Smart tips for your office life

Smart tips for your office life

Some strategies to help you navigate the tricky minefield of complicated work situations

Exit strategies

18.07.2021 

I am disheartened by my colleagues who talk about equity and compassion, yet fail to advocate those same values in-house. It’s time for me to resign and for the standard exit interview. Should I be candid about my frustrations or just be gracious and “hope our paths cross again”?

This phenomenon of people voicing solidarity but doing little to act on the politics they purport to have is not unique to your workplace. Most people talk more than they act.

There are all kinds of ways to approach exit interviews. You can burn it all down, telling your employer the most unfiltered version of what you think. Most of us have fantasised about this kind of exit interview, but we don’t do it because the world is small and our professional circles are even smaller. There may be repercussions for speaking our minds.

First, determine what you hope to accomplish. Will voicing your frustrations simply make you feel better? Will the organisation act on your feedback? If your professional future depends on it, be gracious. Let common sense be your guide for the tone you take and where the conversation leads.

Tell the truth?

My new firm interviews candidates from my old firm and I am often asked what I think of them. Given that we all need jobs, how much is reasonable to share? What do people expect?

When giving this kind of informal recommendation, you should be honest about what you have directly observed or experienced. Everything else is conjecture or hearsay. When you aren’t privy to details about your colleague, it is better to say nothing. No harm is done in sharing what you know that is positive. Trust your instincts.

Drowning in the deep end

I was recently promoted to a managerial position. We never replaced the marketing director role, so I am the de facto lead for all of our promotional efforts. How can I tell my boss that the best thing for me, and the company, would be to look for a new marketing director?

Bringing this up may show a lack of ambition. But I am overwhelmed and a little burned out.

It can be terrifying when we are thrown into the professional deep end.

Your well-being, both professionally and personally, matter. If you are genuinely overwhelmed, speak with your boss. Ask for a new marketing director by identifying why that position should be filled by someone other than you and how it will benefit the company.

At the same time, make it clear that in the future, when you have more experience, you would like to be considered for the director position.

— THE NEW YORK TIMES

Talk it Out

Talk it Out

11.07.2021 

Times of India 

Why it’s so hard for parents to let their adult children leave home

To help readers cope with their anxieties in these stressful times, TOI has launched Talk it Out, a series under which our panel of expert counsellors will answer your mental health queries. This week’s advice comes from psychiatrist Dr Prabha Chandra

We are seniors with a young daughter who wants to excel in her career. We were shell-shocked when she took a separate accommodation and left us. She also said that she will find her own life partner as she feels traditionally brought up boys are dominating and don’t share household work. We are worried about her living separately and her safety. We are more experienced and can get someone in our community matching her requirements. But she is very stubborn and not accepting any proposal. Please advise.

— Anonymous anxious parents

This is such a common scenario in India. Parents and adult children need to establish new ways of communication and negotiation. There are two issues you seem to be concerned about. First, her moving out and feeling that she has ‘left’ you. All adult children have to individuate and separate from their parents, if not physically then symbolically. It is admirable and a testimony to your parenting that your daughter can live on her own, be responsible for her own finances, food and safety. She has not left you. She is just learning to find her wings and fly on her own. There are many ways in which you can support that. To handle your concerns about her safety, having a discussion about alarms, locks etc may help. Your daughter seems to be an intelligent young woman. As her parents, you would want her to find a partner who will respect her and treat her like an equal. In her quest for independence, she may stumble a bit, but she should know that you are around to support her. Being open to her need for independence and respecting her decision also gives you the opportunity to stay connected and have open conversations, including about your own anxieties.

My husband had to travel abroad for a new job. My son and I will join him next year. My mother, sister and brother came to our place to help as we are expecting our second baby. My mom says she isn’t liking it here and wants to go back. Initially I was patient but gradually, it became unbearable because of the unspoken pressure. I feel she is not even making an effort to settle down and just wants to go back, even though she isn’t particularly happy there. I feel like I can’t talk to my mother and am angry at her. Am I a bad daughter?

— Anonymous

I’d like to reassure you that this is quite common. Neither are you a bad daughter, nor is she an unhelpful mom. Firstly, the pandemic has taken a huge toll on our emotions, especially older people who thrived on social connections and now feel lonely and anxious. When we feel distressed, we’d like to be back in our familiar surroundings which is what your mother probably wants. Secondly, our expectations from our parents may result in us taking them for granted. It looks like you really care for your mother, so acknowledge that she is doing you a huge favour, discuss how you can help her feel more comfortable, negotiate a shorter stay and respect her wishes if she still wants to go back.

