Handbook For Employers Instructions For Completing Form I 9: Fill & Download for Free

Before You Announce You're Pregnant at Work1. Familiarize Yourself with Maternity Leave Rights and Laws2. Learn Your Company's Policy3. Tell Your Supervisor FirstTell your supervisor / manager you are preparing a maternity leave plan and that you'd like their input and approval. We hope they'll be pleasantly surprised that you were so forward-thinking and we've written an article with tips about how to tell your boss you're pregnant.4. Discuss Your Plan Ideas with Your BossSet up a meeting to discuss your plan with your boss at a good time for them (i.e. not before major deadlines, stressful deals, their vacations or major holidays).5. Write Your Maternity Leave PlanCreate a written maternity leave plan you are comfortable handing over and leaving with your manager. This is a large project in-itself that should cover what communication (if any) you plan on keeping with the office while you're out, and also whether you think your manager will need to hire any temporary replacements for you. We've written a summary of what your maternity leave plan should entail and how to create a maternity leave plan to help you cover all your bases.6. Decide if You Want to NegotiateDecide whether you are going to try to negotiate for a longer maternity leave or more pay before you have the meeting with your manager. If so, be prepared in your meeting with your manager to discuss that after he/she appears to generally approve of your plan.7. Prepare for Any NegotiationsPrepare yourself for the maternity leave negotiation by doing your research, having some concrete proposals and rationales and by sizing up the process at your company. We've written an article about how to negotiate your maternity leave.8. Update Your Plan as NecessaryIf you are successful in negotiating additional leave, make sure you update your written maternity leave plan to account for extra time off (if applicable).9. Get All Changes and Approvals in WritingIf your manager has approved an out-of-policy maternity leave arrangement, make sure you get this approval in writing (its better to be safe and paranoid, than sorry).In Your Last Trimester10. Create a Shareable Version of Your PlanOnce you and your managers have agreed on your maternity leave plan, create a version of the plan to share with the people you manage (if any). This document should detail things like the dates you will be leaving and returning, who your direct reports should go to for items that might require approval or managerial sign-off, and what you expect them to accomplish during your absence. This document will help you stay organized when you check-in with them either during or after your maternity leave.11. Discuss Your Plan with Your Direct ReportsSet up individual meetings with your direct reports before your maternity leave begins to discuss your expectations and clarify any concerns or issues they may anticipate. Be explicit that you expect your team to prepare so that you aren't dealing with last-minute issues as your due date approaches.12. Fill out All Necessary FormsGo to HR to get any forms you may need to fill out. For example, you may need to fill out a vacation request if you are using those days to supplement your maternity leave. You may also have to fill out forms for FMLA, ST disability, the doctor, state disability (depending on where you live) and for time off under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) if that applies to you.13. Share Any Necessary FormsMake photocopies of all completed forms, and send them to the appropriate people (e.g. your doctor, your insurance company, your HR department). Follow up to confirm that the forms were received. This is especially important for any benefits that require a form to be processed. You don't want to be in a situation where you are chasing down administrators for paychecks at insurance companies because there was a technical glitch in your ST disability form.14. Inquire About Your Other BenefitsFind out from HR or your Employee Benefits handbook what happens to your benefits (e.g. healthcare) when you are on maternity leave. Learn about how (and when) you should add your new baby to your health care plan, assuming your healthcare plan covers dependents. Many healthcare policies give you a 30-day window to add dependents and it may be difficult to do after this period. You may have to budget for an increase in healthcare premiums when you add a dependent to your plan.15. Find Out About Your Vacation TimeFind out whether your vacation time and seniority will continue to accrue while you're out on maternity leave. If it doesn't and you are very concerned, you may want to negotiate for an exception.16. Learn Your Company's Childcare PoliciesLearn about your company's policies with respect to childcare. Does your company offer on-site childcare or backup childcare? You will probably be making your childcare decisions while you're out on maternity leaves so find out all the details about childcare from your employer while it's convenient. Some employers also have relationships with childcare/nanny agencies that may even offer you an employee discount.17. Ask Around for Childcare AdviceAsk your colleagues what they do with respect to childcare, especially if you plan on finding childcare close to your workplace. If this is your situation, ask fellow colleagues about childcare centers closing hours and what flexibility there may be around late pick-ups. Trust us, this will come up sooner or later.18. Make Sure You Don't Have Any Special RulesIf you're part of a union, a consultant, a part-time or contract worker, find out whether there are special rules that apply to you. Full-time salaried workers typically have very clear benefits and policies but sometimes there are very large differences if you don't fall into that employee category.19. Document EverythingCreate a physical and digital folder for all your Maternity Leave-related documents. In this folder, you can put any HR forms, state disability application forms, insurance forms, benefits information, emails from HR or your manager pertaining to your leave, and other related information. Make copies of anything you fill out and send in.20. Start Telling ColleaguesStart talking to colleagues in your department or that you are friendly with about their maternity leave experiences. Ask them to have a coffee or lunch with you and solicit tips and advice about how to manage your maternity leave and return to work. You may want to do this at different times and for different purposes (e.g. when you are finding out who else negotiated maternity leave, you will want to do this before you negotiate yours).21. Prepare Contacts You Might Need While HomePrint out a list of the names, email addresses and phone numbers you may need while you're out of the office. This could include your manager's