a money plan. The rest is not a step, but more of a continuous journey. Work and evaluate the plan every month. Money management is an ongoing process. You risk leaks without it.You won’t have access to money lost, but will have more to work with now that your income is not slipping through your fingers. Don’t dwell on the fact that you needed short-term loan help to make things work. Everyone receives financial bumps along the road. Some people are more equipped to deal with it and others would not even have the fast cash opportunity to try to save their budget from disaster. Take the problem as lesson learned and get right with your budget. Errors are a great educational tool when lessons are appreciated rather than avoided. You may not like to face money trouble, but it has to be done before problems wreak more havoc with your credit.Not only will you have to focus on making money management more productive, but you will most likely have to work at spending less each month. Don’t avoid cutbacks. The purpose of a good working budget is to fit all living costs within the realms of income. If you don’t earn enough to support your lifestyle you have two choices; cut back on your lifestyle or increase income. Masking the problem with credit cards or with payday loan lenders only demand more money from you in the form of finance charges. Evaluate your situation to make third party usage an emergency occurrence rather than a temporary fix for budget leaks.

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Employment Law: What Is All the Fuss About the Age Discrimination Regulations?

The Age Discrimination Regulations came into force on 1 October 2006 and implement the age component of the European Framework Employment Directive. The DTI Regulatory Impact analysis predicts that 8,000 Age Discrimination claims will be brought in the Employment Tribunals per year. Employers need to familiarise themselves with their obligations under the new provisions to avoid costly litigation.ScopeThe Age Discrimination Regulations apply equally to employees of all sizes of companies. As is so often the case, small firms will in some ways be expected to operate their policies as if they had the benefit of a human resources department of a large corporation at their disposal. There are no exclusions for part-time workers and unlike the position in the USA, there are no exclusions for employees below a certain age.They apply to employees and the self-employed (“workers”), contract workers (such as those provided by third party agencies), adults receiving training or education from employers; further and higher education institutions and adult education programmes; those in work experience and members or an applicant for membership of a trade organisation, including a trade union. Unpaid volunteers are not protected.Default Retirement AgeHowever, the Age Discrimination Regulations are nothing to do with the debate on extending the retirement age. In fact, the Age Discrimination Regulations provides for a default retirement age of 65 and excludes employees from claiming age discrimination in respect of forced retirement of those aged 65 and over. Interestingly, this particular limitation only applies only to “employees”. Of course, one must remember that even for those employees over 65 a new retirement dismissal procedure must be followed for the dismissal to be fair. A mandatory retirement age for non-employees, even of the age of 65, will have to be “objectively justified”.What Is Unlawful Age Discrimination?For the purpose of the Age Discrimination Regulations, there are two types of age discrimination: (1) Direct age discrimination; and (2) Indirect age discrimination. A person (A) directly discriminates against another person (B) if on grounds of B’s age, A treats B less favourably than he treats or would treat other persons. Indirect Age Discrimination is where A applies to B a provision, criterion or practice which he applies or would apply equally to persons not of the same age group as B, but which puts or would put persons of the same age group as B at a particular disadvantage when compared with other persons, and which actually puts B at that disadvantage. There is also protection for those of a perceived age. If someone is discriminated against because they look too young, or too old, for a particular job, they will be able to complain successfully even if the discriminator is wrong about their actual age.The distinctive feature of the Age Discrimination Regulations is that direct, as well as indirect, discrimination will be capable of being “objectively justified”, and the same test will apply to both forms of discrimination.How Does One Objectively Justify Age Discrimination?The Age Discrimination Regulations are new and there is not yet a body of UK case law, but it is highly unlikely that the high costs of employing older people, for example, will be a justification for an employer that would allow him to discriminate on the basis of age. It is further highly unlikely that customer preference will be a legitimate aim allowing employers to discriminate on the grounds of age. In other words justification for age discrimination cannot be related to age discrimination itself. The DTI have given the following example: “A retailer of trendy fashion items wants to employ young shop assistants because it believes that this will contribute to its aim of targeting young buyers. Trying to attract a young target group will not be a legitimate aim, because this has an age-discriminatory aspect.” There is also the need to be proportionate. This means that employers must use the least discriminatory measure possible even to achieve a legitimate aim. An employer may have to show why it was proportionate to use directly discriminatory age barriers rather than age neutral potentially indirectly discriminatory policies.Age-based HarassmentA subjects another person (B) to harassment where, on grounds of age, A engages in unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of: (1) violating B’s dignity; or (2) creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for B. Harassment will only be regarded as having had the effect of violating the B’s dignity or of creating an offensive working environment if it “should reasonably be considered as having that effect”. Ageist jokes and teasing may very well create such an environment. Conduct must be “unwanted” by the recipient.ConclusionWe can see that there are many aspects of human resources and discrimination policy that will have to be fundamentally reviewed in light of the Age Discrimination Regulations.Copyright (c) 2006 Ian Mann