I was in an on/off relationship for about seven years. I have cut all connections with my ex-boyfriends who he didn’t like, but he hasn’t. I love him a lot and I know this is very toxic because he makes talking to him very hard. He asks me to support him and says he wants to be with me. I feel his actions and words are completely different. I want to confront him but am worried that it’ll be hard to let him go since I’ve shared a significant portion of my life with him.

— Anonymous

Seven years is a long time. By now both of you should be aware of what is negotiable and non-negotiable. Ex-boyfriends or a platonic girlfriend are not the real problem. Patterns of faulty communication and jealousy may set in early and are related to each partner’s own personal insecurities. Trusting someone and being open with each other means letting go of one’s own fears. Being secretive, confrontational, withdrawing, and being accusatory are all indicative of unhealthy communication. However, these can be resolved by working on one’s own insecurities. In a healthy romantic relationship, one need not stop being friends with others or expect that the partner share every small detail of their life. I would suggest couples counselling because there seem to be things keeping you together.

‘Think before you click to avoid online fraud’

EXPERT ADVICE

‘Think before you click to avoid online fraud’

Shikha Goel, additional commissioner of police, Crimes & SIT, Hyderabad, answers queries from TOI readers on red flags to watch out for during online transactions, common cyber crimes and what people can do in case they are defrauded

30.06.2021 

n Following an advertisement to rent my apartment, I was approached by a man who claimed to be an Army personnel and said he’d transfer the deposit – of Rs 26,000 – once I scan a QR code. Instead of receiving any money, the person withdrew ₹25,000 from my account. I have complained with my bank and cyber crime cell. Should I raise the issue with any other authority. Also, is scanning QR codes not advisable? —Dheerender Ambati

This is a classic QR code scam. It takes advantage of the victim’s lack of knowledge of how the UPI systems of payments and receipts works. It also exploits the gullible person’s trust.

One may need to scan a QR code only when payment is to be made to someone else. To receive money, the other person (payee) must scan your QR code or directly use your UPI address. When you scanned the fraudster’s QR code, your screen would have clearly indicated: “Proceed to pay,”

rather than ‘’Accept Payment”. However, because victims trust the fraudster, they do not pay adequate attention to what is notified on their own screens and such losses are incurred.

The rapid digitalisation, while making processes convenient in many ways, has also increased the risks of online transactions. What measures must people take to protect themselves from frauds? Also, are cyber crime sleuths taking any measures to create awareness among people? —P R Vittal Rao

You are right in terms of overall increased vulnerability to cyber crime, owing to exponential increase in online transactions. However, cheating, impersonation are age-old crimes. Now, these have infested the internet-connected virtual world as well. Most crimes occur because of either of the following or a combination of the same: Lack of adequate information/ sensitivity on part of victim: There are a large number of first-time users of technology currently in India. While the apps and wallets are quite easy to use and have inbuilt security measures, we must be very careful of how we use them. Sufficient training on how the technology really works will go a long way in reducing instances of such crime. Paying close attention while transacting online is also critical.

Plain old greed: Thousands of victims fall for the ruse of a jackpot or a quick financial gain. We should remember that if some proposition offered by an unknown party on the internet seems too good to be true, it is probably a con job. Do not fall for it.

Shame/fear of loss of reputation: We have seen in matrimonial frauds, WhatsApp video-based sex chat frauds etc., that the fear of loss of reputation leads the victims to fall for blackmail and extortion.

I request all citizens to step up without fear and notify authorities. In such matters, adequate confidentiality is maintained by police.

After lodging a cyber complaint, how often is a victim successful in recovering his/her money? —Anirudh Iyengar

In case of online financial frauds, it only takes a fraction of a second to incur huge losses. Add to that, fraudsters divert their ill-gotten funds within minutes into multiple bank accounts spread all over the country and sometimes abroad. Most times, they withdraw the entire amount immediately leaving limited or no money trail. In such scenarios, it is a Herculean task to catch the suspect. Even when they are caught, the chance of recovering the defrauded amount is minimal.

I frequently receive SMSs/ emails saying that huge amounts of lottery or leftover assets are available. The sender asks for all sorts of details. Are all these frauds? Should we report them? If yes, what’s the procedure? —A S R Sarma

The maxim that there are no free lunches stands true in such cases. One should not believe such messages.

THE REPORTING OPTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

When received through SMS, the consumer can register his/ her preference(s) in NCPR by dialing 1909 or by sending SMS to 1909. You can also register using the TRAI DND 2.0 mobile app.