phone number, close team members and your contact in HR. It's amazing how quickly you may forget these things once you're at home, even if you contact these people every day now.22. Prepare Your Technology for Any Remote WorkSet up your computer and devices for remote working with your IT department and test it at home to make sure there are no issues. Even if your plan is to be completely unavailable for your entire maternity leave, you never know when an emergency may strike and you might be asked to send a document or find an email or file that you don't have access to at home. You will want to have your equipment in good shape for when you return to work and may have to work on a more flexible schedule, anyway.23. Update Your Own Contact InformationUpdate your contact information in the company employee directory. This is a good time to make sure your phone number and mailing address are completely up to date in case anyone tries to reach you. If you will be gone for a long period of maternity leave or expect to receive significant mail at work, contact your company's mailroom to have mail forwarded to you at home.24. Fill in Your ClientsIf you have regular clients and customers, call them to tell them you will be unavailable for a period of time. We recommend a phone call because it's more personal. The worst outcome would be for them to be surprised to receive an Out of the Office automatic reply email for months.25. Make Introductions if NecessaryIf your clients and customers need to be introduced to your temporary replacement, do so. Introduce your replacement to them in person or on the phone if appropriate, and also via email so both parties will have their respective information.26. Prepare Your Fill-InsMake sure you prepare your temporary replacement with the materials and information they will need to succeed. This helps everyone involved and unless you have particular reason to think that your replacement is out to take your position permanently, it will more likely than not endear you as a team player.27. Tidy UpClean up around your desk — tidying up is productive. While you're gone, you want to be remembered as a well-organized employee and the way your desk looks will matter. Plus, nobody wants to come back to a desk with food or snacks that are weeks or months old!28. Set up Auto RepliesSet up your office email auto-reply. Make sure to leave either a list of appropriate contacts or a single contact that the sender can reach out to, in your absence.In Your Last Month at WorkBabies can come unexpectedly early, so don't leave everything for the last two weeks!29. Make Copies of Your Maternity Leave PlanLeave a copy of your maternity leave plan with your direct manager. Ensure they have a digital copy, but it is always helpful to leave a physically printed copy on your last day to ensure its top-of-mind.30. Share Your Contact InformationGive the team-mates who will be covering you your contact information and instruction on when and how to contact you for emergencies (if applicable).31. Thank Your HelpersTo thank those that will be covering for you, consider buying them lunch or a token of your appreciation during your last couple weeks for pitching in to support you. It's a nice thing to do and people will remember you in a positive way while you're gone.32. Find out About Your Company's Breastfeeding Resources (If You Choose To)If you plan on breastfeeding, investigate your company's lactation room and learn about any scheduling requirements. If you have concerns or issues, discuss with other working moms to see what their experience was like. In order to make changes, you may have to speak to HR about this. It's better to do this now than wait until you face issues and are under-slept and stressed.33. Prepare for Pumping at Work (If You Choose To)Prepare yourself for the logistics involved with pumping milk at work. Understand what supplies you will need to bring, where you will store expressed milk, how far it is from your desk, and how much privacy you should expect.34. Consider Your ScheduleLook at your work calendar honestly and think about whether your pre-baby schedule will work for you when you return to work with a baby at home. You may have always hated early mornings or taken a full lunch hour, but when you return from maternity leave, you will face new realities that are out of your control (e.g. needing to pump during your lunch period or getting to work earlier so you can leave earlier).35. Consider Your CommuteConsider changes to your commute. This may not always be possible, but if you will be traveling at different times now that you have a baby at home, you may have to use different transportation options. Also, consider the fact that if you are pumping, you will be lugging around a very large bag -- including a pump, ice block, milk bottles, and cleaning supplies — on top of everything else you bring to work.36. Make Scheduling Changes as NecessaryIf you can control your schedule to some extent, make changes to regular meetings and events before you leave. Start sending updates to your calendar invites so people start getting used to the fact that their meetings with you may now start earlier and end earlier in the day.37. Carve out Time for Pumping (If You Choose To)Block out time on your calendar for pumping breast-milk if you intend to do so after you come back to the office. This way, when your colleagues start sending out invitations for meetings in anticipation of your return, you won't need to ask them to reschedule around your pumping time. You may need to block out two-to-three half-hour windows depending on your milk supply and working hours. You don't need to advertise what you are doing - just block out those times as "Private" on your calendar. If you don't end using that time, you can simply delete those blocks later.38. Join Any Company Support Groups for ParentsFind out whether your company has support groups for moms, new moms or parents. If so, find out about who runs them, their meetings and about how to join. These groups can help you feel less alone and provide support at the office. If you aren't lucky enough to have one of these groups at the office, consider starting one if your company is supportive.39. Decide How You'll Share Your NewsDecide whether you are going to send photos or share your news with colleagues (and with whom). We've heard stories about resentment among colleagues who felt slighted if they weren't on the initial email recipient list for the birth announcement and photos.40. RelaxFinally, relax! And be happy with yourself. If you've done even half the things on this list, you're probably more prepared than most working moms-to-be. We know it might seem like overkill, but in our experience, it was better to be over-prepared for the completely life-and work-altering — and indescribably wonderful — event of having a baby.