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Buy The Right Health Insurance For Your Stage Of Business Growth

Buy quality self employed health insurance coverage that’s right for your stage of business growth, with an eye to the future.Right now, you’re the only employee of your company and you need the peace of mind provided by a quality insurance plan. Before you ask for a self employed health insurance quote, though, look at these three business growth scenarios. Then decide what kind of self employed health insurance coverage and benefits you need before you buy health insurance online.1) I expect to remain the sole employee of my business. Solution: simply ask for a self employed health insurance online quote.Shop around and ask for a health insurance online quote from reputable insurance agencies that provide quality customer service. Then buy health insurance online from the agency that meets your needs and your budget.Also read up on and / or consult an accountant to discover how you can deduct the cost of your self employed health insurance coverage. You’ll want to take advantage of every deduction possible without make a costly error in what’s allowable.2) I expect to hire employees within the next year. Solution: ask about temporary self employed health insurance coverage and also ask for a group health insurance quote.Let’s say that you’ve gotten a self employed health insurance quote that pleases you. There’s just one more step to take before you buy health insurance online. Ask the insurance agent to discuss how you will transition from self employed health insurance coverage to group health insurance once you hire your employees.If the insurance agent is too busy to talk about this, then look elsewhere for a health insurance online quote. Also, monitor the dates on your temporary health insurance policy carefully because you don’t want a lapse between the end of your temporary health insurance and the beginning of your group policy.3) I am ready to hire anywhere from two to fifty people. Solution: ask which group health insurance plan provides you the benefits that you — and your employees — will need.Congratulations! Your business must be thriving and growing. Discuss this anticipated growth with insurance agents. Compare and contrast the health insurance online quote that they give you for group insurance policies and choose the one that will treat your best assets — your new employees — right.You can then use your group health insurance benefits as a recruiting tool to hire and retain top quality staff that will keep your business moving in the right direction. When you buy health insurance online you are in fact investing in your company and its assets.Time for a self employed health insurance quote or for group health insurance? Either way, choose the insurance agent that provides quality coverage and service, no matter what stage of growth you’re in.Take a good hard look at where your business is headed. Decide whether you need self employed health insurance coverage or group health insurance. Then get your self employed health insurance quote and buy health insurance online that will keep you — and your employees (current or future) — safe, secure and covered.

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How Cryptocurrency Trading Software Is Helping To Grow Your Crypto Platform

The cryptocurrency trading software package is an integrated system to manage all aspects of cryptocurrency trading platform like all kinds of crypto buy, sell, exchange, lending, MLM & affiliate management, converting, live market comparison & analyzing etc.

Important features you should consider:

Buy, Sell And Exchange: Nishue is the impressive trading management system offers a smooth and secure methodology for your users to effortlessly Buy, Sell and exchange cryptocurrencies.

Lending system management: This system is completely brokering friendly has a system to manage Crypto lending service, like create manage offers, maintain and moderation etc

Unique Admin Module: Nishue contains a secure and advanced Admin Module for you to control your Cryptocurrency exchange end-to-end.

Separate customer profile: Separate customer profile module that helps your users to easily track and check all Open deposit or withdraw orders, Records, Transactions etc. on just a click.

MLM & affiliate management: This marketing ready automation tools facilitate to manage your level wise affiliate commission, contribution history, and documents.
Market comparison & Converter: Two additional system has been integrated for live Crypto Comparison, Conversion & Depth analysis.

How Cryptocurrency Trading Software Is Helping To Grow Your Crypto Platform:

Coin Deposit & Withdraw: Crypto trader need to maintain enormous Deposit and Withdraw request daily. Trading software aid to manage your activity with its auto set algorithm.