After registering, in case any subscriber receives unsolicited commercial communication after expiry of seven days from the date of his registration in NCPR/DND, he/she may lodge a complaint with the service provider through voice call or SMS to toll free short code 1909 or through DND App within 3 days of receipt of such UCC.

If you receive such potential spam messages on WhatsApp, you can check for reporting options here: https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-andprivacy/staying-safe-onwhatsapp/?lang=en l If you have received an email, especially one that looks like from your bank, all banks have notified phishing reporting email ids where you can send details. You should also block the message in your email tool.

In addition, you can report to the jurisdictional cyber crime police station.

How safe is it to share mobile numbers while transacting with people online? And does it help to block the number later, if it raises any suspicion? —Sunitha Reddy

There is no danger in sharing your mobile number but doing so with unknown persons may pose unforeseen risks in future. So, it is always advisable to err on the side of caution and refrain from sharing your personal mobile number with strangers. Several apps, including some stock apps in leading brands of mobile phones now provide the ability to block a number. You may choose to block a number once you are sure that the caller is pesky or makes you uncomfortable or suspicious in any manner.

I was recently trying to sell used furniture online and realised 9 out of 10 people approaching me were fraud. As soon as I mentioned ‘cash payment’ they withdrew their interest. Is that a sign of a fraudster? Also, is it safe to agree for payment through to GPay or PayTm? —S S Murthy

While we cannot substantiate the percentage, we do agree that a significant number of buyer ids on such websites may belong to potential fraudsters. There are safety guidelines available within the portals themselves which may be closely followed. There is a significantly higher risk of falling prey to cyber crime when the person on the other side insists on only digital payment. However, please understand that you cannot lose money when using a payment tool if you are paying sufficient attention and know how the digital payment networks work.

Now-a-days there are a zillion online trading sites selling everything from clothes to household items to electronic appliances. Many of them are very lucrative as they have great offers. How does one ascertain if an e-commerce platform is genuine or not? —Prakash Kishore

It is difficult to ascertain the genuineness of an e-commerce site. You are already aware of leading e- commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart etc. It is relatively safer to purchase things from such sites owing to their internal policies and support mechanisms against fraud. The safest way to explore new options is through word-of-mouth reference from friends and well-wishers.

Have heard about friends who were defrauded when they clicked on a link sent to them on email, supposedly from their bank seeking some details.

Though they did not furnish any information, just clicking on the link led them to losing money.

How does one save themselves from such high-tech frauds? — Kirthi Parekh

This is rare, but certainly very plausible. If the shared link, when clicked, enables downloading of a malware, then such programme can initiate action on your device without you being aware of it. It is a best practice not to click the links sent by strangers or from seemingly dubious ids. Even though the victim doesn’t knowingly reveal any confidential information, there is a chance that the device/system may get compromised when such links are clicked. Later criminals may take advantage of the same.

Attention: The key to success

Attention: The key to success

The ability to manage attention holds the key to change one’s growth trajectory. Numerous learning applications thus now focus on improving attention power

Bijin.Jose@timesgroup.com

31.05.2021 

Learning is a lifelong pursuit. It expands the horizons of one's imagination and the scope of one's potentials. From a nascent stage, education systems around the world have been emphasising the significance of learning and acquiring knowledge. And, when it comes to learning, attention is the first step in this direction.

Attention is essentially one's ability to actively engage and process specific information or task. It is limited in its capacity and duration, making it vital to have measures to effectively manage it.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, "Attention, in psychology, the concentration of awareness on some phenomenon to the exclusion of other stimuli." It has more to do with the immediate experience of the individual or their current state of awareness.

AN ESSENTIAL SKILL

Everyone is adequately equipped with attention skills. However, unable to pay attention both among children and adults is fairly commonplace. When it comes to education, students are required to focus on the lessons and instructions imparted by the teacher, or for adults, it's important to pay attention to the traffic signal.

The ability to pay attention is different in each individual. While it's easy to focus on things that capture our interests, it gets cumbersome when trying to pay attention to things that aren't very exciting. According to experts, emotions like feeling sad, depressed or anxious are a deterrent to paying attention.

While a century ago it wasn't possible, in 2021 technology is enabling people to manage their attention.

ATTENTION AND ACADEMICS

Every parent wants their child to excel in academics. Attention plays a strong role in other areas of life as well. However, harnessing the power of attention in the formative years can be beneficial and teachers, parents, and technology play a vital role in this. There is countless research that shows how improving or managing attention can help students enhance their academic performance. Considering the diversity in a classroom, it is unlikely that every child would learn and engage in unison. Individualised attention can be rewarding in this scenario. Today, technology is efficiently filling in the gaps offering highly customised and engaging ways to enhance attention.