https://freedomofmind.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BITE-Model-Handout-9-23-16.pdfLet go through the model and see. Which factors have a bering on Jehovah’s Witnesses.Behavior Control1. Regulate individual’s physical reality#1 is incredibly vague and can mean everything from government building codes to requiring a person live on an isolated compound thus making this a useless factor in determining the harm a group causes.2. Dictate where, how, and with whom the member lives and associates or isolates#2 is neutral point. Every parent will obviously want to keep tabs on who their children associate with, perhaps even forbidding association with certain unsavory characters, thus your parents are obviously cult leaders if they ever expressed concerns about who your friends are. The only aspect of this factor that is inherently harmful is isolation. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not isolate people. Quite the contrary we are actually commanded to reach out to people, we do not form isolated communes, we do not encourage or require homeschooling for our children, we do not force people to break off previously held relationships.3. When, how and with whom the member has sex#3 is again incredibly broad. All religions have some restrictions on who a person may have sex with. We demand that our government enforce restriction on who people may have sex with i.e no children, unconscious individuals, nor those who do not consent. Obviously, by this factor every religion and government in existence is a harmful cult.4. Control types of clothing and hairstyles#4 would of course encompass every organization in existence that has dress code. If you are required to wear a uniform, wear a suit and tie, keep your hair short or tied so it doesn’t get stuck in machinery, etc. then you are in a cult according to this factor.5. Regulate diet - food and drink, hunger and/or fasting#5 A number of religion require fasting or abstaining from certain foods. By #5 they are all cults. Doctors may recommend fasting in preparation for surgery or other reasons, thus your doctor is a cult leader. The only way this could be harmful is if the dietary restrictions are forced upon the individual using force or the threat of force or some type of psychological manipulation.6. Manipulation and deprivation of sleep#6 is obviously inherently harmful and is a practice that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not participate in.7. Financial exploitation, manipulation or dependence#7 is again inherently harmful and usually couples with other harmful practices. This is not something Jehovah’s Witnesses do. All donation are completely and totally voluntary. No tithes or collections are ever taken and no fees for services are ever exacted.8. Restrict leisure, entertainment, vacation time#8 is neutral, vague, and broad. If your boss refuses to give a day off does that mean he is a cult leader? If your boss calls and asks if you come into the office last minute because they are swamped does that make him a Cult leader? If your friend asks if you can help them move on your day off are trying to make you join their cult? According to #8 the answer is yes. We as Jehovah’s Witnesses can take vacations for as long as we want, whenever we want.9. Major time spent with group indoctrination and rituals and/or self indoctrination including the Internet#9 is what I believe #8 is actually trying to point to. This could be harmful but it could also be benign. to determine which would require delving into specific details. Jehovah’s Witnesses are encourage to be at every meeting we hold, one weekend meeting and one midweek meeting which amounts to about three hours out of the week. We are encourage to spend time preaching how much we spend is up to us. Pioneers are individuals who volunteer to spend 70 hours a month preaching which is far less than a full time job and less than many part time jobs. We are mot required to give massive amount of our time to organizational functions. The second part of #9 is rather strange, “self indoctrination including the Internet” I’m not sure how a person can indoctrinate themselves unless they find what they are researching to make sense to them, and if what they are learning makes sense to them and it was discovered by their own research how can that be harmful? Apparently if you ever did research on a topic on the internet and agreed with what you found you just joined your own cult.10. Permission required for major decisions#10 does not apply to Jehovah’s Witnesses. We do not require the organization’s permission to make any decisions nor do we require the permission of a representative of the organization to make any decisions. We marry who we want to marry, we move where we want to move, we change jobs when we want to change jobs are require no one else has to sign off before we do so.11. Thoughts, feelings, and activities (of self and others) reported to superiors#11 can be harmful but it is also very common in organizations. If you saw a coworker stealing from the company I’m quite sure most companies would want to be made aware of it, does that make them cults? If you ever gave your boss a progress report on a project he assigned you does that mean he is a cult leader? As far as thoughts and feeling Jehovah’s Witness do not have confessionals. You express your concerns to whom ever you wish whenever you wish or not at all. As most denominations of Christianity do we do not approve of sex outside of marriage, drunkenness, or theft. But if witnessed a fellow JW doing these things he is encouraged, not to report it to the elders, but rather to address it with the person directly in line with Jesus directions at Matthew 18:15–17, “Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go and reveal his fault* between you and him alone.n If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.o 16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, so that on the testimony* of two or three witnesses every matter*may be established.