What is payroll?

Today many company use payroll to make their bookkeeping is more organized and efficient. If your company has a lot of employees then its very useful to have a payroll package in place for them that reduces the administration of paying them their salary every month, working out their taxes payable and their pension contributions for example. 

If you don't have a specific payroll system it place then it can be very cumbersome and take a lot of time to make sure that everyone gets paid the exact amount due to them and that the right amount of taxes are withheld for the government. If you are trying to do this without a reliable payroll system then you run the risk that you might not pay your employees on time and might pay them the wrong amount. 

This could be very bad for your business if this was to happen as if you paid your employees to little then they would be very upset and if you paid them too much it would be the profit in the business that would suffer. You could ask them to give the money back, which would be quite embarrassing to have to do, but you risk annoying your staff if this happens.

Maybe if you only have a few employees then it would be reasonably easy to administer payroll manually but if you have more than ten employees for example, then it would be really difficult to keep organized and not spend all your time on the administration of your payroll. In cases like this it is much easier to purchase a payroll software system that can automatically calculate net pay due to employees and all the deductions to be withheld from their gross pay. 

The great thing about this system is that once you have introduced it into your company it can administer your payroll no matter how few or how many employees you have, so it works the same for a staff of five hundred as it does for a staff of just five. In addition it is great for record keeping because it can keep thousands and thousands of records at the touch of a button.

Yesterday, my mood was down to basic level which this very rarely happen to me (true!) - only happens since --- I can't really remember . And as usual the only person to place this feeling is my hubby; so I text him and saying how wearily I was. 

As his usual attitude, he replied me with positive words, but still didn't make feel better, I even grumble after reading his text: "arrghh, you don't understand how depress I am!!" - talking to myself  like he was there. I told myself I could go crazy if I let myself down, I really need a friend to talk, so I called a friend who lives in Ireland - just after unsuccessful calling my friend in Indonesia (so Ratu, you know now why I called you yesterday).

Almost every month my hubby went to a firewall party, even recently he's been attending a firewall party once two weeks. I don't know exactly what happens in this country (what I only know is recession still happens till today, and that's more than enough to know as I'm not interested in its details), but there seems the population in the country become less and less everyday.

Two weeks ago we went to a firewall party of my hubby's friend and his wife. They were living for New York. He was a friend of my hubby from college so they were good friends. As I didn't go to first party (I excused myself to them that the reason I didn't go their party was because I don't like at all being in the pub - this true). So they made a second firewall party for those who didn't have a chance to come on the first party - so I had no choice not to come, but telling (actually warned him) not too long in the party, so we were just approximately two hours in the party.

In the party we were talking about to keep in touch with each other, and I asked them to uploading photos when they arrived in New York. I'm actually not crazy about Facebook (probably because I have Facebook account too long - as well two Facebook accounts!); and my hubby is just the opposite of everyone think about Facebook, he said: "so what if I don't have Facebook?".

I told my hubby's friend that he had once a Facebook account setting in 2009, and that was me who signed up the account actually, but then I deactivated it as he didn't used it at all. My hubby told his friend that he would sign up Facebook account once we moved to Singapore.

A week after they moved to New York, my hubby asked me to sign up account for him, but I told him that he can reactivate his old Facebook account. He ensured me that his aim of having Facebook is only to get in touch with his friend in New York.

Does he like Facebook now?

I even must open his account to check if there is a new from his 'New York' friend (when he told me I shouldn't open his account, I told him back that he should be grateful because there is someone who can help you to check his account!) - it's very unusual attitude of me to open his personal thing, but believe me, I'm here to help him (not being so nosy) as he won't or never open his Facebook account! So I'm now his secretary for his Facebook ^^.

Very rarely I find somebody doesn't like Facebook, and I know my hubby isn't the only person who don't like Facebook habits (posting 'what's in your mind', or something even useless, comment history, etc), but still, very very unusual to me (and people in the world, perhaps?) if you don't like Facebook.