Coin Package & Lending offer: Keep your various coin package and lending offer at the fingers end of your customer. You can create, manage and advertise your offer using a well-designed package.

Level wise commission: If you follow the MLM strategy to reward your respective participants, and worried about set their commission? OK, It is ready to auto calculate their level wise commission.

Notification & Risk management: Every crypto trading platform must arrange push notification system to keep itself and its client up to date about many alarming issues thus help eliminate risk. In this case, a system project is totally perfect.

Multiple Payment Gateway: You can Integrate your cryptocurrency wallet, Local currency, Payeer Even Mobile Banking system as a Payment method within this software to make your transaction hassle free.

Daily, Weekly & Monthly ROI: Are you worried about maintaining ROI as per you said. This cryptocurrency trading management software can auto calculate ROI, commission, and others as per your given instruction.

Free Responsive Website: It must have integrated a fully responsive, SEO optimized dynamic website with our system and it is totally free. It will help you to manage your enterprise smoothly.

Crypto Comparison, Conversion & Depth analysis: Crypto live market cap & coin convertor two addition system has been integrated for live Crypto Comparison, Conversion & Depth analysis

100% secured System: A trading software is designed after having highly security issue in mind. Secured Integer framework, two-factor authentication, and much other security systems have been applied in this cryptocurrency trading software.

The absolute package exclusively for spot cryptocurrency trading that allows users to trade Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and Litecoin through Coinbase. Built upon the same technology that powers the Nishue software, It incorporates proven market-leading tools developed over 25 years to provide both professional and active cryptocurrency traders with a better experience than what’s currently offered by other crypto-only trading solutions.

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Tips to Choose the Best Crypto Signal Service

If you keep an eye on the market, crypto trading can be profitable for you. However, you may find it hard at times. Fortunately, if you need assistance, you can give a go to crypto signal services. The signals offered by them can be used to make the right decision, at the right time. You can choose from a lot of service providers. Given below are a few tips that can help you choose the right one. Read on to know more.

Service Quality

When opting for a service, quality is the number one factor to consider. Ideally, the trading platform should have an awesome success rate as far as predictions are concerned. Aside from this, it should provide relevant impulses so you can get a better idea of the market trends and trades.

Moreover, you should be able to receive the signal promptly so you can make the right moves. The service provider should be able to generate signals as fast as possible.

Reliability

Keep in mind that the service should be reliable as you are going to make your trade decisions based on their guidance. Hence, you might want to opt for a service that you can depend on. This is the only way to make the right choice and be on the safe side.

What you need to do is hire the services of a provider who is legitimate. You are going to consult expert traders, not an automated software program.

Free Trial

How can you find out if a provider is genuine? The best way is to give a go to their service. Many providers offer a free trial service. This is true even if you are going to hire any service, not just crypt trading.

The trial service will allow you to find out if the service is reliable. Once you have tested the service, you can go ahead and pay for it for a long-term.

Pricing

After the trial period expires, you will have to pay for the service. Here it’s important to keep in mind that providers who offer crypto signals for free of charge may not be reliable. In the same way, you might not want to pay a lot of money for the trial period either. As a matter of fact, the price of packages should be fair so you can enjoy the service without breaking the bank. So, you might want to do your homework to get the right service without spending a good deal of money.

Support

Although it’s great if their support is available round the clock, the important thing is to get the right information at the right time. They should be able to answer your questions until you are satisfied.

Without reliable customer support, you can’t benefit from the crypto signal service the way you should.

In short, if you are going to hire the service of a crypto signal service, we suggest that you follow the tips given in this article. This way you can make the right choice.

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Crypto Currency Vs Fiat Currency

Crypto currency vs. Fiat currency

Are you aware of the fiat currencies and the crypto currencies? They both are currencies in one form or the other and are open for public use across the world. But they are both different and distinct in their own ways. There is always one group that favors the use of cryptos, while the other has a soft corner for the fiat currencies.

In cashless society- crypto money play a huge role

If you have a look at the market of the 1970s and 1980s, you will find that the cash played the dominant role. But, with the change in the technology, electronic transactions have become the usual norm. Today, more and more people are influenced in becoming the cashless society. With the progress towards the cashless society, cryptocurrencies have a big role to play.