*p 17 If he does not listen* to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen* even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nationsq and as a tax collector.” Only after confronting the person directly, more than once, should the matter be brought to the elders. Things are dealt with confidentially not publicly so as to protect the individuals involved from receiving a tarnished reputation. This is in no way inherently harmful rather it is common to any organization that requires its members live up to a certain code of honor or conduct.12. Rewards and punishments used to modify behaviors, both positive and negative#12 is so broad as to be useless in identifying cults. Every organization has a system of rewards for good behavior; badges, promotions, raises; and punishments for bad behavior; demerits, demotions, fines; that is natural and necessary. Does that make then cults? With Jehovah’s Witnesses exemplary individuals will justly be given the respect and honor they have earned and restriction will be placed on individuals who have earned them as well.13. Discourage individualism, encourage group-think#13 is a false dichotomy. In societies throughout history there has been the individual vs collective debate. Which is better is far from being a settled issue. Any organization that consists of more than one person will naturally require that some of their individual preferences be suspended for the good of the group. It is to what extend that suspension is required that makes an organization harmful. As covered in #1–11 the requirement for being one of Jehovah’s witnesses are hardly exploitative or excessive. As far as group think goes what exactly does “group think” mean. Everyone on earth i’m sure agrees that the sky is blue. Does that mean we are all engaged in group think? Most people agree that the earth is round. Does that mean we are engaged in group think? Are Flat Earthers brave pioneers willing to strike against the established world view or are they just wrong? If one has gotten baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses that means they have come to agree with what we teach. That is not “group think” that is the result of a rational, independent human being coming to a reasoned conclusion about how the world works. Whether we are right or wrong, decide for yourself but look into what we actually believe and why before you dismiss us as ‘deluded’.14. Impose rigid rules and regulations#14 Again this is not inherently harmful but rather quite common in organizations. We all are happy that workers in nuclear plants must abide by, “rigid rules and regulations.” The rules of Jurisprudence are likewise, “rigid rules and regulations.” No one would appreciate ‘Innocent until proven guilty’ to be a guideline rather than, “rigid rules and regulations.” As it is there are very few Hard and fast ‘Laws’ that Jehovah’s Witnesses must abide by other than the ones rather common to Christianity in general: no murder, no premarital sex, no theft, no lying, no drunkenness, eat. Most other things are guidelines that we must use our experience and individual conscience to decide how to apply, for example: modest dress and grooming, honorable speech, choice of employment, etc. Nothing we teach in this regard is inherently harmful.15. Instill dependency and obedience#15 is mixed. We do not instill dependency. Rather individuals are encouraged to come stand on their own both materially, emotionally, and spiritually. As an organization we provide support in these matter but each individual is encouraged to provide for themselves whenever possible. Obedience has become dirty word in todays world but the concept is everywhere. Parent expect their children to be obedient and do what is asked of them whether chores or moral guidance. Employers expect employees to be obedient and do the tasks assigned to them. Governments expect citizens to be obedient and follow the Law. Are any of these institutions cults? In like manner Jehovah’s Witnesses are expected to be obedient to the guidance they receive from the bible.16. Threaten harm to family and friends#16 is obviously harmful and is something Jehovah’s Witnesses do not do.17. Force individual to rape or be raped#17 is again inherently harmful and something Jehovah’s Witnesses condemn.18. Instill dependency and obedience#18 is #1519. Encourage and engage in corporal punishment#19 is itself controversial. Parent have for centuries used spanking and other forms of corporal punishment to discipline their children. Are they cult leaders? Obviously anything that causes injury or permanent damage is inherently harmful but many parents still believe spanking should be used as a last resort. Jehovah’s Witnesses no where encourage the use of corporal punishment and certainly do not inflict it on membership.As far as behavior control goes #6, #7, #16 and #17 are the only factors that are clearly inherently harmful and none of them apply to Jehovah’s Witnesses. The rest are either neutral or so broad as to include every organization in existence.Information Control1. Deception:a. Deliberately withhold informationb. Distort information to make it more acceptablec. Systematically lie to the cult memberOpposers and apostates love to say we engage in #1. To refute that statement I would have to list and disprove every deception that we are accused of. In short I will only say that we do not lie. All our sources are named and listed for independent research if that is your desire.2. Minimize or discourage access to non-cult sources of information, including:a. Internet, TV, radio, books, articles, newspapers, magazines, other mediab.Critical informationc. Former membersd. Keep members busy so they don’t have time to think and investigatee. Control through cell phone with texting, calls, internet trackingWe do not engage in the baseline description of #2. No where are we forbidden or discouraged from making use of non-JW media. For #2d see Behavior Control #9. We do not engage in #2e. #2b & c requires elaboration. We are cautioned about the dangers of associating with apostates and apostate literature. The main reasons for this are the lies, misquotes, or distortions of what we actually believe. Have I seen every piece of apostate literature? No, but what I have seen is enough to convince me of the truth of what we are taught about it. As an extension to BC#13. Truth is truth it is not subject to interpretation or difference of opinion. The sky is blue. The earth is round. There is no room for dissent with out falling into falsehood. As it is the elders do not come to my house and rummage through my room, bookshelf, internet history, or phone records to see if I have been reading, listening or associating with apostates. We retain our freedom of choice to do according to our own will.3. Compartmentalize information into Outsider vs. Insider doctrinesa. Ensure that information is not freely accessibleb.Control information at different levels and missions within groupc. Allow only leadership to decide who needs to know what and when#3 does not apply to us. We literally go to people’s doors to tell them what we believe. If you don't feel like talking to a person https://www.jw.org/en/ or Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY are freely accessible to you. #3b &c are common to every organization. You provide accounting with an accounting hand book, you provide Human resources with an HR handbook you provide Management with a management hand book. As well you don’t need to know everything that is going on. For example an elder helping a couple dealingg with marital problems is not going to be telling everyone in the congregation, “Brother and Sister Problem are going through a pretty ruff patch. Brother Problem likes to chat with women online