9 companies that help pay for your vacation

9 companies that help pay for your vacation9 companies that help pay for your vacationIts been commonly reported that Americans dont take the majority of their allotted vacation time. Whether its due to an inability (real or perceived) to take time off, a lack of support from management, or a shortage of funds, many employees find themselves taking very few days off.However, there are some companies that are seeking to help workers take the time off they deserve, and even financially support much-needed trips. Glassdoor recently compiled a list of companies that pay for your vacation. These companies offer stipends, discounts, and reimbursements to employees to help them take a vacation and truly enjoy it.We compared Glassdoors list to our own database of flexible companies. The nine companies below currently have flexible openings or have offered opportunities in the past. This list can serve as a great way to find companies that pay for your vacation and offer you flexible work opt ions to boot.Here are nine flexible companies that help pay for your vacation1. AirbnbAirbnb was established in 2008 as an online hospitality marketplace for hosts and travelers to connect. Airbnb features listings for homes, rooms for rent, villas, boutique hotels, and mora. It has served thousands of people through its 2 million worldwide listings. Employees receive $2,000 worth of travel coupons each year.2. BambooHRBambooHR is an HR software solutions company that seeks to help companies move beyond spreadsheets. It offers software to help with applicant tracking, employee onboarding, time-off management, employee database, and more. Located in Lindon, Utah, the company has hired for part-time and remote jobs in the area. BambooHR offers employees what they call paid paid vacation - $2,000 each year to travel as you please.3. EvernoteEvernote is an all-encompassing app that allows anwenders to capture, organize, and share notes in one place. Links, tables, audio messages, and m ore can be included in each note. Evernote is located in Mountain View, California, and has offered freelance jobs in the past. The company offers employees unlimited vacation days and a $1,000 yearly vacation stipend.4. ExpediaAs a well-known travel booking site, Expedia has served clients in more than 60 countries worldwide. Users of the site can book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and even activities. As an employer, Expedia hires for freelance and telecommute positions. Employees of the company receive a travel reimbursement that ranges from $250-$750, depending on tenure. They also receive discounts on retail and travel packages purchased through the site.5. FullContactAnother company that pays for your vacation, FullContact is a platform that helps businesses and individuals develop and maintain business relationships. It helps in the areas of identity resolution, contact management, profile enrichment, audience insights and development, fraud prevention, and customer care. FullContact provides $7,500 per year for employees to travel - and its required that they dont work while on vacation6. MozMoz is a software as a service (SaaS) company that develops software for inbound marketing, hosts vibrant communities of online marketers, and provides APIs for link data and social influence. The rundown of what Moz employees receive for vacation is 21 days paid time off per year, seven days of sick leave, 10 paid holidays, and $3,000 per year vacation expense reimbursement.7. TravelzooTravelzoo is a commerce site in business since 1998. It publishes travel deals from over 2,000 entertainment, travel, and local companies to an audience of 28 million members across the world. It also offers exclusive deals and rates to members who join the site. According to Glassdoor, employees of Travelzoo are offered a $1,500 stipend and three extra days of PTO to book a hotel stay, vacation package, cruise, or flight offer that we negotiate on behalf of our 28 million members worldwide, according to Michael Stitt, President of Travelzoo North America.8. TripAdvisorAs the worlds largest travel site, TripAdvisor serves more than 350 million users monthly. Users can book flights, hotels, vacation rentals, restaurants, and more. The site boasts a large database of user reviews to help customers make the right travel choices for their needs. As a company, TripAdvisor offers a travel reimbursement of $250 or more, depending on how long an employee has worked at the company. It also offers discounts on packages offered through the website.9. United AirlinesFounded in 1926, United Airlines now hosts 4,500 flights every day to more than 335 airports on five continents. As one of the largest airlines in the world, United Airlines seeks to be an inclusive employer and was even named one of the Worlds Most Admired Companies by Fortune magazine. The company offers discounted airline tickets and unlimited standby travel on any United flight to employees.This article first appeared on FlexJobs.

