The Warn Act of 1989

The Warn Act of 1989 Free Online Research Papers The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN Act, was enacted on August 4, 1988 and was made effective on February 4, 1989 (www.doleta.gov). The WARN Act is a requirement put in place that mandates companies to provide sixty days written notice to employees affected by either plant closings or mass layoffs. This includes both salaried and hourly workers, as well as managers and supervisors. In the case of a unionized workplace, the notice must be provided to the union representative. The written notice must also be submitted to the state dislocated worker unit and the appropriate local government unit. The companies are covered under WARN if they have more than 100 employees excluding those who have worked less than six months out of the last twelve, or employees who work an average of less than twenty hours per week (www.doleta.gov). All types of companies are subject to the act with the exception of Federal, State and local government agencies that provide p ublic services. The Purpose of WARN The intent of the WARN Act passed by Congress was attempt to maintain economic stability in a given geography. As we are now extremely aware, an employed population is one that spends, thus helping maintain a healthy economy. WARN allows employees and their family sufficient time to prepare for and find jobs in the case that their current employment is ending. This could include assisting the soon to be displaced employees with locating job openings, or giving them access to new career training prior to the actual job loss. Triggers for WARN There are two main occurrences that trigger the need for WARN compliance. The first one is a facility closure or discontinuation of an operating unit. In this instance, if the aforementioned event results in the layoff of at least 50 employees, excluding part-time employees, WARN would need to be followed. The second incident that would require compliance to WARN is a mass layoff of 500 or more workers at a single site within thirty days. The same treatment is to be given in the case of lay-offs of 50-499 employees excluding part-time, if the total number affected is equal to or greater than thirty three percent of the total active workforce (www.doleta.gov). Exceptions to WARN In addition to the thresholds listed above not being met, there are some circumstances that would not activate the need for WARN. The first category covered as exceptions surround unpredictable reasons for the workforce reduction. The three such reasons are faltering company, unforeseeable business circumstances, and natural disaster. The faltering company is only applicable when the act of giving the notice to employees could jeopardize sought after new capital or business and is reserved for plant closings. The unforeseeable business circumstances exemption applies to both site closings and mass layoffs, but only comes into play when the circumstances were not reasonably predictable or anticipated. Finally, natural disaster only applies when a closing or layoff is the direct result of a natural disaster. All of these exemptions leave the burden of proof that any of these conditions have been met on the employer, and they are still expected to give written notice as soon as i s practical. The next area of exceptions involves something that can be foreseen. There are two areas that qualify as an exception. The first is when the layoffs or closure surrounds a temporary project or site where the employees have been given the clear notification upon hire that their employment will be terminated upon project completion. The second reason WARN would not be triggered in this area is if the closure is a direct result of a lockout or strike. The reasons, however, can not be used for the purpose of avoiding WARN. Federal versus State Regulations States are given the leeway to modify WARN as they see fit, but the Federal requirements are always the minimum. Two examples of the different approaches that states take can be seen by comparing New York and Connecticut. Connecticut simply mirrors the Federal guidelines (www.ctdol.state.ct.us), while New York goes a step beyond. On February 1, 2009 they extended the required notice period to ninety days while reducing the number total number of employees to fifty and the layoff threshold number to twenty-five (www.labor.state.ny.us). Each individual state’s guidelines can be found on their Department of Labor website and must be complied with in a company’s state of operation. The Impact of WARN on the Workplace WARN has a profound impact on the workplace from a company’s perspective. As companies contemplate the current trend of outsourcing work overseas or even within the United States, they must plan ahead to make sure they are not subject to litigation when deciding on their business case. Company leaders must also take into consideration the potential loss of productivity of a workforce that knows they are coming to the end of their tenure with a firm. How will this impact their customer experience when dealing with a potentially unmotivated workforce? What impact will this have on the company’s reputation once the closure and layoffs are known and on public record 60 or more days before they occur? Will this impact the customers comfort level with the company’s services or products? WARN has a different impact on the employee. It allows a certain level of comfort in knowing that if a company decides to make a substantial change in its operations, they will be provided the notice and the resources to prepare them for the next leg of their career. The act can soften the impact of such a dramatic change. It mandates a certain level of accountability for company leaders to their employees, or at least make a fair effort to forewarn the employees that they will be experiencing a major life change in the near future. It also removes the uncertainty of rumors surrounding a potential layoff or closure with an actual statement in writing that the changes are going to occur. Violations and Penalties Violations to WARN would include not being compliant to your state’s provisions if your company meets any of the criteria set forth above in the â€Å"Triggers for WARN† section. There are costly penalties for violating the WARN Acts include liability to each aggrieved employee who experiences an employment loss as a result of the mass layoff or plant closing. An employer is liable for a maximum of 60 days of back pay and benefits payable to each impacted employee. If there are a substantial number of such employees, then the dollar amount of penalties could be quite high. In addition, failure to notify the required governmental entity may result in a penalty of up to $500 per each violation day (www.doleta.gov). The Role of Human Resources with WARN All employees are affected when it comes to a major change in the operations of their firm. This is especially true when that shift involves layoffs and site closures. The government sanctions for not complying with WARN combined with the potential unrest amongst the employees, both those losing their employment as well as those who do not, clearly dictate that Human Resources needs to be highly leveraged in the decision process. Human Resources needs to be there to make sure at a minimum that the guidelines surrounding compliance to the WARN Act are met. They must be involved while the company weighs potential repercussions and impact on the business case. In essence, they need to be involved every step of the process to mitigate against any potential legal proceedings that may ensue, as this decision is likely to solicit a very emotional response from the affected employees. In this litigious society, some people unfortunately will always turn to lawsuits. Companies need to make sure that they follow the guidelines precisely to eliminate their exposure to such actions. HR will also be the likely recipient of the fallout of the displaced as well as the remaining employees. As such, they would need to fully understand the decision process so they can converse openly with the employees. The Future of WARN Currently there has been Legislation introduced to reduce the triggers of WARN from a Federal front. On May 1, 2009, the Alert Laid-Off Employees in Reasonable Time (ALERT) Act would expand from the current single site limitation to include all of the employers operations (hrpolicy.org 2009). This would mean small handfuls of employment losses at several facilities located miles away from each other could constitute continuous mass layoffs for large corporations. As of the writing of this paper, it has not been passed as it is very recent. References www.ctdol.state.ct.us. Retrieved May 2, 2009 from ctdol.state.ct.us/progsupt/bussrvce/rrwarn.htm www.doleta.gov. Retrieved May 2, 2009 from doleta.gov/programs/factsht/warn.htm www.hrpolicy.org (2009). Retrieved May 2, 2009 from hrpolicy.org/portal_story.aspx?GID=204SID=705 www.labor.state.ny.us. Retrieved May 2, 2009 from labor.state.ny.us/workforcenypartners/warn/warnportal.shtm Research Papers on The Warn Act of 1989Twilight of the UAWResearch Process Part OneUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NicePETSTEL analysis of IndiaThe Project Managment Office SystemMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