and Sister Problem keeps flirting with a coworker.” Keeping that confidential is just basic human decency not cultic behavior. In every organization it is the leader who decide what information should be made public and what should be kept confidential. There is nothing inherently harmful or sinister in that.4. Encourage spying on other membersa. Impose a buddy system to monitor and control memberb.Report deviant thoughts, feelings and actions to leadershipc. Ensure that individual behavior is monitored by group#4a does not apply to us. 1 Thessalonians 4:11, “ Make it your aim to live quietlym and to mind your own businessn and to work with your hands,o just as we instructed you,” and 1 Peter 4:15, “However, let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or a wrongdoer or a busybody in other people’s matters.” For #4b &c see BC#115. Extensive use of cult-generated information and propaganda, including:a. Newsletters, magazines, journals, audiotapes, videotapes, YouTube, movies and other mediab.Misquoting statements or using them out of context from non-cult sources#5 is so broad that is encompasses nearly every organization in existence. If the organization you belong to makes regular reference to media it publishes you are part of a cult. Obviously #5b falls under #1. We do not engage in it.6. Unethical use of confessiona. Information about sins used to disrupt and/or dissolve identity boundariesb. Withholding forgiveness or absolutionc. Manipulation of memory, possible false memories#6 does not apply to us. We do not enforce or require confessionals and as illustrated in #3 information is kept confidential. #6b is dependent on the situation. A wife refusing to forgive a husband for cheating when he comes home every night with a different girl is very different from refusing to forgive someone who broke your phone, replaced it with the latest edition, paid for an extended warranty and begged you to forgive them. 6c is obviously harmful and is something we do not engage in.In short very few of the factor listed here are plainly inherently harmful and of those we do not engage in them. The rest are either neutral depending on the situation or so broad as to include every organization in existence.Thought Control1. Require members to internalize the group’s doctrine as trutha. Adopting the group's ‘map of reality’ as realityb. Instill black and white thinkingc. Decide between good vs. evild. Organize people into us vs. them (insiders vs. outsiders)The base line of #1 is so broad as to include every system of knowledge and belief to have ever existed, currently exists, or will exist. Obviously if you do not internalize the tenets of your belief system then it is not your belief system. And if you do not believe that your beliefs are true then why do you believe them? #1a is just another way of saying #1. If you adopt a different belief system that is going to change your worldview, that is the natural consequence of coming to believe something. #1b can be harmful as we understand the right or wrong path is not always easy to discern but be all agree some acts are unquestionably wrong and other are unquestionably good. As referred to in BC#14 we do have a few laws but most things are guidelines that allow for nuance and personal expression.According to #1c every moral code is a sign of cultish behavior. As far as 1d goes our history shows that we are quite the opposite of hostile to outsiders and even persecutors.2.Change person’s name and identity#2 not necessarily harmful but Jehovah’s Witnesses do not engage in it other than that one who become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses will naturally begin to Identify as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.3. Use of loaded language and clichés which constrict knowledge, stop critical thoughts and reduce complexities into platitudinous buzz wordsIronically #3 is full of cliches and reduces complexities into a platitudinous buzzword. Every field of study will naturally over time develop what is called ‘Technical language’. Science uses technical language, law uses technical language, trades use technical language. There is a joke that plays off of this, “How can you tell the difference between a chemists and a plumber? Ask them to say unionized.” This plays off of the familiarity each profession has with its own technical language. Theology of course uses technical language. Jehovah’s Witnesses have a ‘technical language’. To spell out everything we believe every single time we talk about it would get tedious so we, as human beings naturally do, refer to entire concepts, procedures, and time periods by using smaller easier to express words and phrases. This is natural, common, and harmless.4. Encourage only ‘good and proper’ thoughts#4 is a bit strange and ties closely to #1c. Apparently is wrong to encourage ‘good and proper thoughts’. Apparently encouraging a depressed person to think about the positive, enjoyable things in their lives is cultish. Encouraging a bigot to let go of his prejudice is cultish behavior. Encouraging an envious person to be content with his own possessions is cultish behavior. The harmfulness of #4 really depends on what the belief system defines as good and proper thoughts. Nothing we teach is inherently harmful.5. Hypnotic techniques are used to alter mental states, undermine critical thinking and even to age regress the member#5 Does not apply to us. Not only do we not use hypnotic techies but explicitly condemn them for the reason that your will and consciousness is subjected to the hypnotist.6. Memories are manipulated and false memories are created#6 is inherently harmful and something we do not participate in.7. Teaching thought-stopping techniques which shut down reality testing by stopping negative thoughts and allowing only positive thoughts, including:a. Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinkingb. Chantingc. Meditatingd. Prayinge. Speaking in tonguesf. Singing or humming#7 is a mixed bag. If something is just flat wrong, like saying the sky is emerald green, the only thing you can do is deny it. We are encouraged to avoid rationalization. Justification really depends on the merits of the argument or explanation made. Wishful thinking is just not good and we do not encourage it rather we encourage people to have their faith founded on solid evidence.We encourage people to research their questions or concerns until they find a satisfying answer. The only time we encourage patience is when a definitive answer cannot be found. We obviously encourage praying, meditating, and singing but so do nearly every religion on earth. We do not practice chanting or speaking in tongues.8. Rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism#8 is another mixed bag. Our method of bible study requires rational analysis of the text and other references as opposed to mysticism and as said before