SelfCleaning Solar Panels Maximize Energy Efficiency

SelfCleaning Solar Panels Maximize Energy Efficiency SelfCleaning Solar Panels Maximize Energy Efficiency Solar panel conversion efficiency, typically in the 20 percent range, is reduced by dust, grime, pollen, and other particulates that accumulate on the solar panel. A dirty solar panel can reduce its power capabilities by up to 30 percent in high dust/pollen or desert areas, says Seamus Curran, associate professor of physics at the University of Houston and director of the Institute for NanoEnergy, which specializes in the design, engineering, and assembly of nanostructures.Cleaning dirty panels with commercial detergents can be time-consuming, costly, hazardous to the environment, or even corrode the solar panel frame. Ideally solar panels should be cleaned every few weeks to maintain peak efficiency, which is especially hard to do for large solar-panel arrays.Cleaning can cost up to five dollars per panel, says Curran. That might not sound like a lot of money, but if you have 52 ,000 panels it adds up quickly.Robust CoatingTo solve this problem, Curran and his nanophysics group in the Institute for NanoEnergy developed a self-cleaning nanohydrophobic material that coats the solar panel to maintain peak efficiency over longer periods of time.The coating itself is very robust, says Curran. An actual covalent linkage holds it to surface of the panel, creating a strong chemical bond. This is a big advantage over spray-on coatings, which gradually degrade with time.Self-Cleaning Hydrophobic Coatings (SCHN107) Layer, licensed by C-Voltaics, prevents dust buildup, water stain and weathering. Image source C-voltaics.comThe principle behind a hydrophobic coating is that the layer forms a barrier so that water accumulates on the surface in an almost spherical shape, but is blocked from adhering to the surface by the barrier. This means that when a treated surface is tilted at an angle, the water rolls off the surface like a sphere rolling down a slide, says Curran. W hat is unique in this case is that the nanocoating is so thin (8 nanometers) compared to normal hydrophobic coatings that can be microns thick.Currans nanohydrophobic coating can be applied to a variety of surface materials, including glass, aluminum, cloth fibers, wood, textiles, and plastic. The layer is so thin that it does not scatter light, and therefore, does not interfere with the solar panels performance.Water is one of the main reasons solar panels get dirty. Rain and condensation settle in the microdepressions present in the glass surface, where they attract particulate matter. The water quickly evaporates, leaving a dirty residue behind that is difficult to remove. However, an application of the nanohydrophobic layer fills in the microdepressions, creating a smooth glass surface that cannot hold water.As the water is repelled by the treated surface it will also pick up and carry away the dust and dirt, thereby cleaning the panel naturally, says Curran.Material TestingThe material has been tested at the FOCAS Institute in the hauptstadt von irland Institute for Technology in Ireland, where Curran is an adjunct professor, as well as facilities in North Carolina. Preliminary results have shown that the coating repels both fresh and saltwater, indicating it should be effective in marine climates as well.We have the coatings on 24 solar panels that have been environmentally tested in light, rain, and pollen, says Curran. I am pleased to say that we have survived in these environments and the panels are producing lots of power.The product, named the Self-Cleaning Hydrophobic Coatings (SCHN107TM) Layer, has been licensed by C-Voltaics, a start-up energy company that is a spinoff from the University of Houston. When commercialized it will improve the efficiency and reduce the maintenance needed for any photovoltaic system. The proprietary coating will also allow deployment of solar panels in harsh (dust, salt) environments with minimum performance degradati on.Because it works so well on a variety of different surfaces, SCNH107 has a number of potential applications in aviation, aerospace, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, natural sciences, renewable energy, and architecture, both as a hydrophobic layer and an anti-corrosive.Mark Crawford is an independent writer.The hydrophobic coating is held to the surface of the solar panel by a strong covalent bond, which is a big advantage over spray-on coatings, which gradually degrade with time.Seamus Curran, associate professor of physics, University of Houston