Society has always seemed to demand a little more from human beings than it will get in practice.~George Orwel~

What's wrong with Facebook?

"Nothing. it's just useless." That's what I mostly heard from people who know technology and social network but don't have Facebook account. If my hubby comments it that there is no point to put our profile on the internet unless it's needed. A good point to the security of our sake, I guess.

But because they don't know at all about Facebook and don't have one so they don't know either that social network like Facebook isn't just uploading photos or putting useless comment.

People today are more smarter using social network to make their business expand or even to make their words heard by people in the world. A simple example, blogging. Blogging has given a great advantage for me to practice writing, some people even use this to promote their business, other like journalist can make their own newspaper is more independent and heard.

Facebook is now not just being used to show off a personal profile, but also expand a business. Although social network has also disadvantage i.e. people become less active in the real society, but it still give some good points for the society sake.

Anyway, being less active in the real society isn't because from the activity social network - many people just don't like being in a society, like my hubby, but he likes watching TV - can this be called social network activity as well? (I hope he doesn't read this ^^).

Emm, I wonder if we can call people who have type like my hubby (dislike social network) is a conservative (but even conservatives they use social network, don't they?). I wonder if the words above that quoted by Adlai E. Stevenson is aimed for us who like too much showing off our things?

DBLN, 23.17-221111

"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."

~John Dewey~

Her name is Patricia. She's probably in her 70s. My first impression to her on the first day was she seems like 'difficult' woman. She's wearing glasses and brought her own laptop (heavy enough for old woman to bring such as a big laptop, especially if she takes a bus).

As she has experience with computer so the Co-coordinator decided to put her in the follow up class. I thought it would be much easier to teach in the follow up class than in the beginner class - I thought teaching adult easier as they have better understanding, but I finally know what means by patience.

As when we teach children, we don't always know the answer for all their curiosity, but you know what they'd do? I leave this to you.

It's the same what happens when I teach them computer, especially if that's first time ever in their life touching the technology things like computer or phone. Some of them can get so overwhelming even with the small thing like moving the cursor. 

Though my patience as not as big as people think (so far I'm good with them ^^) - what encourages me to keep going and patient with them  is their enthusiasms to learn computer. I never see such as enthusiasm like that (not in longevity especially).

She's more interested in learning Microsoft Words than Internet. First day was the introduction how to type document, save it and send it through email. She got excited on the first day.

Before the next week, she called me asking about things in the Microsoft Words, and I finally know that she's not a hard woman as I thought. In fact, she's the most enthusiast student I've ever had in the class. 

I know better about her in the second week. I introduced her how to use Skype, and practice with the cam. Like other students she's also overwhelming by its magical technology. 

My life is full of experience doing things e.g. learning, teaching, working, etc; I gave a private lesson for accounting when I was in high school; I've worked for myself that gave good income; and I study many subjects which gives me knowledge; but the moment of teaching computer to these senior people is different. They give me inspirations about a thing: PASSION.

I can feel straight away when first time I met them, their passion to keep active, their passion to keep learn new things, and the passion to keep life going as long as they can.

Patricia gave me a very nice gift on the last lesson, and she now able to use Microsoft Words 2010, save it into document and send it through email. She is now still studying but with different tutor. I met her on Friday when she got her laptop fixed by person from Google. 

Two students have been inspiring me a lot about things: life, learning and being independent.

When I told Patricia and other students to keep practice and explore their computer at home, I was actually telling myself to keep myself learning. When I told them not to be shy, I was actually telling myself to be more confidence. 

I'm the one who actually learning in here.

The training was given a week before the tutors start teaching computer. I was a bit nervous as I haven't done the teaching work before, not to older people especially. The good thing is I've volunteered before in social work where dealing with senior people, so I told myself that I can do this work.

The Co-coordinator in the organisation was also very helpful and encourage us. She explained to us the job might be difficult for us as we'll be dealing with senior people who have bad hearing, which is require us to speak louder and slowly - so must very patient to do this job.