we are encourage to build our faith on real evidence. This entire answer, as you can see, is an exercise in critical thinking. Whether criticism is constructive depends on its delivery and the motive with which it is given. We are all recognized as imperfect and therefore we all have room to improve. Those who voice criticism of the organization, as can be seen in the other answers here, are rarely if ever constructive.9. Forbid critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy allowed#9 requires explanation. We allow people to question what we believe when the questions are an effort to acquire information or understand. But as I said before truth is truth. If you disagree with reality then you have fallen into falsehood. If a person does not agree with what we teach they are free to leave if they so choose.10. Labeling alternative belief systems as illegitimate, evil, or not useful#10 is related to #9. Every belief system believes in its own superiority to others. After all if you didn’t think what you believe is true why would you believe it?Once again truth is truth. The sky is blue. The earth is round. If you want to refer to Flat earths as holding an ‘alternate belief system’ that is your right but I will call it for what it is, a falsehood. You don’t have to agree with us. We will never force you to. All we ask that you give us a fair hearing before you reject us.In conclusion, of the factors that are obviously inherently harmful, none apply to Jehovah’s Witnesses. The rest are Either so broad as to encompass every organization on earth or are open to personal interpretation of what is true and what is not.Emotional Control1. Manipulate and narrow the range of feelings – some emotions and/or needs are deemed as evil, wrong or selfish#1 depend on the application. Certainly a desire to murder you brother is an evil, wrong and selfish feeling. We rightfully condemn both the wrong act and the feelings that lead up to them. That being said we do not regard all emotion to be harmful only uncontrolled emotion. There is nothing inherently wrong with anger so long as it does not lead to violence, resentment is recognized by psychologists to be harmful to the resenter. Sexual desire is not inherently wrong so long as it is only expressed with one’s marriage mate. Each emotion, like behavior, should be kept with in proper limits. That is natural and far from harmful rather it make civilization possible.2. Teach emotion-stopping techniques to block feelings of homesickness, anger, doubt#2 is so vague that I have no idea what it could be referring to. As said before emotions are not looked down upon as being inherently evil. We are just taught to keep them in check so that they do not motivate wrong doing like, anger leading to murder, or lust leading to rape. We encourage people to find the answers to their doubts or concerns.3. Make the person feel that problems are always their own fault, never the leader’s or the group’s faultTo answer #3 I will quote a scripture that Jehovah’s Witnesses are very familiar with, “Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freelyw even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another.x Just as Jehovah* freely forgave you, you must also do the same.” We recognize that as imperfect people we will at times, “[have] a cause for complaint against another” but we should to settle matters quickly and forgive one another. This means anyone, young or old, new or very experienced. This is sound advice for all relationships and is in no way harmful. Things are not always our fault. We recognize this and accept it but just as Teddy Roosevelt said, “If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month.” If something is your fault or within your power to change that should also be accepted.4. Promote feelings of guilt or unworthiness, such asa. Identity guiltb. You are not living up to your potentialc. Your family is deficientd. Your past is suspecte. Your affiliations are unwisef. Your thoughts, feelings, actions are irrelevant or selfishg. Social guilth. Historical guilt#4 like others depends on the situation. Certainly we can all agree there are some acts for which people should feel guilty: Murder, rape, theft. But we do not encourage undo guilt. As Christian we teach that Christ died for the forgiveness of sins thus relieving us of excessive guilt. What each person does in God’s service is left up to them. They are not to be shamed for their choice.5. Instill fear, such as fear of:a. Thinking independentlyb. The outside worldc. Enemiesd. Losing one’s salvatione. Leaving or being shunned by the groupf. Other’s disapproval#5 is again a mixed bag. Fear is natural and protects us from danger. #5a is motioned against us but once again truth is truth. Thinking the earth is flat is independent thinking but we could hardly call it a good thing. Independence from truth is falsehood. We are not taught to fear the outside world. Enemies who wish to cause us harm should be feared for our own safety. A fear of losing one’s salvation is a natural consequence of believing there is a mechanism for salvation. This factor would classify all Christianity as a cult. #5 e builds off of d. f is certainly important for social function. We should disapprove of bad behavior because it reduces the likelihood of that behavior occurring. What behavior should be considered bad depends on what you believe.6. Extremes of emotional highs and lows – love bombing and praise one moment and then declaring you are horrible sinner#6 We are encouraged to be kind to each other, our neighbors, and visitor. Call that love bombing if you want we consider it showing human decency. That warmth is extended throughout your life as a witness. It is genuine not a show. And to be clear all of Christianity believe that mankind exists in a sinful state. Therefore by this metric all Christians are part of a cult.7. Ritualistic and sometimes public confession of sins#7 does not apply to us.8. Phobia indoctrination: inculcating irrational fears about leaving the group or questioning the leader’s authoritya. No happiness or fulfillment possible outside of the groupb. Terrible consequences if you leave: hell, demon possession, incurable diseases, accidents, suicide, insanity, 10,000 reincarnations, etc.c. Shunning of those who leave; fear of being rejected by friends, peers, and familyd. Never a legitimate reason to leave; those who leave are weak, undisciplined, unspiritual, worldly, brainwashed by family or counselor, or seduced by money, sex, or rock and rolle. Threats of harm to ex-member and family#8 depends on your point of view. If we are telling the truth then a fear of turning against it is rational isn’t it? To answer this factor requires that you already know what absolute truth is. Again failing to do what is right leads to consequences so we must determine what is true and right before being able to judge on