Technology is offering solutions like addressing the specific needs of every child and adjusting the pace of their learning. With a host of learning applications, there is scope to impact the acquisition of knowledge.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

At present, the world is vastly divided in its perception of technology. While some believe the collective decrease in attention span is associated with the rise of technology, there are many who strongly vouch for tech that promotes attentions skill to improve productivity and academic performance. It is no longer a distraction, technology is offering numerous learning and education applications that help one focus, cancel distractions, and games to enhance cognitive abilities. These tools also help in mapping times of the day when the attention is the highest or lowest, giving students and teachers to effectively manage their attention and learning schedules.

TRAINING THE BRAIN

The brain needs as much fitness training as the body. Regularly challenging the brain can enhance performance in all kinds of cognitive activities like tasks related to concentration and memory. The modern-day learning apps are fun and engaging as they offer vibrant and interactive content to boost learning.

The key ingredients here are the will to learn and an insatiable curiosity. These applications are replete with information in the form of e-books, infographics, podcasts, and videos that are enabling many in their academic pursuits.

Technology is personalising education and offers engagement by cutting down on distractions. Dynamic content and interactive interfaces are not only offering knowledge, but also an efficient way to manage attention.

CONSUMER CONNECT INITIATIVE

Singapore tells Twitter, FB to carry correction notice on strain of virus

Singapore tells Twitter, FB to carry correction notice on strain of virus

Singapore:21.05.2021 

Singapore on Thursday ordered Facebook and Twitter to carry a correction notice to users of the social media platforms in the country over what it says is a false statement about a new virus variant originating in Singapore.

The ministry of health said it was aware of the statement circulating online on media outlets and social media platforms, which implied that a new, previously unknown variant of Covid-19 originated in Singapore and risked spreading to India from the city-state.

The move came after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a Twitter post this week that a new form of the virus that was particularly harmful to children had come to Singapore, and urged for a ban on flights.

Both the Singapore and Indian governments have criticised the opposition politician, saying his comments were not based on facts and were “irresponsible”.

The correction orders were issued under Singapore’s fake news law, or the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act.

Facebook and Twitter confirmed receipt of the order and said they complied as per the local law.

A prompt on users’ Facebook news feeds linked to a government website that said there was no new “Singapore” variant of Covid-19. Neither is there evidence of any Covid variant that is “extremely dangerous for kids”, the health ministry said. It said the B16172 strain found in many new Covid-19 cases in Singapore was first detected in India.

Twitter sent notifications to its account holders based in Singapore, which included a tweet from the Singapore government’s official account @POFMA_Notice. REUTERS

என் நுால்களை யாரும் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம் அரசு அலுவலர்களுக்கு இறையன்பு வேண்டுகோள்

என் நுால்களை யாரும் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம் அரசு அலுவலர்களுக்கு இறையன்பு வேண்டுகோள்

Added : மே 11, 2021 20:35

சென்னை:'அரசு விழாக்களில், அரசு அலுவலர்கள் யாரும், என் நுால்களை, அரசு செலவிலோ, சொந்த செலவிலோ, பூங்கொத்துகளுக்கு பதில் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம்' என, தமிழக அரசின் தலைமை செயலர் இறையன்பு, வேண்டுகோள் விடுத்து உள்ளார்.

அவரது அறிக்கை:நான் பணி நேரம் முடிந்த பின்பும், விடுமுறை நாட்களிலும், எனக்கு தெரிந்த தகவல்களை வைத்தும், என் அனுபவங்களை தொகுத்தும், சில நுால்களை எழுதி வந்தேன். அவற்றில் உள்ள பொருண்மை, கடற்கரையில் கண்டெடுத்த சிப்பியையே, முத்தாகக் கருதி சேகரிக்கும் சிறுவனின் உற்சாகத்துடன் எழுதப்பட்டவை.

இப்போதுள்ள பொறுப்பின் காரணமாக, பள்ளி கல்வித்துறைக்கு, ஒரு மடல் எழுதி உள்ளேன். அதில், 'நான் எழுதியுள்ள நுால்களை, எக்காரணம் கொண்டும், எந்த அழுத்தம் வரப்பெற்றாலும், தலைமை செயலராகப் பணியாற்றும் வரை, எந்த திட்டத்தின் கீழும் வாங்கக் கூடாது' என, தெரிவித்துள்ளேன்.