Some people decide to cancel after the training day - maybe knowing that they're not patient enough to do the job, or probably some people just think "who wants to volunteer on this job?" - fortunately, many people out there have good patience (just like me ^^).

The class was divided into two different levels, beginners and follow up. As I wasn't sure about what each level looks like, I started with the beginner level first.

I remember the Co-coordinator told us on the training day: "we know you're all nervous, but believe me that your students are more nervous than you" - so good to know that as at least I'm not the only one who get nervous in here.


The shy student

Each tutor have one student, so there were about 20 people in the class. I was introduced to my student who was I think she's in her middle 60s. She looked very quite and shy, I started the conversation by asking her experience in computer. She didn't speak too much, so her shyness challenged me to speak more.

During the class, my nervous was suddenly disappear, I forgot that I was teaching. Probably because she was a shy woman so that kinda arise my confidence.

We also have 15 minutes for break. Tea and cake were provided during the break. I take the advantage during the break to have more conversation with my student. We share story about our life - she gradually become more relax and open to me.

The teaching class was taking only two and half hours, and it went so quickly, I didn't feel teaching at all and hopefully she enjoyed during the class.

The course is for three weeks, and the class is once for every week. I taught her how to use the Skype on the second week; she looked overwhelming by the fact that technology such a computer could make her able to  see herself through a camera (a very affectionate moment when seeing her amazement to the computer).

Three weeks of my first experience have gone so quickly. My student looked happy and so did I. When I asked her whether she wants to continue again the course, she nodded with a smile.

The first three weeks of the course is done and I've decided to continue volunteering again. As well as the Co-coordinator who seems so happy to hear the news from me, I'm happy and excited to meet the next new student.

DBLN, 22.55-161111

While my esprit is up down like a roller coaster, I'm trying to keep positive as much as I can. Writing is the only way to open my hidden words and surely much better than eating chocolate!

This kind of thing never happened to me before, but the atmosphere in Ireland is kind of a 'black' city (everyone and everywhere talks the same old damn thing - the recession!). I feel sick with this whole things, and I want my hubby can get me out of this country as soon as possible before I become nutter.

We don't actually get the effect of the recession (not really), and thank God while so many people struggle paying their mortgage and hard to find a job, our life is much better than those luckless people,  that we still have a nice place to keep us warm in winter and nice foods to keep us away from hunger, and the most important thing according to my hubby is "we still have each other".

I should be so lucky marry a man who always effecting positive thoughts and attitudes no matter what (feel guilty sometimes when I realize how selfish I am). While still holding unemployed title, I try to keep myself busy with study and being a volunteer.

And from now on, I'm gonna record my volunteer activity on my blog! 

I've done many times in volunteer work before, so being a volunteer again is always something special to me. Since my arrival in Ireland, I gain experience in voluntary works. Today, while the crisis still ongoing in Ireland, volunteer activity is raising nearly everyday. 

Volunteer in Ireland is very organised and also accredited by the government. They have special organisation/department that works to look after volunteer.

What I firstly do  to get a volunteer job is register in a local volunteer. And I get a very quick feedback after my registration. They call me to ensure I'm still interested in the volunteer job and also asking what kind of a job I'd be interested in.

The people work in the local office are very helpful and they also provide a very useful information on their website. There different types of volunteer jobs they offer to people, from social work to office work. I normally do the social work, but currently I teach computer for older people.

Every volunteer works has different regulations, therefore some company/organisation isn't the same, for example about reimbursement expenses - some company/organisation do this but some don't. In the organisation I work with now, I don't get reimbursement expenses, but I'm happy to be there anyway.

People who do volunteer come from different backgrounds, in some cases many volunteers are professionals, like doctor or Engineer. Even today in Ireland, those who have background with the director experience would do volunteer as well.

This activity encourage me a lot to keep active and importantly is to to keep my mind positive. Today, I just back from interview for another volunteer work. My work will be helping refugees who come from different countries, specifically to help them to get use to with the current culture they live now. And I'm so excited to meet them!