this factor. c and d both depend on the deceptively simple question, “What is truth?” Should turning your back on it not come with consequences. If someone tells me the sky is green I would question the soundness of their vision and thought processes because that is plainly false. As far e goes we do not threaten anyone.In conclusion, few of these factors are unequivocally inherently harmful and do not apply to Jehovah’s Witnesses. A few more depend on how they are applied and would condemn society as a whole as being a cult. Whether the rest are good or bad depend on what you see as truth.Two conclusions can be drawn from this analysis. One, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not a cult and if they are then every single organization on earth is a cult also. Two, Steven Hassan’s BITE model is fundamentally flawed and therefore a useless tool in identifying cults. Few of its factor for judgement are inherently harmful with the rest either being neutral, the harm or benefit dependent on its application, or exists in every organization on earth.Sorry for the long post.

For many welders, becoming a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) through the American Welding Society is a professional aspiration. Attaining a CWI credential can be the next step in a successful welding career, and attests to the skills and abilities of an individual in the areas of welding processes, procedures, qualifications, and testing. As you can imagine, many enthusiastic welders often look to take the exam as soon as they meet the minimum work experience requirements, and often reach out to us for some tips. In fact, of the many inquiries that we receive at AWS Learning, how to prepare for the CWI exam is among the most common. And while professional enthusiasm is certainly an important element of becoming a successful welding inspector, it is important that the following bit of information is fully understood before we begin.The CWI exam is a thorough and challenging exam. It is one that can prove to be a demanding undertaking for even the most seasoned professionals and experienced test-takers. Establishing this fact early on is necessary for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s important to be aware of the difficulty of the exam in order to properly prepare for it. Just like any issue you may encounter on the job site, it’s crucial to accurately gauge its scope and complexity in order to determine the best approach and dedicate adequate time and resources for its solution. Secondly, it’s important to know that the CWI exam is challenging because it needs to be. CWIs make assessments and decisions that can affect countless lives. Therefore, they must possess a wide range of skills, knowledge, and abilities in order to be effective and make responsible judgements. Because of this, the exam covers a wide range of technical topics, processes, and principles.Now that we’ve got an idea about how challenging the test can be, let’s begin by taking a look at the exam itself.The Basics of the CWI Exam – A BreakdownThe CWI exam is split into three parts: a fundamentals portion, a practical application portion, and a code application portion. These sections are labeled Part A, B, and C, respectively, and you are given two hours to complete each of these sections. Each section is scored separately, and a score of 72% or higher is required for each section in order to pass the exam and earn a CWI credential. Failing the exam doesn’t always mean you have to take the whole thing again. If you finish with a cumulative score of 72% or higher, but failed to reach 72% on any one particular section, you only need to retake that particular section of the test again in order to pass. Maximizing the amount of correct answers you get in one particular section can boost your cumulative score to 72% or higher, and prove to be the difference in determining how many parts you’ll have to re-take, if it comes to that. However, if we’re being honest, no one wants to take the exam, as a whole or in part, more than once. So let’s briefly go over each section and a few things that can give you a leg up in terms of preparation.Part B Examination Book of SpecificationsPart A of the exam covers welding fundamentals. This part has a minimum of 150 questions and a time limit of 120 minutes. Theoretically, that means you have less than a minute you can dedicate to each question. You should do your best to quickly answer each question, skipping any that you may be unsure of, and returning to them if time allows. Keep in mind that as far as grading goes, an unanswered question counts as an incorrect answer. As such, it’s best to answer every question on the CWI exam, even if it’s an educated guess.Part B is the practical application, or hands-on, portion of the CWI exam. It’s a 120-minute test that covers a range of topics in the areas of welding examination, procedure and welding qualifications, nondestructive testing, and visual inspection. This part of the exam has a minimum of 46 questions, which is considerably less than 150, but don’t let your guard down. For Part B, you’ll be provided with a sample book of specifications, plastic replicas of welds, and visual inspection tools, including dial calipers, micrometers, rulers, V-WAC and fillet weld gauges, and flashlights.Part C is the code application portion of the exam. This 120-minute open-book test measures your ability to locate, understand, and utilize information in a codebook. Even though this particular part of the exam allows you to use your codebook, it’s far from a cakewalk. AWS live seminars offer training to navigate the D1.1 Structural Steel and API 1104 codes, but you have the option to take the exam to other standards as well. These include D1.2, D1.5, D15.1, D17.1, and ASME B31.1 & B31.3. Depending on the codebook, the exam will have anywhere from 45 to 60 questions. If you are uncertain about which code to test to, do not let the size of the book sway you. According to John Gayler, Senior Associate Executive Director, “If you’re not familiar with any of the codes, it would be best to choose one based on what field you foresee yourself working in the future, and which code would be the most useful. The idea that any one code is easier than another based simply on size is a myth.”What Am I Expected To Know?The CWI exam is created by industry experts, and documented in two standards: AWS B5.1 Specification for the Qualification of Welding Inspectors and AWS QC1 Standard for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors. To truly get a solid understanding of what you’ll need to know in order to tackle the CWI exam, you must thoroughly familiarize yourself with these two documents. Get them. Read them. Know them. Taking the exam without reviewing these documents is like playing a game without knowing the rules.AWS B5.1 Specification for the Qualification of Welding