Half a century ago, the original intention of the open office platform was to promote employee cooperation and improve production efficiency.

Since the 1960s, office layouts without walls and partitions have been at the forefront of design. The first application for this layout was the German company, Schnell.

Employees are concentrated in a public area to facilitate supervisory supervision and strengthen communication between colleagues.

Because an open plan office layout helps optimize ground usage, this office layout, from then on, has been quickly followed by many companies.

© Image | Google

Open plan office design can show workflows in a highly transparent manner, many companies also view the establishment of an open work platform as a means of presenting a corporate culture.

At present, 70% of workplaces in the United States are in this form. In China, the design of conference rooms and offices of many companies can be seen as open styles.

© Image | Google

Open plan office is the mainstream layout widely accepted and applied by more and more companies in today. 

Employees in an open plan office can share space, reduce operating costs, promote mutual communication, and stimulate ideas.

Many companies are actively embracing offices of this kind, only a few companies show their persistence in traditional closed offices. 

© Image | Google

But the most recent researches show that employees’ productivity in open plan offices can be reduced by 15%.

Besides that, they feel harder to stay focused on their jobs and have a higher risk of illness.

All these unfavorable factors cast much doubt on the long-touted advantages.

 

© Image | Google

So, why open plan offices fail to promote work efficiency? You may find the answer to this question by viewing the following explanations.

Focus entails efficiency

One of the important reasons why people like closed offices with walls and doors that can be closed is that this environment can help us concentrate. 

In fact, we can’t handle multiple tasks at the same time, even a short time mind-absence leads to long mind distraction up to 20 minutes. 

What’s more, certain open spaces can negatively impact our memory. 

People don’t collaborate 

like we think

For many people, the most annoying thing is the noise. Professors at the University of Sydney found that about 50% of people in a fully open office are dissatisfied with voice privacy. 

In a compartment with a low wall, this ratio is also close to 60%. In comparison, only 16% of people in closed offices have the same feeling.

They conducted surveys of people in various office environments to find out their dissatisfaction with their environment. 

The results show that closed offices outperform open offices in 14 aspects, including temperature, air quality, and sound privacy.

When designing office space, the company should pay attention to combining the requirements of closed space and open interaction to offer employees a varied working environment. 

© Image | Google

Following are some tips on relieving yourself from an open plan office.

• Take a break 

Studies have shown that noise associated with open plan offices can put pressure on people, so you should consider scheduling regular breaks and leaving the office on a regular basis to ease stress and bring the physiological system back to the best condition. Taking a few minutes off, such as going out for a few minutes of magazines or relaxing in the park, can give you the motivation to get the job done.

© Image | Google

 

• Stay alone for a while

In an open office environment, the need for privacy and solitude cannot be met, so create this atmosphere yourself. You can take a walk alone during the lunch break. If there is a single room that can be used for staying alone for a while and concentrate, go to this room. If there is a corner where you can work quietly, that is also very good.

© Image | Google

 

• Play music 

You can eliminate the noise around by playing music. If you like to listen to music while you work, it is best to choose positive types.

 

In recent tears, an increasing number of Africans students travel ten thousand miles to China to fulfill their lofty dreams of becoming well-trained doctors. They do that not only for themselves but for their mother countries.

A surge in growth

© Image | China Daily

An increasing number of African students are choosing universities in China to study medicine. African students now account for more than a third of all overseas students at the university, Lei said.

“We had just eight African students in our school in 2006, but 558 last year,” said Lei Haixin, executive associate dean of the International Education College at Dalian Medical University in Liaoning province.

There are more than 60,000 African students in the country, a 20-fold increase from 13 years ago, making China the second most popular destination for students from the continent studying abroad, after France, which hosts more than 95,000.

Mission in heart

© Image | China Daily

Gerard Nkengurutse is one of the hundreds from Africa studying medicine at Dalian Medical University. On arrival, he had a much more important matter on his mind, he joined thousands of other students from around the world who were embarking on a path through China to achieve their lifelong dream of becoming medical doctors.

