RECIDIVISM

Turnover. In prison you want them leaving early and never coming back. Within your company you want them staying forever. How can both be accomplished? Prisons need to stop being all about incarceration, and nothing about rehabilitation. Companies need start caring about personal lives of their people. Since diversity in workforce is an HR issue, I will conclude with something that is very close to my heart. An ex-con can be your most dedicated, grateful and hardworking employee. If you have one within your company you know what I’m talking about, if you don’t, it’s time you discovered this truth. But before this can happen on a large scale, our prison systems across country need to give offenders a chance to succeed. Because of budget cuts most institutions are forced to spend their precious funds on security related issues, and that leaves almost nothing for vocational and educational programs. Let’s do some simple math. It cost $35,000 per year to house one inmate (and this is a conservative figure). It would cost a fraction of that to educate that same inmate. I have seen studies, which show that re-arrest rate of those who come out of prison with at least two years of prison, an Associates Degree, is 10%. Those who come out with no schooling at all have a re-arrest rate of nearly 60%. The numbers speak for themselves. Hire an ex-offender and contribute to a human being once again becoming a productive member of our society- you may just find that they prove to be your best employee(s)- especially if you let them know you care about their internal prisons.

Troy Evans is a Professional Speaker and Author who resides in Phoenix, AZ. He can be reached at: The Evans Group, 3104 E. Camelback Road, #436 Phoenix, AZ 85016, 602-265-6855, troy@troyevans.com and his website is www.troyevans.com

What do you look for when choosing an office chair? A chair should feel comfortable when you first sit down, and should remain that way after you've been in it for a considerable amount of time (1-2 hours). Consequently, one of first things to consider is seat of chair. Make sure there is plenty of room around your hips and thighs--at least an inch of space on either side of your body is recommended by health experts. Make sure seat supports your thighs, yet edge of seat does not come into contact with back of your legs while you're seated.

The chair you choose MUST have adequate upper and lower (lumbar) back support. The backrest is, therefore, another integral part of your decision-making process. The lower portion of backrest should provide firm support, yet be curved slightly to follow natural contour of your spine. You should get a chair with an adjustable backrest so you can find a combination of settings that is most comfortable for you.

Other considerations include arm rests, chair covering (cloth, vinyl, leather, etc.), and chair base--a five point base with casters is a must. Read instructions and learn how to adjust chair to properly support your body.

An important tip--when purchasing an office chair keep in mind that one-size certainly does not fit all. People come in different heights and girths and with different arm and leg lengths, all of which affects whether you'll find a chair to be comfortable.

As with any major purchase (a good office chair will run $250-$1,000) your best option is to research and acquire as much information as you can about products that are available and vendors who supply them. Become a smart chair shopper!

Larry Denton is a retired history teacher having taught 33 years at Hobson High in Hobson, Montana. He is currently Vice President of Elfin Enterprises, Inc., an Internet business providing useful information and valuable resources on a variety of timely topics. For an office full of information, resources and advice about office chairs, visit http://www.OfficeChairHere.com