DO you believe the new attendance policy should be adopted Essay

DO you believe the new attendance policy should be adopted - Essay Example The proposed plan of the university of suspending students that are absent more than three times during a course is outrageous and detrimental to the student alumni. The purpose of this paper is to describe the reasons why the three absent policy should not be implemented by the university. Students are the customers of universities since they are the ones paying tuition to keep a university open. University students are spending time and money with a purpose in mind (Nytimes, 2010). If a student is not able to attend class for whatever reason the student realizes that he is hurting his chances to succeed, but the student as the client of the university has the right to be absent. The mandatory nature of this policy discriminates against the students of this university. Sometimes students face personal challenges such as a lack of transportation to reach school which inhibit their abilities to attend to every class. The proposed penalty associated with the three absent system is not fair because many students will become victims of this dictatorship policy. The university must reconsider this policy immediately because not doing so can cause major distress among the students. Psychological distress among students is an undesirable outcome that hurts the learning environment (Nauert, 2010). I am sure that the students of this university will not take this matter lightly. I expect major student revolt at this university because the proposed idea is discriminatory and it violates the rights of the students. The university should not go forward with its plan and should seek alternative solutions to find a more reasonable measure to improve overall attendance at the school. Good leaders identify the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative solution before making a decision (Cliffnotes, 2012). A potential compromise for the university to become stricter with attendance and protect the interest of the students is to create a policy that lowers the grade of

English Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

English Literature - Essay Example into the treatment of femininity/masculinity in the film, it is clear that Asaji (Lady Macbeth) in the film is with more calculations and ambitious than the real character of Lady Macbeth in the play. Here, Asaji is the driving force behind most of the actions in the play. She is more cruel and masculine than the Washizu (Macbeth), the protagonist. Besides, in the play, it is clear that Lady Macbeth is completely devoid of the loving and tender qualities which are associated with femininity and motherhood. In addition, it is unambiguous that Shakespeare attempted to represent the character of Macbeth as feminine and Lady Macbeth as masculine. Thesis statement: Analysis of femininity in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood, and discussion on the feminine/masculine character of Lady Macbeth. The play Macbeth begins with the total destruction of order and by the climax this order is restored. Almost all the main characters get involved in this destruction and restoration process of the order or the restoration of the kingdom of Scotland from the control of Macbeth. Here, the female characters show more power and determination than male but both these characters are forced to face more critical situations in their lives. Besides, they are forced to wear the mask of masculinity of cover their feminine qualities of tenderness and caring. Shakespeare developed his characters by interchanging the gender identity of the main characters like Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth. Besides, the main male character is with feminine behaviour and the main female character is with masculine behaviour. To influence the Victorian Viewers, it was important for Shakespeare to develop this cross border gender identity. For instance, the character of Lady Macbeth is with male characteristics and her husband Macbeth fails to personify/prove his masculinity in most of the scenes in the play. James L Calderwood in the work- ‘Shakespeare & the denial of death,’

