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| Welcome | Welcome to the August 2006 edition of the Credential Check Examiner! This month we analyze the changes in security as it relates to air travel, some simple ways to protect your famliy and your money, and how to increase success and productivity in your organization.
As always, please feel free to reply with your comments and suggestions!
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| Travelers to Be Affected by Alleged Terror Plot
|  Air travelers can expect major changes in security and restrictions on what passengers can take with them in carry-on luggage. Air travelers on all flights originating from the U.S. are no longer allowed to take any liquids on board flights, to include beverages, shampoo, toothpaste, or any other liquid or gel-based product. The exceptions to the new security restrictions are baby formula and medicines, which must be presented for inspection at security checkpoints. The restrictions are in response to an alleged terror plot against the U.S. that was foiled after individuals were apprehended in England for plotting to destroy U.S. bound flights with liquid explosives. In England, the origination of the plot, British Airways passengers are currently only able to bring wallets, travel documentation, and necessary medical supplies on board planes, and are required to check in all other luggage. Much like after 9/11, except this time with a sigh of relief, U.S. air travelers are complying with the restrictions and enduring longer security lines and inconveniences for the sake of safety and security. The liquid explosive plot comes five years after Richard Reid attempted to destroy a plane, which originated from the France and destined for the U.S., by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes. Reid was subdued by passengers on the plane with the assistance of, now ironically, injectible sedative drugs. U.S. air travelers have since had to remove their shoes for security screening. The pattern seems to be that terrorists continue to devise new ways to threaten commercial air travel, while the U.S. and the world respond with tighter security precautions. There has perhaps never been a game of chicken with higher stakes – the safety of our country and the pursuit of peace. top
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| Reduce Your Stress – At Work
|  Just as lack of sleep can contribute to missed deadlines, trouble concentrating, reduced productivity, and increased sick days, so too can stress. Everyone suffers from some level of stress, but those who manage it best are the ones who overcome stress and any negative impact it may have in our lives. Here are some recommendations to help you better manage stress:
- Treat Your Body Right – Eat right and exercise. Doing so will increase your tolerance to stress.
- Set Realistic Goals – Only tackle what’s possible and carry on.
- Set and Reset Your Priorities – Handle the important and difficult tasks first, then eliminate secondary tasks.
- Take One Task at a time – Divide large projects into smaller tasks and make “to do” lists.
- Take five – Taking short breaks can help to slow down your mind, which can improve your ability to deal with stress over the long haul.
- Learn to relax or meditate – Ten to twenty minutes of quiet reflection or meditation can bring relief from chronic stress.
- Give yourself a break – Striving to be the best in everything will lead to worry, anxiety, and failure.
- Learn to say “No” – Slow down and be honest about what you can comfortably do.
- Be Flexible – Listen to other people’s opinions and thoughts and be prepared for compromise.
- Avoid Excessive Competition – Excessive competition can be dangerous emotionally and physically – not to mention damaging to your job.
- Manage your anger – Retreat before you lose control and allow time to cool down when angry. After you are settled down you will be better equipped to handle the problem constructively later.
- Be honest with your colleagues – Don’t fib when you’re in a bind, but make suggestions for solutions rather than simply complain.
- Talk it out with a loved one – Talking it out can help you see things more clearly, release negative feelings and get emotional support.
Source: National Mental Health Association (www.NHMA.org)
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| | Anonymous Incident Reporting: Clarification for Multinational Organizations |  In the January issue, we addressed the apparent conflicts between U.S. regulations regarding anonymous incident reporting, specifically the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX), and European Union data protection laws. Such conflicts are fundamentally based on distinctly-differing cultural values regarding the ability of individuals to allege the misconduct of others in an anonymous fashion. While European sensibility places great value on the rights of the accused, the American perspective lends more credence to the reporting party and the potentially increased protection against retaliation that the option of anonymity provides.
Since the French data protection authority, Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL), issued recommended compliance guidelines last fall, they have published clarification in the form of a Frequently Asked Questions document in March of this year. The guidelines suggest that, if the proper protocols are followed during the implementation process, SOX-compliant anonymous incident reporting mechanisms do not expressly conflict with E.U. data protection regulations. The CNIL has put a simplified authorization protocol in place (known as unique or single authorization) to allow organizations to submit their system for collection of reports of financially-related misconduct (SOX-related issues) for efficient approval. Anonymous data collection mechanisms designed to elicit information outside the scope of financially-related organizational misconduct (such as harassment, discrimination, or other Human Resources-related matters) are required to pass a more rigorous and time-consuming approval process, known as the standard authorization. A variety of legal opinions seem to agree that the primary challenges for organizations lie in understanding the dueling regulations and developing strong implementation strategies appropriate to each.
What is critical to note is that the French approach described above (and more comprehensively in the CNIL guidelines and FAQs) have significant implications for all E.U. Member States. Many hold the same cultural values regarding the potential complications associated with anonymity and it appears as though Germany and the United Kingdom are closely following behind the French decisions in these matters.