Crypto currency and fiat currency are always at loggerheads

Cryptocurrency and fiat currency are popular types of digital currency, especially when it is about an online transaction. They both are currencies currently in use in the market but have some differences in them. There is a hell lot of hypes that you will hear on a daily basis comparing the crypto money and the fiat money. This article will highlight the difference between the two in a more comprehensive and clear manner.

Differentiating in what the currencies stand for

Before going for the difference between the two, you must understand what do they stand for and how are they are defined.

The fiat currency is a legal tender that has the support of the central government, and it operates in the physical form. For instance, US dollars, British Pounds, Euro etc. On the other hand, the crypto currency is a non-legal tender, and doesn’t have any backup from the central government or bank.
Hence, the difference between crypto currency and fiat currency is noted as follows:

• Crypto-currencies are decentralized and global in nature. There are no one entity or government that controls the currency with their laws and regulations. The Fiat currency is centralized, under the control of the laws and regulations of the banks and government.

• Crypto-currencies have their existence only in the digital domain. On the other hand, you will find that the fiat currencies have a tangible and physical existence.

• There is a limited supply of crypto-currencies with a maximum set of them getting supplied in the market. Whereas, the fiat money has an unlimited supply as the government and bank are entitled to produce coins and paper money whenever the situation is required.

• The Bitcoin and other crypto type currencies are created by the computers, while the fiat currencies are issued by the local government and the banks.

• Cryptocurrencies are presented as the public and private code pieces. On the other hand, the fiat currencies are presented in the form of coins and paper money.

• The value of the crypto currencies is not recognized by the supply and demand of the market. Whereas, the fiat currency value is determined by the market regulations of supply and demand.

The different types of crypto and fiat currencies

In the last one decade, the popularity of crypto type currencies has emerged as a huge success. It was in 2009, when Bitcoin was first introduced, and years after several other types of crypto currencies have emerged. Starting from Litecoin. Dogecoin, Ripple to the Dcash and Zcash, there is a plethora of them. On the other hand, the fiat currency has a rich and ancient roots, with the Great British Pound, that dates back to 775 AD. It is considered as the oldest currency in the world that is still in use.

The differences in the anonymity between the two currencies

When you are using the fiat currencies, you need to undergo a user identification or verification process. You are asked to upload a recent picture of yourself and some of the required documents to be issued as per the public authorities. You don’t need to undergo any of the required processes with the crypto currencies. Though your personal information and confidential details don’t get public, but all your transactions are recorded and tracked in both the fiat and the crypto currencies.

Fiat currency vs crypto currency: transparency level

• The transparency level with the crypto type currencies are considered to be more. This is because the revenue streams are displayed in a public chain. Everyone can witness their own and others’ transactions.

• The fiat or govt. currencies are not transparent, as there are not public chains to see the revenue streams of the people.

A comparative historical roots

If you compare the crypto money with that of its counterpart, fiat or government currency, you will find that their existence and creation brings the difference. The Fiat or government currency, dates back its existence as early as 775 AD with the introduction of the Great British Pound. This is why fiat type currency is easily accepted by the people all over.

On the other hand, the crypto coin was perhaps first introduced only a decade ago, with the introduction of Bitcoin in 2009. The challenge that the Bitcoin and other crypto currencies face is catching up with the immense popularity and increasing fan base of the fiat currency. Crypto currency, is no doubt gaining importance and popularity in the economic market, but it has still not been accepted widely in the society as the fiat currency.

A comparative history of the two currencies:

• It was in the 11th century, when the Chinese Song dynasty was perhaps the first one to issue the paper money. It was not allowed to exchange with valuables like gold and silver or silk.

• There were Tally sticks that were introduced as a fiat or government currency. 1100 Tally sticks were introduced as a combat for the shortages in gold.

• 1971, was the year, when the fiat currency received a worldwide recognition. President Nixon introduced it in order to eliminate the dollar pegging system to gold.

• It was in 1998, when the idea of an anonymous electronic cash system emerged by Wei Dai. Bitgold-the very first crypto currency was created by Nick Szabo, but it didn’t receive as much attention as Bitcoin.

• In 2009, Bitcoin was introduced in the market, that became the first crypto currency that was accepted across the globe. In 2011 and after, a series of several other crypto currencies were introduced. Some of the popular ones include, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Zcash, Dash and so on.