John Proctor change during the course of the play Essay Example for Free

John Proctor change during the course of the play Essay How does John Proctor change during the course of the play? How might this change be communicated on stage? In Act one we first see John Proctor. He appears to be a very sharp and nasty man. We can see this in the way he talks to his servant, Mary Warren: Be you foolish Mary Warren? Be you deaf? I am looking for you more than I am looking for my cows!! If I were producing this play on the stage I would have Mary warren cowering away from John Proctor. This would give the audience an impression that he is quite a nasty man. But this all changes when he meets Abigail as she realises that he is still a powerful man even though he committed adultery with her: Gah, Id almost forgot how powerful you were John Proctor! In the same conversation he shows he has feelings for Abigail and that he is a deceitful person: Oh, how you sweated like a stallion whenever I come near. This language creates a sense of a passionate relationship. If I were producing this on stage I would have Abigail trying to hold John while he is looking away and checking no one is around. Even though he has committed lechery he is still protective over is wife as he tells Abigail that she will not speak anything of Elizabeth to him. He also shows that he is in denial and a liar as he denies anything ever happening between him and Abigail: Aye but we did not The language from the conversation with Abigail creates a sense of confusion with Johns personality as he does one thing and says another. Although he is a well-respected member of the community, as the audience we dont really know whether to trust him or not. He has a high expectation of Hale before he meets him and when he first meets him he is shocked by him: Why, Mr. Hale! Good evening to you, sir. Come in Come in. If I were producing this play then I would have John looking quite flabbergasted. This would show that Mr. Hale impresses him and that he respects him. He is also respectful to him: Ive heard you be a sensible man, Mr. Hale This concludes how John is respectful to his fellow villagers. He is well respected in the community and this may be why. In Act 2 we see the relationship between him and his wife, Elizabeth. The relationship in their marriage seems to be quite distant as john arrives late home. This could suggest that he stayed away longer because he wanted to avoid Elizabeth due to the fact that he has a guilty conscience: What keeps you so late its almost dark In a production of this play I would have the room very dark with just a few candles on the table. There would be food on the table but it would not look appetising, as it would have gone cold. There would be family pictures on a dresser at the side. This indicates that john is a family man, or so Elizabeth thinks. Even though there are pictures of their family presented in the kitchen, this is due to their appearance in Salem. They are well respected so if they tell people that John has been unfaithful then the village will look down on them. As readers it seems that Elizabeth knows about Johns affair as they had an argument about forgiving and forgetting but John is nasty to Elizabeth and shouts at her: Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer! Although he is irate with her he still wants to please her as he was unfaithful to her. He does this by complimenting her cooking even though he changed it so it would taste better. Johns temper also increases when he has arguments with Elizabeth. He constantly takes his anger out on Mary Warren even though she hasnt actually done anything wrong: Ill whip you if you dare leave this house again! This language creates a sense of him being a bully. Mary Warren always seems to be the victim. Proctor shows he is bossy also when he orders Mary Warren to go to bed. This is what adults say to young children not to 18 year olds. This gives us a sense that he is treating her like a child and is disrespectful to her. Mary Warren is also more than Johns servant in the house as he tries to get her, along with himself, to overthrow the court to free Elizabeth. This also enables him to get revenge on Abigail for accusing his wife. If I were producing this play then I would have Mary trying to run away shouting that she wont do it. This would indicate that she is scared of John and doesnt feel safe near him. His anger also is shown in this Act as he rips the deputy governors warrant up. This is very disrespectful and rude to Mr. Hale, Mr. Danforth and Cheever as they are the people giving out warrants, leaving Mr. Danforth to sign them. John has destroyed legal documents that have been given out by these 3 men. John also shows that he is religious and is part of the belief of Christianity as he shouts at Mr. Hale: Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this! If I were producing this play on stage I would have John with lots of anger shown on his face looking like he was going to hit Mr. Hale. Mr. Hale would turn around and start to run towards Cheever. This would indicate that John is a scary man and that getting away from him is probably the best thing to do. His emotions suddenly change when Elizabeth appears. He turns into a caring man when they are taking her away: I will bring you home, I will bring you home soon This language shows that John can be caring, as he has forgotten about Mr. Hale and Cheever and is now concentrating on his wife. Proctor has faith that his wife never lies. She confessed that she doesnt believe in witches even though her religion says she should believe in them. At the end of act 2 John feels quite scared as he is trying to make Mary overthrow the court and she doesnt want to do it: My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me! John character has gone from being angry to being scared in Act 2. In Act 3 Johns attitude changes, as he becomes quite a false man. This is shown when he is in the court introducing his case to Danforth: She has signed a deposition The language indicates that he is playing a court game as he has written a legal statement. When he is presenting himself he is very polite to Mr. Danforth, this is probably in his attempt to overthrow the court. He responds to questions very politely and doesnt appear violent: John Proctor, sir, Elizabeth Proctor is my wife Even though John stays calm, Danforth constantly tries to interrogate him. This slowly increases his temper; he keeps to his words without erupting with anger, as he knows this will do him more harm than good. When John speaks Danforth is constantly interrupting him, this is frustrating for him, as he cannot finish what he is saying: I come not to hurt the court, I only- The technique that Danforth uses to interrogate John suggests by Johns reaction that it is annoying and could start an argument. If I were producing this play then I would have John dressed smartly so he looks professional and Danforth sat higher up than John so he looks more important. John would try to avoid looking Danforth in the eyes. This would indicate to the audience that John is a little fearful of Danforth, as he knows that he could sentence himself and his wife to death at any time. When Elizabeth Proctor was accused of witchcraft due to the poppet that was found and Abigails accusation this made John angry. In court John is sarcastic about this and tries to change the subject and make it funny: There might also be a dragon with five legs in my house but no one has ever seen it! This language also shows that John is biding time with the court. If I where producing this play then I would have John laughing, looking around the court but no one else would be laughing. This could indicate that he is scared and is trying to laugh it of or this could be so he can think of more negatives about Abigail and prove that she is lying. John is also indiscreet as he tells Danforth about how Abigail laughed during Prayer: she were twice this year put out of this meetin house for laughter during prayer! John also shows that he is nasty as he calls Abigail a whore. Consequently this proves that John Proctor wants to seek revenge on Abigail. Even though this makes Abigail sound like the victim she is not as she is the one who is making false allegations against honest, well respected members of the community. When John is presenting his own case to save his life he is like a hero and he is very brave. He tells Danforth what he actually thinks of him: I see the boot of Lucifer, I see his dirty face, and it is my face and yours Danforth!