The CNIL’s full-text Frequently Asked Questions document can be found at: http://www.cnil.fr/index.php?1901.
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| | 10 Simple Ways to Protect Your Family and Your Money | Rip-offs and con-artists exist in every industry. Whether you are buying a car, repairing your home, arranging an exotic vacation, or buying on-line, someone is likely waiting to take you to the cleaners. In the spirit of the New Year, here's ten of our top consumer protection recommendations:
- Before taking your car in for repairs, inconspicuously mark key components with chalk or a sharp implement. After the repair and before paying the repairman, inspect the items you marked and see if they have been actually replaced. Better yet, ask that all of the old components be returned to you after the repair.
- Negotiate the price of your next new car before test driving it at the dealership. Dealers typically request a copy of your driver's license before allowing you to test drive their vehicles. Doing so helps them prevent drive-offs, but it allows them to do some quick research and find out what you paid for your last vehicle and what you earn. This information gives them a decided advantage during negotiations. Better yet, rent the car of your choice for a day. This will allow you to drive the vehicle at your leisure and really determine if it is right one for you.
- Change the door locks on your home. Over the years, we tend to lend our keys out housekeepers, repair people, and family members and forget to get them back. While at it replace all the batteries in your home's smoke alarms and battery operated clocks.
- Steer clear of drive-by repairmen. Notorious for shoddy work and rip-offs, these scoundrels can be defeated by requesting a copy of their contractor's license and insurance documents. Better yet, check the license plates of their vehicle. If it's from out-of-state or a county miles away, chances are you're likely to be taken.
- Watch out for bogus chimney repairs and water proofing scams. These cons are most typical in those parts of the country where wood burning fireplaces and basements are common home features. After a quick and often free inspection, these operators immediately recommend major repairs are necessary in order to make your home safe. Avoid these self-serving scoundrels and hire home inspectors that don't do repairs.
- Shred all documents containing personal information before tossing them in the trash. Use only shredders that cross-cut. A straight cutter cuts the documents in ribbons, making them susceptible to easy reconstruction.
- Consider CCTV for your home. The cost of closed-circuit cameras and recorders are so low most people can afford to install them in their home. Configure the system to only record when you are out of the home or the alarm is on.
- Put only your name on your luggage tags. Burglars are known to frequent airports to identify travelers leaving their home unoccupied. Most frequently targeted are young families traveling with children. Why? Because their homes are most likely to be unoccupied while gone. Put your name and address inside your luggage.
- Next time you go to the hospital BYOD (bring your own drugs). Hospitals charge for every item and pill these dispense. Aspirin may be as much as $5 per tablet. If possible, bring your own medications and bypass the hospital pharmacy.
- Buy a cheap pen. Check thieves steal checks and wash them with acetone to remove everything but your signature, then re-write them to the person they wish and change the dollar amount. The best defense is to use a cheap uni-ball gel pen (sometimes called gel roller-ball) for all check writing. The ink in these pens cannot be removed with acetone.
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| | Increasing Success and High Performance in Your Organization | Every company has high-performing workgroups that make money for the business and develop new products, services or markets. These workgroups create environments in which results are achieved and people flourish. High-performing groups adapt quickly to changes in the marketplace, understand their customers and know how to get the internal resources they need to accomplish their goals. “Celebrating the success of groups or individuals publicly will encourage other groups or individuals to perform to that same level, keeping the focus on their results and not their characteristics will motivate a group” states Timothy Whiting, Director of Business Development with Credential Check Corporation. If you spread the secrets of these groups, you can improve the overall performance of your company. How do you identify these high-performing groups? These are the groups that get financial results. They introduce new products, services, markets or processes. And, they foster an environment built on valuing people, optimizing critical thinking and seizing opportunities. This environment allows high performance to spread throughout your organization, and makes the best and brightest want to come and stay: - Value people: The best way to show respect is to treat smart people as if they are smart people. Showing respect doesn't mean people can't push back, argue, or advocate strongly for their point of view. Nor is it about being nice.
- Optimize critical thinking: To think critically, people have to get their emotions out of the way. They have to see congruity between leaders' words and their actions, and between the values that are preached and the values that are lived. They need to believe that the company does not withhold important information necessary to do their jobs.
- Seize opportunities: To drive high performance, companies need an environment where people have the latitude to seize opportunities, take risks, generate new ideas, and make mistakes. Build it and they will come: If people believe they can make a difference, they will come. If they are given the opportunity to do their jobs well, they will stay. Most importantly, if you build the right environment, they will perform.
Adapted from Contagious Success: Spreading High Performance Throughout Your Organization© 2004 by Susan Lucia Annunzio (Portfolio).
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| Quote of the Month: "Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity."
-Unknown
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| | Contact Information | If you are interested in obtaining additional information about these articles or the services offered by Credential Check Corporation, please contact one of the following individuals:
Thank you! We'll see you next month!
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