The traits of both the currencies

The potential of the crypto type currencies and fiat currencies, accessing their traits is important. You will find that in some of the criteria, Bitcoin and other crypto currency is superior than the fiat or government currency, and in some cases, the latter surpasses. It is absolutely your call to choose the type of currency (crypto type currency or fiat type currency) based on your personal needs and requirements.

Let us compare their traits with respect to certain factors.

• Both the crypto coins and fiat type currencies are interchangeable in nature.

• As per the portability is concerned both the currencies secure more or less the same position.

• With respect to the non consumable criteria, crypto currency and fiat type currency have the equal status.

• Crypto type currencies have high durability as compared to the fiat-currencies that have moderate level of durability.

• Both the crypto or virtual currencies and the fiat or government currencies ensure secure and safeguarded transactions and exchange.

• Crypto or digital currencies are highly divisible in nature. On the other hand, the fiat type currencies are moderately divisible.

• In terms of the transaction process, the crypto currencies are easy and hassle free. Whereas, on the other hand, the traction process associated with the fiat currencies are easy, but not like the cryptos.

• The crypto based currencies are decentralized and global in nature, unlike the fiat currencies that are centralized and functions under the laws and regulations of the government.

• The crypto based currencies have high scarcity, where as, the fiat currencies are unlimited as the government can issue coins and paper money whenever there is a need.

• The crypto based currencies are based on mathematical algorithms, and are programmable. The fiat currencies are not at all programmable.

• The fiat currencies are sovereign in nature, while the crypto currencies are not.

The process of the functioning of the currencies

You can find the significant differences between the crypto or digital currencies and the fiat currencies with the way they both operate and the transaction process that take place. They are contrasting in nature. The transfer of money using the Bitcoin is very quick, and you absolutely don’t need any third party association.

On the other hand, if you are involved with the money exchange using Fiat type currency, a mobile wallet is in use. You can exchange an amount of e-money that gets transferred into the equal e-value amount. Both the fiat and the crypto currencies enable you to purchase everything that you desire. But the processes involved are absolutely distinct from each other.

Depending on the things you purchase, you will find that one currency form is better than the other. This is absolutely your choice.

Is Bitcoin, a crypto currency better than the fiat-currency?

The long term benefits and the capability of the Bitcoins is still not established. But it has been predicted by the crypto currency gurus and experts, that they will go a long way, especially revolutionizing the way the online transactions are done. In the current market, the Bitcoin is mainly included in the online casinos and the gambling, but it is not limited to it.

Furthermore, when you compare the fiat currencies, the Bitcoin allows you to seize the power and authority from the banks and the government since it is not controlled. The cryptography based currency has the capability to create or come up with the free market capitals. Fiat currencies are affected by the inflation and the changes in the market, unlike the crypto based currencies. Such aspects make individuals believe that cryptograph based currencies will soon take over the mainstream currencies and bring a transformation in the way the money is used.

Why is Bitcoins considered to be a better aspect than the fiat type currencies?

• Bitcoin gives you the opportunity to re-create a free market capitalism.

• The power of controlling the money is absolutely with the individuals, and not with the banks like the fiat type currencies.

• When there is an inflation, the Bitcoin is not affected. But the Fiat type currency will be easier to lose and get affected by it.

• The Bitcoin currency is easy easier to exchange and transfer as compared to the fiat or government currencies.

• The transaction fees involved with the Bitcoin are way cheaper and easily affordable.

Crypto currencies seem to be a favorable option among the people

The fiat type currencies are the centralized and legal way of exchanging money. But, the crypto currencies have acquired immense popularity in the past few years. There will never be anyone who would act as a middle man, like the case with the banks. Moreover, the cryptos are way cheaper and less expensive that the conventional fiat currencies.

Send money anywhere directly without waiting for the bank’s approval

You can send money to anyone in the world directly, and it is super fast. The money gets cleared within a few minutes time. You don’t have to wait for the traditional clearing and verification processes of the banking systems, which might take up to several days to get a clearance. Since it is decentralized and doesn’t come under the law and regulations of the government, nobody has any power to do anything with your account.

The blockchain technology has a very big role to play

Thanks to the crypto currencies, that gives us the power and the authority to become our very own bank, and take control over our finances. It is because of the blockchain technology that offers a higher level of sophistication while dealing with the finances. In fact, there are some mainstream financial industries that have started incorporating the idea of the technology.