Plagiarism :: Cheating Internet Computer Ethics Essays

Plagiarism Plagiarism, or the unaccredited use of another's work or ideas, has become more and more of a problem in recent times than it was in the past. According to statistics found in a survey conducted by the Free Press, 58% of high school students let someone copy their work in 1969, but by 1989 this number had risen to 97%. The expansion of the World Wide Web and the number of people accessing the Web on a regular basis has caused an epidemic of plagiarism in this country, especially among students. This is a serious problem that must be addressed because many students feel that if they are not getting in trouble for cheating, than it is okay. Children are taught to use computers at incredibly young ages, and according to Ann Lanthrop plagiarism has become a problem even in the lowest levels of elementary education. It has become so easy for students to access information for their homework and papers on the Internet that some students feel they should not have to work even a little to receive the grades that they desire. High school students get out of reading novels for their English classes by reading "book notes" online. While in the past students had access to these materials, websites such as Spark Notes, Monkey Notes, and a number of other websites have made access to these "study guides" free to students, causing the temptation to cheat to be even harder to ignore. The Web also offers many ways for students to obtain term papers or essays at a low cost. In many cases, these students do not even bother to change any piece of the paper! The simplicity of the Internet has made cheating on assignments much more effortl ess than in the past, even if students are not directly copying and pasting from Websites, they can also email homework problems and essay questions to every member of the class. Plagiarism is a severe issue that needs to be addressed by both teachers and parents with children while they are still young enough to fear the consequences of their actions. In the United States it is illegal for one to plagiarize the copyrighted work of another human being. Not only does plagiarism violate legal statutes, but it also infringes on longstanding morals and ethics.

Competition and Markets

United Parcel Service, Inc. is the brand name that this paper seeks to analyze using its monopolistic characteristics and the advertising trends in the company. With its headquarters in Sandy Springs, Georgia, the company is so far the world’s largest package delivery company.United Parcel Service, Inc major competitors in the US market are the United States Postal Services and FedEx which are also joined with other international operators among of them being: Royal Mail, Japan Post, LDH Express, and FCML Couriers among many other international delivery companies.It is therefore practical to state that United Parcel Service, Inc does not enjoy a purely monopolistic market although various characteristics in its operations have enabled it to enjoy a larger share of the delivery market. In a single day for instance, it delivers over 15 million packages to 6. 1 million customers in m ore than 200 countries (Heijdra and Brakman 2004). UPS gained its popular brand name originally f orm its brown trucks which are responsible for ‘The Big Brown Machine’ name that is locally used to refer to it.Advertising especially in firms characterized by monopolistic features aims at benefiting the producer to increase the sales levels (Semenik and O’Guinn 2008). On the other hand though, it is argued that advertisement serves a role in ensuring that consumers are more enlightened on market supply hence reduce the risks of making uninformed purchase decisions. Some economists though argue against advertisement stating that it leads to misallocation of resources in the economy as consumers are propelled into buying what they had not intended to initially.It is also argued that it promotes unfair market dominance as firms aim at enhancing their brand name at the expense of other players in the industry. Basing on the reasoning, put above advertising is the only way for firms in monopolistic market to ensure they maintain their edge in the market (Kapferer 2 008). References Kapferer, J, 2008, The new strategic brand management, K. P. P. , Washington D. C. Heijdra, B & Brakman, S, 2004, The monopolistic competition revolution in retrospect, C. U. P. , California. Semenik, R & O’Guinn, T, 2008, Advertising and Integrated Brand Promotion, Cengage Learning, Boston.

The Olmec The First Great Mesoamerican Civilization.