Next posting will be my first volunteer story about teaching computer. Adios!

DBLN, 19.52-151111

I've been thinking a lot to lose my weight, and I plan to do it seriously, however the reality is only not even 50 % of the plan: go  to the gym only once a week, sometimes twice a month only. The main reason (that I'm happy to make excuse of my exercise absence) is the weather, and it's not just me reluctant to left the house while out side  freezing!

Okay that's enough for excusing myself. Now, I really need to lose my weight (as the weight cannot be tolerate anymore!). The last two weeks, I still had 53.3 kg, and  yesterday raised to 54!

I go panic to see my weight so I go to gym this evening and do the 'revenge': nearly 2 hours exercising in the gym! I do swimming, gym, step aerobic and the aero blast class - what a day for me!

I know it's not a good idea to do too much exercise (I'll do better next time) as I usually don't do that thing. I'm smart enough to keep my weight balance (49 kg is my normal weight), and the most importantly is to keep my health. The thing is my routine life is kind of effecting my thought, and when I feel so frustrated I can't control what I eat (specially chocolate that always makes me feel so much better).

I don't believe with my hubby opinion that when we get older the weight gain - that's not a good reason, isn't it? I don't care about getting older, I just believe if you can't keep balance your weight that would effect your health.

I feel I'm weaker now. I want to do a real exercise, and not just exercising my body, but my mind (not my brain as I study a lot of things recently).

I feel like I'm in a small 'cave' now with too many features without a light. I need a light. A light that brings me energy. Energy that bring up my real passion. The real enthusiasm. Not compulsion. 

How do you describe the term of equality? I believe everyone has different perspective to what so-called equality. The terms of equality according to law might be different from the others; for example, the immigration rules, immigrants have different rights with the citizens. Alright, I got it, but that's not what I want to talk about in relation to equality.

What I mean by equality is equality in general, how people treat other people (Included in laws?), and I find very strong inequality in Indonesia, in job field for example. Sadly, this still happens where many people do many campaigns for the human rights.

You will find most of companies require only in performance and age rather than qualifications (not sure if they hire expat: will they ask their age?).

Below is the most common requirements you find in the job ads in Indonesia:

Age

Younger age is the most thing that required staff by companies (generally, 20s to 35, but very rarely they ask for more than 35). I don't know what the company think about hiring older people (not too old if you're 35, isn't it?), perhaps hiring younger people are much cheaper than senior. The thing is how the company develops their business with only inexperienced young staffs? This is just my simple thought, maybe you have better thought than mine.

Another  a thought of mine is, I find most airplane pilots in Indonesia are young handsome fellows (while  in Europe or America exactly the opposite): in Europe the more they're longer working in their fields the more they experience - and I don't understand how in Indonesia terms the senior. I allude my inconsequential thoughts to what often happens in the airways Indonesia.

My uncle himself has left his job before his pension (and the company thing its time for him to pension). Since he left his job he find it difficult to get a job. With a banking experience in many years he shouldn't find it too hard, and his old age is the only reason. Now, he works in a totally different field where certainly he dislikes it.

If you are over 35 my advice is try to be enterpeneur instead, I believe this way is more promising future in Indonesia than working in a company. There is no too young or old to be enterpeneur so start your luck from here.

Status: Married or Single?

Why this status so matter for many companies? Well,  my idea is probably hiring people with married status or having a relationship are probably will cost trouble for the company, or do you have better idea?

I'd laugh till dead if a company refuse me because of my marital status, but I'm telling you it happens.

Performance

Sometimes they can go more specific like 'good looking and attractive' - usually this advertised for the secretary job or if the company require for female.

So definitely the job is not for those ugly ones.

Reputable University

From 260's millions people, not even half of people in Indonesia are rich, neither half of them are smart or maybe they don't just like to go to the the best university in Indonesia. But many companies require this: "preferably from reputable university": Intellectual and social discrimination?

Maybe we just need to learn more about so-called equality.

