Well, I think most of the East Midlands awoke with a shock this morning at 1am - I know I certainly did. If you missed the actual quake then you will ono doubt have heard about it on the news this morning!
General reactions here at the Gemini office were fear and confusion - I know I for one, opened the curtains to see if a car had driven into the house...or if a plane had crashed down at the end of the road! Luckily an early morning phone call from one of my good friends reassured me that I hadn't been having very realistic dreams, it had in fact been an earthquake!
The description on the BBC news this morning was that "it was a very British earthquake", none of my neighbours appeared to turn the lights on or leave the house to investigate.
Maybe not so much being British as being 21 Century - pick up the mobile phone, call your mates & turn on the computer to read up about it on the internet...I know I was certainly reassured to read that there were others who felt the same.
Ruth
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Sick note culture
Apparently 175 million working days are lost each year to sickness with the average person taking seven days off each. When added up it is estimated that these lost days cost the British economy £13.4bn.
To try and tackle this ‘sick note culture’ the Government has put forward some controversial plans that involve doctors writing to employers saying what a worker can do instead of what they can’t.
However, these statistics are not likely to be a representation of the people who are signed off work by a doctor. They are more likely to be those who wake up in the morning and feel a little under the weather so decide to take a day or two off until they feel better, so in this respect these plans aren’t really going to change these statistics.
Emma
To try and tackle this ‘sick note culture’ the Government has put forward some controversial plans that involve doctors writing to employers saying what a worker can do instead of what they can’t.
However, these statistics are not likely to be a representation of the people who are signed off work by a doctor. They are more likely to be those who wake up in the morning and feel a little under the weather so decide to take a day or two off until they feel better, so in this respect these plans aren’t really going to change these statistics.
Emma
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Lessons in Languages
This week, a report from Lord Dearing about plans to change oral language assesments in schools has been in the news.
One of the main reasons is that the exam is 'too stressful'. I agree, it is stressful, but most exams are! They're meant to be challenging!
I learnt a language right through to degree level and I had to take part in many speaking exams, some with my tutors and some with external examiners. They were stressful but they were useful. Once you've been in a pressured exam, it's much easier to use the language in an every day, more relaxed situation.
I do however think that there should be more classroom based speaking assessments throughout the year, if only so that the final one with an external examiner isn't such a shock. I also like the idea that pupils will be asked to make presentations and take part in spontaneous dicusssions - but shouldn't they be doing that anyway??
Better still, pupils should be learning languages from an earlier age and have more classes each week so it becomes the norm for them to be speaking it. In many other countries they learn English from primary age and have at least four hours of lessons each week - is it our arrogant opinion that everyone in the world should speak English that stops us from employing this sort of strict language learning?
Helen
One of the main reasons is that the exam is 'too stressful'. I agree, it is stressful, but most exams are! They're meant to be challenging!
I learnt a language right through to degree level and I had to take part in many speaking exams, some with my tutors and some with external examiners. They were stressful but they were useful. Once you've been in a pressured exam, it's much easier to use the language in an every day, more relaxed situation.
I do however think that there should be more classroom based speaking assessments throughout the year, if only so that the final one with an external examiner isn't such a shock. I also like the idea that pupils will be asked to make presentations and take part in spontaneous dicusssions - but shouldn't they be doing that anyway??
Better still, pupils should be learning languages from an earlier age and have more classes each week so it becomes the norm for them to be speaking it. In many other countries they learn English from primary age and have at least four hours of lessons each week - is it our arrogant opinion that everyone in the world should speak English that stops us from employing this sort of strict language learning?
Helen
Monday, 18 February 2008
Northern Rock – PR battle commences
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (ahem!) the past few months, it has been impossible to ignore the constant changes in Northern Rock. Over the weekend Alistair Darling announced that the bank will be nationalised until market conditions improve…
But this yet more bad PR for the chancellor – his decision has not been taken lightly and it has been reported on the BBC website that the Northern Rock Shareholders are holding a meeting to discuss whether to take legal action or not.
Richard Branson has also joined the anti-Darling bandwagon, stating the commercial solution would have been much more effective.
So where does that leave customers who have been pushed and pulled in all sorts of directions? As a customer myself, I haven’t received any correspondence with regards to the changes so I am replying on the statements issued by these three major powers.
Who has the biggest voice remains to be seen….
Ruth
But this yet more bad PR for the chancellor – his decision has not been taken lightly and it has been reported on the BBC website that the Northern Rock Shareholders are holding a meeting to discuss whether to take legal action or not.
Richard Branson has also joined the anti-Darling bandwagon, stating the commercial solution would have been much more effective.
So where does that leave customers who have been pushed and pulled in all sorts of directions? As a customer myself, I haven’t received any correspondence with regards to the changes so I am replying on the statements issued by these three major powers.
Who has the biggest voice remains to be seen….
Ruth
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Back to university!
For the next 9 months I will be studying for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Advanced Certificate qualification.
Over a series of eight lectures at Birkbeck College in London I will be taught the theory and principles of PR and will put them into practice with three assignments designed to develop and enhance my professional knowledge and skills.
Undertaking this course means I will also become an affiliate member of the CIPR.
Emma
Over a series of eight lectures at Birkbeck College in London I will be taught the theory and principles of PR and will put them into practice with three assignments designed to develop and enhance my professional knowledge and skills.
Undertaking this course means I will also become an affiliate member of the CIPR.
Emma
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