“My country, as well as most others in Africa, lacks professional doctors, China is so developed in medicine and has helped my country a lot in building schools and hospitals. I appreciated that and thought it might be a good place to learn medicine.” Nkengurutse said

Nasra Mohamound Ali, from Somalia. She believes that by studying in the country she can realize her dream of becoming a doctor and helping her compatriots.

Ali said that when she was in high school she decided to be a gynecologist because most of the doctors in her country are male, and female patients find it hard to talk to male doctors or to share their problems with them.

“My sister had an abortion and she was bleeding so much that we took her to the hospital. When the doctor came to examine her, he asked her to open her legs and she refused despite the bleeding and pain she was experiencing.” Ali said.

Expertise & culture 

© Image | China Daily

It is not just China’s medical expertise and equipment that attract students to the country, but its culture.

Nkengurutse said, “The culture is a lot different to that in Burundi. China has the latest technology and it has world-renowned kung fu stars like Jackie Chan.” With a keen interest in culture, he was soon studying Chinese.

In June, he finished third in a Chinese speech contest for foreign college students organized by the Department of Education in Liaoning after earlier being chosen to compete with other non-Chinese on the TV show Chinese Bridge on China Central Television.

“China offers me a lot and has become a second home for me,” Nkengurutse said.

 More affordable

© Image | China Daily

Yet another reason that African students come to China to learn medicine is the affordability. Studying in China is much cheaper compared with Western countries, and there are government-sponsored programs.

Take the MBBS program for example. This is a program in English for international students in China seeking a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree.

They have to pay at least $15,000, or the equivalent, in tuition fees each academic year if they want to study in the United States or the United Kingdom. But it costs less than $5,000 on average in China, according to the country’s University and College Admission System, an online portal for international students applying to Chinese universities.

Moreover, students spend less on dormitory accommodation at Chinese universities, a manager from the admission system said.

China has awarded scholarships to Africans traveling to the country to study. At the 2015 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa, China pledged to provide 30,000 scholarships to African students by this year.

Government plays its role

© Image | China Daily

As the foreign influx continues to rise, the government has to strike a balance between ensuring that the quality of the education provided is not being sacrificed for the sake of increased enrollment.

The Ministry of Education first published the Interim Provisions for Quality Control Standards in Undergraduate Medical Education in English for international students in 2007. This is now reviewed and published annually.

Practice makes perfect

© Image | China Daily

The government and universities also encourage international students to do internships at local hospitals before they graduate.

After studying at school, Nkengurutse began his one-year internship at the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University in late 2014.

One of his initial difficulties was related to language rather than medicine. For African students in China, language is the most important thing if they want to integrate into the local community and gain practical experience.

After many of the African students graduate, they return home, taking all their newly acquired skills with them.

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According to the “World News” and “Daily Mail” report, Luka Modrić, the winner of the World Cup Golden Ball and the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award is in great trouble recently because of the tax evasion! What’s going on?

Luka Modrić © Image | Twitter

2.6 million Euros penalty & 5-year imprisonment?!

According to the latest report from the Spanish newspaper Le Monde, Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modrić admits that there is tax fraud. In order to avoid jail, he has paid 2.6 million euros in Spain to evade taxes.

 

However, even if he has honestly paid the penalty, he is still not completely rid of the five-year imprisonment for helping people with financial perjury.

Luka Modrić

Tap to enlarge

 

Justice has long arms.

Many fans feel that the Luka Modrić is really unlucky recently!

Why can it be detected after a few years? How is the overseas income found?

Because of CRS! 

© Image | GOOGLE

 

Once the CRS information exchange is carried out, it is not accidental that the magic flute tax evasion is investigated and fined.

CRS Will Affect Every One of Us, Please Notice These Things!

CRS Will Affect Every One of Us, Please Notice These Things!

 

For Example

If you have 100 million financial assets in Germany, the Chinese tax authorities did not know at the beginning, but since China and Germany have joined the CRS, Germany exchanges your financial products and insurance financial assets every year with the Chinese tax authorities.