Contract Addendum FAQ - Australia

Contract Addendum FAQ - AustraliaContract Addendum FAQ - AustraliaWhat is the governing law of my Contract Addendum?The governing law will usually be the jurisdiction in which the property is located, depending upon the property involved. Depending upon the contract, the parties may choose one of the jurisdictions the parties reside in. How many times can I amend a contract using an Contract Addendum?There is no limit in law to the number of times a contract can be amended. However, our contract allows you to make amendments to a contract on 5 separate occasions which should deal with almost all potential situations. If additional amendments are needed after the fifth amendment, then an entirely new contract should be executed. How many amendments can I make to the contract within a single Contract Addendum?Our contract allows you to make up to 5 changes to existing terms of the contract. If you have mora than 5 amendments to make, you should create a new contract rather than amendin g the existing one. Can I add completely new clauses to the contract?Yes, you can use the Additional Terms section of the questions page to create new contractual terms that were not contained in the contract originally. If the parties execute an Contract Addendum, do the terms of the original contract still apply?Yes, all of the original contractual terms still apply, except to the extent that they have been amended by the Contract Addendum. Can I amend a contract such as a lease without the other partys consent?No, a legal contract between two or more parties cannot be altered unilaterally. Our Contract Addendum contains spaces for the parties to the original contract to acknowledge their consent to the amendment by signing their names. I selected Corporation/Organization for one of the Parties. The signing area now displays (seal). What does this mean?The corporate seal is used to authenticate corporate documents. The device to create the seal is a stamp that will emboss paper. T he signing officer for your corporation would usually have authority over your corporate seal.I do not know when the Contract Addendum will be signed. Can I fill in the date later?Yes, by selecting Unsure as the date the agreement will be signed, a blank line will be inserted into the contract so that you can add the correct date after printing the document.

10 Words and Phrases to Watch Out for on Resumes [Infographic]

10 Words and Phrases to Watch Out for on Resumes Infographic 10 Words and Phrases to Watch Out for on Resumes Are you a detail-oriented team player who thinks outside the box to develop synergy between departments?If so, please dont write that on your resume.Words and phrases like team player, synergy, and think outside the box have become so overused that they mean virtually nothing anymore. As every student of creative writing knows, the key is to show, not tell. So stop telling employers youre a jack of all trades and abflug highlighting specific examples of your achievements in a variety of fields.And if youre a recruiter on the receiving end of these buzzword-laden resumes, you have our deepest sympathies. You also, thanks to pre-employment screeners EBI, have a guide to help you decode what candidates are trying to say when they throw this empty language at you.Check out the infographic from EBI below, which outlines what 10 all-too-common resume words and phrases shouldreally sayMaster the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.