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Crypto Market Analysis

Cryptocurrency have been around for a while now and there are multiple papers and articles on basics of Cryptocurrency. Not only have the Cryptocurrency flourished but have opened up as a new and trusted opportunity for investors. The crypto market is still young but mature enough to pour in the adequate amount of data for analysis and predict the trends. Though it is considered as the most volatile market and a huge gamble as an investment, it has now become predictable to a certain point and the Bitcoin futures are a proof of this. Many concepts of the stock market have now been applied to the crypto market with some tweaks and changes. This gives us another proof that many people are adopting Cryptocurrency market every day, and currently more than 500 million investors are present in it. Though the total market cap of crypto market is $286.14 Billion that is roughly 1/65th of the stock market at the time of writing, the market potential is very high considering the success despite its age and the presence of already established financial markets. The reason behind this is nothing else but the fact that people have started believing in the technology and the products backing a crypto. This also means that the crypto technology have proven itself and so much that the companies have agreed to put their assets in the form of crypto coins or tokens. The concept of Cryptocurrency became successful with the success of Bitcoin. Bitcoin, which once used to be the only Cryptocurrency, now contributes only 37.6% to the total Cryptocurrency market. The reason being, emergence of new Cryptocurrencies and the success of projects backing them. This does not indicate that Bitcoin failed, in fact market capitalization of Bitcoin has increased, rather what this indicates is that crypto market have expanded as a whole.

These facts are enough to prove the success of Cryptocurrencies and their market. And in reality investment in Crypto market is considered as safe now, to the extent that some invest as for their retirement plan. Therefore what we need next are the tools for analysis of crypto market. There are many such tools that enable you to analyze this market in a manner similar to stock market providing similar metrics. Including coin market cap, coin stalker, cryptoz and investing. Even thought these metrics are simple, the do provide crucial information about the crypto under consideration. For example, a high market cap indicates a strong project, a high 24hour volume indicates high demand and circulating supply indicates the total amount of coins of that crypto in circulation. Another important metric is volatility of a crypto. Volatility is how much the price of a crypto fluctuates. Crypto market is considered as highly volatile, cashing out at a moment might bring in a lot of profit or make you pull your hairs. Thus what we look for is a crypto that is stable enough to give us time to make a calculated decision. Currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ethereum-classic (not specifically) are considered as stable. With being stable, they need to be strong enough, so that they do not become invalid or simply stop existing in the market. These features make a crypto reliable, and the most reliable Cryptocurrencies are used as a form of liquidity.

As far is crypto market is concerned, volatility comes hand in hand, but so do its most important property i.e. Decentralization. Crypto market is decentralized, what this means is that the price fall in one crypto does not necessarily means down trend of any other crypto. Thus giving us an opportunity in the form of what are called mutual funds. It’s a Concept of managing a portfolio of the crypto currencies that you invest in. The Idea is to spread your investments to multiple Cryptocurrencies so as to reduce the risk involved if any crypto starts on a bear run

Similar to this concept is the concept of Indices in crypto market. Indices provide a standard point of reference for the market as a whole. The Idea is to choose the top currencies in the market and distribute the investment among them. These chosen crypto currencies change if the index are dynamic in nature and only consider the top currencies. For example if a currency ‘X’ drops down to 11th position in crypto market, the index considering top 10 currencies would now won’t consider currency ‘X’, rather start considering currency ‘Y’ which have taken it’s place. Some providers such as cci30 and crypto20 have tokenized these Crypto indices. While this might look like a good Idea to some, others oppose due to the fact that there are some pre-requisites to invest in these tokens such as a minimum amount of investment is needed. While others such as cryptoz provide the methodology and a the index value, along with the currency constituents so that an investor is free to invest the amount he/she wants to and choose not to invest in a crypto otherwise included in an index. Thus, indices give you a choice to further smooth out the volatility and reduce the risk involved.

Conclusion

The crypto market might look risky at first look and many might still be skeptical of its authenticity, But the maturity that this market has attained within the short period of its existence is amazing and the proof enough for its authenticity. The biggest concern that investors have is volatility, for which there had been a solution in form of indices.