DBLN, 18.26-131111

Emm, this weekend is a bit longer than usual, I've been searching for a template since two days ago, and have been changing the JengSRI's Blog for a couple of times. Yesterday the template was look okay to me, and I've asked my hubby about it (well, actually I annoyed him with a question every one minute!).

I was actually looking a template with pastel colours, and most the good ones made for the CSS formats, which is not equal to Blogspot format. But then I remember Cebong Ipiet, the Indonesian blogger who's been so creative making gorgeous templates, and because I remember on her comment somewhere saying that the reason she makes template with pastel colours is because she loves that colours.

And I actually love the pastel colours too, and also the features of  Cebong Ipiet's templates looks fresher, lifer and girly. I like girly things with not too much glamours. On Cebong's Ipiet templates, I find the blending of 'girly' and the 'feminine' template arts.

If you're a Blogspot user  and a big fans of pastel colours for your template then don't look any further as Cebong  Ipiet's templates will be your favourite choice.

Thanking for Cebong Ipiet for all the great jobs, and surely without her, the blogging activity will not be the same. I'm very appreciated all your creations, you are a very talented young woman! Thanks million. I love this template!

After few days looking for the 'attractive' templates for JengSRI's Blog and DapuR-Qu, I finally find the new ones to change my old template blogs. I got few collection of templates on my folder template during my research, and I upload most of them into the JengSRI's Blog and DapuR-Qu to see if they look okay, and got ones match with them, at last: don't they look fresher now?

I change the template blog frequently to most of my blogs with aims to encourage myself to update my blog often. Having more than one blog needs extra jobs, not just for updating, but also looking for a new topic and templates.

I don't know how powerful a template for the blog popularity, I know template is not the main thing to increase a rank, but you know in blogging activity (especially if you do blog-walking), some blogger like to visit a blog just because the person has a great template? So it's all not about a good article that a blog can get good rank.

I'm thanking to those creative blogger who have been working hard to make such as lovely templates - without them, the blogging world will not be the same. And special thanks for BuyMyThemes  that provides variety of templates for us.

Bogging is likely become one of the most trend Internet activity, even after Facebook's booming. In 2000's its popularity develop, specially in Southeast. By 2008's blogging in Indonesia spreads over the country and today blogging develops its activity not just on a community but has also influenced in almost aspect of social levels.

Myself starts blogging since 2002's using Friendster host. As not so many people knew about blogging on that era so blogging was not really fascinating Internet activity at the moment. 

However, although blogging trends has spread around the world some people still new with this thing. For example, somebody in my forum course posted  about a topic related to blogging for beginners and what best hosts for blogging. 

There is actually no particular levels in blogging activity, anyone can start blogging with a very limit knowledge about blogging. What make people good at blogging is because they have passion on Internet. Surely a host play role as well, particularly if we beginner. 

How is a host play role in blogging?

Different hosts have different features, some hosts have easy features and some might need a bit skill such as template skills. 

I have used different hosts for the past of 9 years, so far I can only find a good host for blogging.

I've been using Blogspot for 5 years and I must admit that this host gives me a lot of advantages. Blogspot features are very easy, even for beginners. You don't need specific a skill to change your template as blogspot provide a feature to change it, is by just uploading it the new template.


Blogspot also a good rate to upgrade domain. In 2009 I upgrade my domain with only $ 10 payment per year. Somehow since the domain changes it impacts my blog traffics not just attract visitors from Indonesia but in many countries as well. 


Blogspot allows users to post review job and most advertisers accept blogspot host to get the review job

Blogspot has also host collaborate with Google and Amazon, which is another good advantages for blogger to earn income aside from the review jobs. 


Blogspot is more caching for the SEO - this is perhaps because Blogspot is owned by Google and Google is the most a tool search that used by many people. 


When I test a subject that related to my blog, Google's result show my blog on the first top of the first page. I don't have to worry about doing blog-walking to increase my blog or getting back links. What I need is only updating my blog very often, so Google can give more significant result for my blog traffics.