Better Fuel Efficiency Through a Better Oil Pump

Better Fuel Efficiency Through a Better Oil Pump Better Fuel Efficiency Through a Better Oil Pump As the market and government regulations push automakers to improve emissions and fuel consumption, they are evaluating all opportunities in the engine system to reduce losses. The oil pump is one important component that consumes engine power as it protects engine components from frictional wear and overheating by delivering oil at the correct pressures.Fixed-displacement oil pumps currently circulate oil in most automobiles. Designers typically oversize the pumps to handle the harshest engine operating conditions. Most of the time, they consume mora power and deliver significantly higher oil pressure than needed. They contain pressure-relief valves as a crude, cost-effective, and reliable way to avoid excessively high oil pressures. But these designs are inefficient, losing significant amounts of energy at high oil flows typical in internal-combustion engines.Providing Customized Oil F lowVariable-displacement oil pumps help to minimize energy losses. Their active control matches the oil flow and pressure the engine needs, eliminating excess oil flow, significantly reducing the parasitic load on the engine crankshaft, and ultimately saving fuel.In variable displacement pumps, changing the displacement volume controls the flow rate. Vane-pump designs have hydraulic and electrical controls and actuators that move the pump housing and vary the eccentricity of the rotor. Electronic control signals and solenoid control valves vary the pressure set points as operating conditions dictate.Variable displacement pumps help to minimize energy lost.Automobile OEMs adopted these types of pumps in 2011, applying them in engines for high-end vehicles in Europe. Although research has evaluated the fuel-economy benefits of reduced oil flow from a torque-reduction perspective, the industry lacked information about its control, use, and thermal interactions with other engine systems .As part of an industry- and university-consortium project partially funded by the UK Technology Strategy Board, researchers at the University of Bath, Bath, UK, and Ford aggregat Company, Detroit, MI, thermally tested variable-displacement oil pumps to gain insight about performance and oil pumping speed. The group evaluated vane and rotor pump designs in an active 2.4-L diesel engine on an engine stand at many different operating conditions and found that fuel economy benefits warrant the pump expense.Benefits to Lower FlowThe study showed that variable-displacement pumps were able to customize the oil pressure to as a low as 1-2 bars, offering a wider range than the 4-6 bars from standard fixed-displacement pumps. They could also provide much lower flow rates. This combination significantly reduced the energy the pump consumed, resulting in a 3%-6% higher fuel economy during both hot and cold starts, with higher engine speeds producing greater fuel-economy benefits.Ian Pegg, Ford s project director, calls fuel economy gains of this degree significant, but says reducing parasitic energy loss with low flow is only one part of the story. Controlling the oil feed pressure also creates additional benefits within the engine. The chain primary drives hydraulic tensioner is affected by oil feed pressure. Maintaining a lower pressure lowers the running tension in the chain drive and its parasitic losses.Richard Burke, University of Bath research officer, also found that during warm-up, the more efficient pump heated the oil less, producing oil that was cooler by 4C. Less heat was generated in the pressure relief valve, and less overall heat was transferred to the oil around the engines piston and bore regions.Manageable Thermal PenaltiesReduced oil flow that improves fuel economy also increases combustion chamber temperatures and reduces piston cooling, which heats the metal cylinder liners by 2C to 6C. This effect reducedhydrocarbon andcarbon dioxideemissions by 3%- 5%, but also increased NOx by as much as 3%.Pegg explains that inlet air, combustion chamber, and combustion temperatures and engine load all dramatically affect NOx. Generally, reducing engine load reduces NOx, but with reduced oil flow, the piston runs slightly hotter, which increases NOx, so we are generally neutral. During a normal drive cycle with a warm-up, NOx is negligible. In a hot engine, NOx is minor, but that condition could be easily influenced by changing the inlet temperature a few degrees, he says.The variable-flow oil pump wins on fuel economy with a minor effect on NOx, since it doesnt influence the combustion temperature significantly, Pegg says. As with all active systems on internal combustion engines, calibrations can manage this tradeoff.Potential for Wide UseBurke explains that this approach has a lower NOx penalty compared to other control mechanisms such as EGR or injection timing, and is very favorable to fuel economy. He says, All vehicles can benefit fro m this technology because it is low cost and universally applicable. The benefits from the variable-flow oil pump are directly linked to engine operating speed, with higher speeds profiting most.Small engines operating over a large speed range, such as those in automobiles, are at the greatest disadvantage with fixed-displacement devices and would see the largest benefits. But, he says, It would still be a cost-effective improvement in any application where there is a range of operating speeds and temperatures.Pegg adds that any technology that reduces friction will provide a benefit at all engine operating conditions. In general, fuel economy improvements that reduce parasitics are more cost-effective in terms of the benefit per dollar spent than options that are drive-cycle dependent, like hybrids, where more efficiency gains are experienced during cold starts and stops and less during freeway driving, he says.According to Pegg, weight reduction actions can cost hundreds of dollar s for each percent improvement in fuel economy, but variable-flow oil pump installations can cost tens of dollars for a 3% increase.These types of pumps are progressively coming to many markets. As environmental laws become more stringent, variable-flow oil pumps will become normal business, Pegg says.Debbie Sniderman is CEO of VI Ventures LLC, a technical consulting company.As environmental laws become more stringent, variable-flow oil pumps will become normal business.Ian Pegg, Ford Motor Company