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Increasing Student Success Through Instruction in Self-Determination

An enormous amount of research shows the importance of self-determination (i.e., autonomy) for students in elementary school through college for enhancing learning and improving important post-school outcomes.
Findings

Research by psychologists Richard Ryan, PhD, and Edward Deci, PhD, on Self-Determination Theory indicates that intrinsic motivation (doing something because it is inherently interesting or enjoyable), and thus higher quality learning, flourishes in contexts that satisfy human needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Students experience competence when challenged and given prompt feedback. Students experience autonomy when they feel supported to explore, take initiative and develop and implement solutions for their problems. Students experience relatedness when they perceive others listening and responding to them. When these three needs are met, students are more intrinsically motivated and actively engaged in their learning.

Numerous studies have found that students who are more involved in setting educational goals are more likely to reach their goals. When students perceive that the primary focus of learning is to obtain external rewards, such as a grade on an exam, they often perform more poorly, think of themselves as less competent, and report greater anxiety than when they believe that exams are simply a way for them to monitor their own learning. Some studies have found that the use of external rewards actually decreased motivation for a task for which the student initially was motivated. In a 1999 examination of 128 studies that investigated the effects of external rewards on intrinsic motivations, Drs. Deci and Ryan, along with psychologist Richard Koestner, PhD, concluded that such rewards tend to have a substantially negative effect on intrinsic motivation by undermining people’s taking responsibility for motivating or regulating themselves.

Self-determination research has also identified flaws in high stakes, test focused school reforms, which despite good intentions, has led teachers and administrators to engage in precisely the types of interventions that result in poor quality learning. Dr. Ryan and colleagues found that high stakes tests tend to constrain teachers’ choices about curriculum coverage and curtail teachers’ ability to respond to students’ interests (Ryan & La Guardia, 1999). Also, psychologists Tim Urdan, PhD, and Scott Paris, PhD, found that such tests can decrease teacher enthusiasm for teaching, which has an adverse effect on students’ motivation (Urdan & Paris, 1994).

The processes described in self-determination theory may be particularly important for children with special educational needs. Researcher Michael Wehmeyer found that students with disabilities who are more self-determined are more likely to be employed and living independently in the community after completing high school than students who are less self-determined.

Research also shows that the educational benefits of self-determination principles don’t stop with high school graduation. Studies show how the orientation taken by college and medical school instructors (whether it is toward controlling students’ behavior or supporting the students’ autonomy) affects the students’ motivation and learning.
Significance

Self-determination theory has identified ways to better motivate students to learn at all educational levels, including those with disabilities.
Practical Application

Schools throughout the country are using self-determination instruction as a way to better motivate students and meet the growing need to teach children and youth ways to more fully accept responsibility for their lives by helping them to identify their needs and develop strategies to meet those needs.

Researchers have developed and evaluated instructional interventions and supports to encourage self-determination for all students, with many of these programs designed for use by students with disabilities. Many parents, researchers and policy makers have voiced concern about high rates of unemployment, under-employment and poverty experienced by students with disabilities after they complete their educational programs. Providing support for student self-determination in school settings is one way to enhance student learning and improve important post-school outcomes for students with disabilities. Schools have particularly emphasized the use of self-determination curricula with students with disabilities to meet federal mandates to actively involve students with disabilities in the Individualized Education Planning process.

Programs to promote self-determination help students acquire knowledge, skills and beliefs that meet their needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness (for example, see Steps to Self-determination by educational researchers Sharon Field and Alan Hoffman). Such programs also provide instruction aimed specifically at helping students play a more active role in educational planning (for example, see The Self-directed Individualized Education Plan by Jim Martin, Laura Huber Marshall, Laurie Maxson, & Patty Jerman).

Drs. Field and Hoffman developed a model designed to guide the development of self-determination instructional interventions. According to the model, instructional activities in areas such as increasing self-awareness; improving decision-making, goal-setting and goal-attainment skills; enhancing communication and relationship skills; and developing the ability to celebrate success and learn from reflecting on experiences lead to increased student self-determination. Self-determination instructional programs help students learn how to participate more actively in educational decision-making by helping them become familiar with the educational planning process, assisting them to identify information they would like to share at educational planning meetings, and supporting students to develop skills to effectively communicate their needs and wants. Examples of activities used in self-determination instructional programs include reflecting on daydreams to help students decide what is important to them; teaching students how to set goals that are important to them and then, with the support of peers, family members and teachers, taking steps to achieve those goals. Providing contextual supports and opportunities for students, such as coaching for problem-solving and offering opportunities for choice, are also critical elements that lead to meeting needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness and thus, increasing student self-determination.

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