InspectorsSection 5 of the B5.1 document details the basic requirements to take the exam. Table 1 lists the capabilities required of a CWI in the areas of procedure qualification, standards, knowledge and skills, performance qualification, inspection, safety, and more. Section 7 of the standard reveals the basic structure of the exam. It shows which topics are covered in parts A, B, and C of the exam, and what percentage of questions will focus on each topic. For example, in Part C (Code Application) approximately 10% of the questions deal with Material and Design, 30% deal with Fabrication, 25% deal with Inspection, and 10% deal with Qualification. These percentage figures do not add up to 100% because each one represents a minimum, and any one of these topics can potentially be featured a bit more prominently than what is specified in the standard. Annex A of the B5.1 standard provides another piece of useful information. The preamble says that the information contained therein is not officially part of the specification, and is simply there for informational purposes, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it. Quite the opposite! Annex A provides a list of reference materials that may have been used in the creation of exam questions. The list includes various specifications, guides, and handbooks published by AWS, ISO, ASNT, and ANSI. It is by no means an all-inclusive list, but it can certainly give you a better idea of what materials you can utilize to prepare for the exam. All this information, including additional recommendations for self-study, can also be found in the CWI Body of Knowledge document.AWS QC1 Standard for AWS Certification of Welding InspectorsThe QC1 standard addresses how personnel are certified, and the principles of conduct and practice by which certification may be maintained. Section 2 defines the three levels of CWI certification: Senior Certified Welding Inspector (SCWI), Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), and Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI). Section 4 specifies the duties that each of these levels can perform. Section 11 details the professional and ethical responsibilities of a CWI. Some sections – like 5, 6, 8, and 10 – summarize exam requirements, and refer the reader to the B5.1 Standard. Sections 12 through 16 deal with the maintenance, renewal, and revocation of the CWI certification.DO YOU QUALIFY?To qualify as a Certified Welding Inspector, you must pass a vision test and have a combination of qualifying education and work experience, with supporting documentation:MINIMUM EDUCATIONMINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCEBachelor or higher degree in welding engineering or welding technology - (4) years maximum substitutionMinimum of (1) years welding based work experienceAssociate or higher degree in welding or non-welding related engineering technology, engineering, or a physical science - (3) years maximum substitutionMinimum of (2) years welding based work experienceEngineering/Technical courses that can be applied to Bachelor or higher degree in Welding - (2) years maximum substitutionMinimum of (3) years welding based work experienceTrade/Vocational courses - (1) year maximum substitution for successfully completed coursesMinimum of (4) years welding based work experienceHigh school diploma or approved high school equivalency diplomaMinimum of (5) years welding based work experience8th grade level of schoolingMinimum of (9) years welding based work experienceLess than 8th gradeMinimum of (12) years welding based work experienceSEMINAR & EXAM SCHEDULES2019 SEMINAR & EXAM SCHEDULESCERTIFIED WELDING INSPECTORRegister Online NowEarning your Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) credential is serious work and has a significant impact on your future. The three parts of the CWI Exam are: fundamental knowledge, practical inspection, and codebook navigation. Combining industry expertise with real-time application, AWS Seminars provide the most realistic, engaging and effective test-prep solutions for career success.GET DETAILSCERTIFIED WELDING INSPECTOR PART BRegister Online NowThe AWS CWI Part B Training & Exam puts you on the track to success, offering industry expert instructors with the knowledge to prepare you to pass Part B of the exam and guided instruction material, including homework, that helps take the mystery out visual inspection. It also uses realistic replica training sets to prepare you for the hands-on portion of the exam and an AWS Welding Inspector’s Toolkit to keep as your own ($195 value).GET DETAILSCWI 9 YR RECERTIFICATIONRegister Online NowAs a CWI, you must recertify every nine years, either by examination, obtaining approved endorsements, by recertification course, or by demonstrating 80 hours of continuing education, along with other requirements. Neglecting to recertify prior to your expiration will result in the loss of your certification status and will require you to retest on all parts of the original exam to regain your certification.CERTIFIED RADIOGRAPHIC INTERPRETERRegister NowThe AWS Certified Radiographic Interpreter (CRI) Seminar is designed to ensure that individuals have the knowledge to properly assess indications produced on radiographic media of weldments or adjacent base metal. The CRI Certification exam is given at the end of each seminar week. If your job responsibilities include reading and interpreting weld radiographs, this program is for you.DOCUMENTSApplicationsInitial CWI Exam ApplicationUpgrade from CAWI to CWI ApplicationRe-Test Application for CAWI, CWI, CWERenewal Application for CWI/SCWIRecertification Application for CWI 9th YearTechnical DocumentsQC1:2016 - Specification for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors(Effective Jan 1st, 2017 - Reference for Qualification Criteria)EnglishB5.1:2013-AMD1 - Specification for the Qualification of Welding InspectorsEnglishB5.1:2003 - Specification for the Qualification of Welding InspectorsEnglish (for referencing exam structure)CWI Part B Examination Book of SpecificationsFor CWI exams held WITHIN the US or Canada:Part B Examination Book of Specifications (starting October 1st, 2017)EnglishFor Metric CWI exams held OUTSIDE the US or Canada only starting October 1st, 2017:Part B Examination Book of SpecificationsEnglish Metric VersionPart B Examination Book of Specifications - Metric (starting October 1st, 2017)Spanish | Portuguese | Russian | Chinese | Japanese | KoreanGeneral Forms40 Hour Retest Training LogADA Disability AccommodationsComputer Based Testing Applicant InstrictionsApplicant InstructionsAWS Bank InformationCertification Duplicate Order FormChange of Site/Cancellation FormEmployment Verification FormExam Audit Request FormExam Security Agreement and General Term of Use FormPhoto ID RequirementsPolicies and FeesPrice ListQualifying Work Experience FormVisual Acuity Form