The Olmec were the first great Mesoamerican civilization. They thrived along Mexico’s Gulf coast, mainly in the present-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco, from about 1200 to 400 B.C., although there were pre-Olmec societies before that and post-Olmec (or Epi-Olmec) societies afterward. The Olmec were great artists and traders who culturally dominated early Mesoamerica from their mighty cities of San Lorenzo and La Venta. Olmec culture was greatly influential on later societies, such as the Maya and the Aztec. Before the Olmec The Olmec civilization is considered by historians to be â€Å"pristine:† this means that it developed on its own, without the benefit of immigration or cultural exchange with some other established society. Generally, only six pristine cultures are thought to exist: those of ancient India, Egypt, China, Sumeria, and the Chavin Culture of Peru in addition to the Olmec. That’s not to say that the Olmec appeared out of thin air. As early as 1500 B.C. pre-Olmec relics were being created at San Lorenzo, where the Ojochà ­, Bajà ­o, and Chichà ¡rras cultures would eventually develop into the Olmec. San Lorenzo and La Venta Two major Olmec cities are known to researchers: San Lorenzo and La Venta. These are not the names the Olmec knew them by: their original names have been lost to time. San Lorenzo thrived from approximately 1200-900 B.C. and it was the greatest city in Mesoamerica at the time. Many important works of art have been found in and around San Lorenzo, including the sculptures of the hero twins and ten colossal heads. The El Manatà ­ site, a bog which contained many priceless Olmec artifacts, is associated with San Lorenzo. After about 900 B.C., San Lorenzo was eclipsed in influence by La Venta. La Venta was also a mighty city, with thousands of citizens and far-reaching influence in the Mesoamerican world. Many thrones, colossal heads, and other major pieces of Olmec art have been found at La Venta. Complex A, a religious complex located in the royal compound at La Venta, is one of the most important ancient Olmec sites. Olmec Culture The ancient Olmec had a rich culture. Most of the common Olmec citizens labored in the fields producing crops or spent their days fishing in the rivers. Sometimes, massive amounts of manpower would be required to move immense boulders many miles to the workshops where sculptors would turn them into great stone thrones or colossal heads. The Olmec had religion and a mythology, and the people would gather near the ceremonial centers to watch their priests and rulers perform ceremonies. There was a priest class and a ruling class who lived privileged lives in the higher parts of the cities. On a more ghastly note, evidence suggests that the Olmec practiced both human sacrifice and cannibalism. Olmec Religion and Gods The Olmec had a well-developed religion, complete with an interpretation of the cosmos and several gods. To the Olmec, there were three parts of the known universe. First was the earth, where they lived, and it was represented by the Olmec Dragon. The watery underworld was the realm of the Fish Monster, and the Skies were the home of the Bird Monster. In addition to these three gods, researchers have identified five more: the Maize God, the Water God, the Feathered Serpent, the Banded-eye God and the were-jaguar. Some of these gods, such as the Feathered Serpent, would live on in the religions of later cultures such as the Aztecs and Maya. Olmec Art The Olmec were very talented artists whose skill and aesthetics are still admired today. They are best known for their colossal heads. These massive stone heads, thought to represent rulers, stand several feet high and weigh many tons. The Olmecs also made massive stone thrones: squarish blocks, carved on the sides, which were evidently used for rulers to sit or stand upon. The Olmecs made large and small sculptures, some of which are very significant. La Venta Monument 19 features the first image of a feathered serpent in Mesoamerican art. The El Azuzul twins seem to prove a link between the ancient Olmec and the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya. The Olmecs also made countless smaller pieces, including celts, figurines, and masks. Olmec Trade and Commerce: The Olmec were great traders who had contacts with other cultures from Central America to the Valley of Mexico. They traded away their finely made and polished celts, masks, figurines and small statues. In return, they obtained materials such as jadeite and serpentine, goods such as crocodile skins, seashells, shark teeth, stingray spines and basic necessities like salt. They also traded for cacao and brightly colored feathers. Their skill as traders helped disseminate their culture to different contemporary civilizations, which helped establish them as the parent culture for several later civilizations. Decline of the Olmec and the Epi-Olmec Civilization: La Venta went into decline around 400 B.C. and the Olmec civilization vanished along with it. The great Olmec cities were swallowed up by the jungles, not to be seen again for thousands of years. Why the Olmec declined is a bit of a mystery. It may have been climate change as the Olmec were dependent on a few basic crops and climate change could have affected their harvests. Human actions, such as warfare, overfarming or deforestation may have played a role in their decline as well. After the fall of La Venta, the center of what is known as epi-Olmec civilization became Tres Zapotes, a city which prospered for a while after La Venta. The epi-Olmec people of Tres Zapotes were also talented artists who developed concepts such as writing systems and a calendar. Importance of the Ancient Olmec Culture: The Olmec civilization is very important to researchers. As the parent civilization of much of Mesoamerica, they had influence out of proportion with their military might or architectural works. Olmec culture and religion survived them and became the foundation of other societies such as the Aztecs and Maya. Sources Coe, Michael D and Rex Koontz. Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs. 6th Edition. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008 Cyphers, Ann. Surgimiento y decadencia de San Lorenzo, Veracruz. Arqueologà ­a Mexicana Vol XV - Num. 87 (Sept-Oct 2007). P. 30-35. Diehl, Richard. The Olmecs: Americas First Civilization. Hardcover, Thames and Hudson, December 31, 2004. Gonzalez Tauck, Rebecca B. El Complejo A: La Venta, Tabasco Arqueologà ­a Mexicana Vol XV - Num. 87 (Sept-Oct 2007). p. 49-54. Grove, David C. Cerros Sagradas Olmecas. Trans. Elisa Ramirez. Arqueologà ­a Mexicana Vol XV - Num. 87 (Sept-Oct 2007). P. 30-35. Miller, Mary and Karl Taube. An Illustrated Dictionary of the Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya. New York: Thames Hudson, 1993.