Less than two months my back links increase from 50's to 78, and without blog-walking needed. That perhaps it's not a big movement, but comparing how difficult a site can be read by people, so the result is not  bad at all. 


DBLN, 20.16-051111

This posting is just to encourage me while doing the MOS course. After successfully finishing the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) I decided to take further course, and this time is I attempt to sit for the Microsoft Office Specialist Certificate and I'm very excited doing this course (although I didn't really like the Access before). As I started with dislike mood when doing Access course (just like most other my classmates), however, after several attempts trying to understand the materials I gradually find that this course is challenging (and no too difficult as well) - I guess everyone is different.

Anyway, lets revise all my previous lessons about how to work with table in Access 2007.

All data in Access store in table. Large database can have hundreds of tables. Table generally contains of data such as customer details, address, phone numbers, date of birth, etc (See the example image below).

Depend what data you want to put on table -  gathering and then deciding all the information before putting them into table is crucial as this can save you from wasting time, energy and money, too.

Creating table can be done through as follow:

I only cover 3 ways how to make table: blank template, table template and through design view. From those 4 ways, the most easiest way I think is using table template. But it would depend on what type of template and data you want to put as some table templates might not suit for your data needs.

The design view can be very handy too if you want to put additional setting data, such as Validation Rules, Input Mask, or if you want to look for specific information you can put a formula that enable you to find only the information you need.

Whatever ways you want to do when creating a table it's important to remember that table has different types of characteristics. The  table types characteristic as follows:

Knowing these types characteristic is important as this will impact to your data performance. So before adding your data ensure you match the right character to your data.

“There is nothing more contagious on this planet than enthusiasm.” – Carlos Santana

I meet some people who easy to give up at doing something although they haven't try it - myself used to like this, especially when I was younger, but then gradually bit by bit change. I wonder if maturity effectuated by the increasing age?

Speaking of giving up at something, somewhat I've thought a lot recently about to try harder of what I do now - not harder in ambitious means but rather than to encourage myself more. Even with something that so ordinary, I want to try harder.

For example, today, I had to get the further train station than the one that I usually got. The flooded was the cause of the train didn't stop on the usual station. After finishing from the gym, I called my hubby to check the time table as I didn't want to miss the train to Clongriffin and neither want to stay longer in the station. My hubby informed the very nearly time to Clongriffin would be in 7 minutes. I was still far enough from the train station, so my hubby suggested to take the next train as he thought I wouldn't make it at time. I was thinking as my hubby that 7 minutes would probably not enough, but then I thought again that I never try it - to run quickly from my gym to the that station.

So I asked my hubby: "Do you think I have time to caught the train?" with convinced voice my hubby replied: "You won't. Take the next train instead".

But I responded him in more conviction: "Well, I give it try. Maybe I can caught the train if I run".

After we ended the conversation I switch the phone to Music folder and searching for a 'live' music. I played Chayanne song entitled Salome and then walked so quickly. Just when the song finished I almost arrived on the train station, and I saw the train to Clongriffin has just arrived. I replayed the song and running very fast.

I told myself when I climbed those bloody stairs on the station: "Oh please don't leave me train - I beg you" - I keep praying and running at the same time. And thank God, I arrived just at time.

That's just a very ordinary incident happens to me today, but it inspires me a lot about not giving up at something unless you try it.

We very often give up at something, this because the brain calculate the 'impossible' thoughts to do it and send those calculations message to our entire body to give up (although you haven't tried even just once).

It took me a while to be very confident in teaching computer. I have to look for students who were less confidence than me. But then I knew that I couldn't be like this for longer as it was just killed my confidence even deeper. So I bared myself to take a job where conversation with native speakers is needed. And I couldn't stop laugh at myself when I find myself easy to speak at front of new people - and I just hate my narrow minds sometimes as I often let them to make all the good neurons in my brain down.

Well, let the past be past as I want to be better today.

DBLN, 21.48-011111