பார்ப்பவர்களுக்கு என் பணியின் காரணமாக, அது திணிக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதாகத் தோன்றி, களங்கம் விளைவிக்கும் என்பதால் தான், இத்தகைய கடிதத்தை எழுதி உள்ளேன். எந்த வகையிலும், என் பெயரோ, பதவியோ தவறாகப் பயன்படுத்தப்படக் கூடாது என்பதே நோக்கம்.அரசு விழாக்களில் பூங்கொத்துக்கு பதிலாக,புத்தகம் வழங்கினால் நன்று என்ற அரசாணை பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. இது, 2006ல் பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டது.

அரசு விழாக்களில், அரசு அலுவலர்கள் யாரும், என்னை மகிழ்விப்பதாகஎண்ணி, என் நுால்களை, அரசு செலவிலோ, சொந்த செலவிலோ, பரிசாக பூங்கொத்துகளுக்கு பதில் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம் என்று, அன்புடன் விண்ணப்பம் வைக்கிறேன்.இவ்வேண்டுகோள் மீறப்பட்டால், அரசு செலவாக இருந்தால், தொடர்புடைய அதிகாரியிடம் அது வசூலிக்கப்பட்டு, அரசு கணக்கில் செலுத்தப்படும். சொந்த செலவு செய்வதையும் தவிர்ப்பது சிறந்தது.

எனவே, இத்தகைய சூழலை, எக்காரணம் கொண்டும் ஏற்படுத்த வேண்டாம்.இவ்வாறு இறையன்பு தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

Save country from lockdown, use as last resort: PM to states

Save country from lockdown, use as last resort: PM to states

Invokes Ramzan, Ram Navami To Counsel Restraint

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:21.04.2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said current strategies to contain the rapid resurgence in Covid-19 infections were aimed at ensuring least loss of lives and livelihoods and appealed to states to impose lockdowns only as the very last resort.

Addressing the nation, the PM said he would appeal to states to consider micro-containment zones rather than lockdowns. “In today’s situation, we have to save the country from lockdowns,” he said. The comments assume significance in the wake of Delhi being placed under lockdown for a week and reports that Maharashtra was considering similar measures.

The possibility of a lockdown imperilling a nascent economic recovery seemed to weigh heavy on the PM who said state governments should work to assure migrant workers that there was no need to leave for their homes. “They should be asked to stay where they are and assured that they will be vaccinated and also continue to be employed,” he said. The PM laid emphasis on efforts to improve the supply of oxygen at several levels with the measures, including setting up new plants and making sure industrial-use oxygen was utilised for medical purposes. “This time, the corona crisis has meant that the demand for oxygen has risen in many parts of the country. The Centre, states and private sector are all working to ensure that everyone who needs oxygen gets it,” he said.

The PM referred to Navratri and Ramzan, and said Ram Navami, which is on Wednesday, reminds us of the need to remember our limits (maryada) and Ramzan is about selfdiscipline and restraint. “Covid discipline should be followed completely,” he said.

Vaccinating 18+ will lead to secure workplaces: Modi

Modi expressed condolences and sympathy for those who had lost loved ones to the fresh Covid surge, saying the country should not lose courage and hope in facing the challenge that only a few weeks ago seemed to be manageable. “We will take the steps that we need to take without losing courage. That is how we will win,” he added.

Referring to the decision to permit all above 18 to be vaccinated, Modi said this would help secure the workforce and lead to faster vaccinations. Referring to the decision and other measures such as states and hospitals being allowed to procure vaccines, he said the decisions would soon bring down the rising curve of infections.

Urging people to follow Covid protocols carefully, the PM appealed to the younger population not to venture outdoors unless absolutely needed. “In your mohallas and apartments, please form small committees and help maintain discipline,” he said.

“The decision to make vaccination available to those above 18 is intended to ensure that the workforce in cities is able to access vaccines rapidly,” he said, adding that the ongoing programme of vaccinating vulnerable groups would continue in government hospitals.

The PM said leading figures in the pharma industry had stepped forward to increase production of medicines. “Beds are being increased and special and big Covid hospitals are being set up. We started work on vaccines early and scientists have developed the cheapest vaccines. The private sector has shown innovation and enterprise and we have speeded up approvals,” he added.

› Divert oxygen to hosps now, HC tells Centre, P 6 › SC stays HC order to lock down 5 UP cities, P 7 › Centre steps in as states hold up oxy supplies, P 10