Genie Customer Service Guide

Genie Customer Service Guide The mock exam was made in a way which is quite much like the true exam. In summary, it simulates the actual exam atmosphere. The technician will subsequently supply you with a comprehensive explanation along with his recommendations. You will receive a money-back guarantee of passing the exam in the very first try. Additionally, it was relatively straightforward to acquire your own address on the internet. A neighborhood Computer User Group Id joined helped me find the ideal program. Learning how to prepare and USE the computer was rather challenging. It was rather difficult. The learn button might be located on the face of the opener but, most models have them on the back of the machine. Our company may deal with all types of garage doors, no matter the make or model. Trolley operators are designed for use on standard lift sectional doors. Our rates are extremely competitive and when compared with different companies fees, you will obser ve that ours are the best deals. Theres no extra cancellation fee. Order cancellation requests cant be accepted via email. Advance notice to cancel the plan is the duty of the customer. Things You Should Know About Genie Customer Service In case its hidden, users might feel confused and pause their setup process for some time geschiebemergel they find out what things to do next. Thus, to eradicate such problems permanently, make sure you have secured your devices with a distinctive network name and a strong password. Theres no place left where the web and its usage arent required. When it can record as many as five shows at the same time, simultaneous playback is limited to four. The Lost Secret of Genie Customer Service Youll generate plenty of ideas, discard some and keep the ones which excite you. You can specify a particular number of ideas or write for a particular moment. Step-by-step instructions are offered from several places. Meaning it has an identical format , the time permitted to finish and relevant and similar questions. The details tab is likewise very useful when I am attempting to come across other contact names or some extra information regarding the lead. Users must be eighteen decades old or older to use the item. Make certain that you have the right login details. See the official site to find documentation about Genie and specific documentation for assorted releases. You merely write down as many ideas as possible. If youre thinking that the new Genie device would be costly then youre erroneous. The genie lamp proved to be a stunning golden brown color with a bit of black shades. A slot machine is the best example. The Truth About Genie Customer Service If your cat starts to vomit, dont panic because there are more than a few reasons why your kitty might be feeling a bit under the weather. There are dozens and dozens of angels and archangels who are ready and prepared to help us. While the good thing is that vo miting is common in kittiesthe bad news is it can be tough to work out what has your cats stomach in this kind of uproar. Several times per day would be about perfect. Maintaining equipment to make the most of uptime is essential for our rental clients. When routers begin to fail, there are times when you may find that yourself constantly unplugging and plugging the routers power to receive it to do the job. Make sure your router is put openly at a greater shelf. Led by a knowledgeable group of professionals with a very customer-focused strategy, a first-class infrastructure and whats most likely the very best quality after sales service in the area, Bahrah Trading has everything that Genie customers will need to support their company. Or you are able to give Genie Bra customer support a telephone call. A Genie machine demands very little maintenance since its made from oben liegend material. Window Genie services primarily residential clients, in addition to small offices a nd business spaces.

Increase the Speed of Your Hiring Approval Process in 2016

Increase the Speed of Your Hiring Approval Process in 2016Not only does a slow hiring process stretch the rest of your team thin, it can cause you to miss out on desirable candidates who receive offers from other companies while youre still working on making a final decision. In order to continue to hire effectively, your business should focus on streamlining your hiring process in 2016. Here are some ways to make this happen Train Your Recruiters and Hiring Managers More EffectivelyIf these people understand the urgency of nahe daran sein hiring, theyre more likely to work to move the process along. Give real world examples about how detrimental a slow process is to your company, and then offer tips for keeping the process moving.Keep Your Applicants in the LoopIf you fail to update candidates about where you are in the process, dont be surprised when they accept other offers. In order to keep candidates more engaged, make it a point to connect with them regularly about where you ar e in the process.Do a Better Job of Vetting Candidates in the BeginningYou should be selective about the candidates you choose to bring in for an interview. Ideally the people you meet with during a first round interview should still be strong potential employees, even though its early in the process. You shouldnt use the first round interview to talk to just anyone, even if it is for a short phone or video interview. When youre more selective about who you talk to, it makes the hiring process easier and faster, as youre not wasting time on those who simply arent qualified.Set Firm DeadlinesWhen you head into the hiring process with set deadlines in mind about when each step will be finished, its easier to stay on track. Determine when you want first and second round interviews to be done, then figure out when youd like to have a decision made and the chosen candidate notified. Make sure everyone is aware of these deadlines and stick to them as best you can.Set Realistic Expectation sIf you move through the hiring process waiting to find the perfect candidate, youll be searching and searching with no luck. Instead of waiting until a flaw-free application shows up on your desk, be realistic as you analyze the materials you receive. Perhaps the individual didnt receive a degree from a highly prestigious school, but have they obtained other certifications or training? Do they have unique work experience that could benefit the rest of the team? When you accept that a perfect candidate is a myth, it makes it much easier to make a choice.Another trick to make the hiring process move along quickly? Start sorting through the applications you receive as soon as they come in. Waiting until you have hundreds of resumes sitting in front of you feels overwhelming and can slow the process down.How do you plan to speed up your hiring approval process in 2016?