Then the Chinese tax authorities know that you have 100 million assets in Germany. The annual income of 8 million profits generated by this part of the assets needs to be taxed according to the law! However, if these profits were not paid tax before, you would face penalty now.

Tap to enlarge

 

Under the new CRS rules of the international community, business owners, especially those in the foreign trade business, must be involved. What should we do?

Many foreign trade owners and overseas HNWIs are shocked to hear of CRS, but the reality is not that bad. To reassure our friends, Ms. Nico, the co-founder of HACOS, who has more than 10 years of experience in foreign trade finance and taxation, will analyze for you.

 

Nico, the co-founder of HACOS

CRS, both challenge and opportunity

Tap to enlarge

 

Since the exchange of information between Hong Kong and mainland China just began, it is inevitable that the first batch of exchange accounts will be censored with screening conditions.

 

If the results of the annual review are legitimate income, there is nothing to fear from the CRS tax information exchange.

 

On the contrary, conducting the audit on time will improve the enterprise’s reputation and greatly help the business.

Tap to enlarge

Suggestion

Because more and more banks are now raising the threshold for newly opened accounts, especially HSBC and Hang Seng Bank will regularly review existing accounts.

 

© Image | GOOGLE

 

❶ For companies that have been audited last year, the annual audit will be carried out as early as possible, the risk of being investigated will be greatly reduced, the account will be safer and have international credibility. If you encounter the bank require you to reply to a question or provide relevant information, you can contact HACOS, we can provide you with professional guidance.

❷ If you have a bank account that is not audited, the first thing you should do with CRS is to do the accounting and auditing. In addition, you need to choose a professional and highly qualified institution to issue an audit report for your Hong Kong company that meets the requirements of the HK government and to avoid all kinds of risks.

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Our creed is “make difference”.We are committed to building and providing an
inspiring, mature
business platform for foreigners’ visiting China .

And here in HACOS, you can not only get more information about China, but also
get a full range of business services here！

We look forward to working with you in HACOS for a better future!

Today’s Topic

How to get along 

with Chinese In-laws?

Cross-culture marriage refers to a couple in a marriage has two different cultural backgrounds. With the rapid development of the current world’s economy, cross-culture marriage has become more and more common. 

 

 

According to a statistics, China since the 1980s has seen an increasing number of registered cross-culture marriages. Cross-culture marriage helps promote cultural exchanges, but the cultural differences often bring up many problems like high divorce rate or family violence.

 

It is a romantic thing to have a cross-culture love with a Chinese, it is widely believed that the two people in the marriage from different cultures and backgrounds can more easily make their life happier and interesting. 

Getting married means you’re going to become a family member of your Chinese partner. And the first step you have to face is being accepted by their family. If you feel nervous and have no ideas about how to deal with your Chinese in-laws, here are some tips for you.

 

Language helps

 

There is saying goes like that Do in Rome as Rome Does. Being a partner of a Chinese, of course, you need to follow some local rules when it is time to meet with Chinese in-laws. But language goes first. 

?Chinese is so hard? Use those apps!

?Best Places to Learn Chinese Online For Learners At All Levels!

 

When it comes to the big moment – meeting with parents, fluency can help you break the ice much easier and win parents over. You can communicate better with your partner’s parents even you encounter interference from them.

 

© Image | DW

To Jenny, an American writer and blogger from New Jersey, US, the language could be the panacea to break negative stereotypes towards foreigners. In an email interview with Metropolitan, Jenny shared her experiences with us. 

 

“While I wouldn’t say that all Chinese parents necessarily have negative stereotypes about foreigners, some do. If you can communicate with them, that goes a long way in winning over parents,” said Jenny.

 

Be yourself

 

The first meet with your Chinese in-laws can be very nervous for you, a lot of things suddenly pop out in your mind and you talk to yourself millions of times in head that try not to mess it up. But you should know that Chinese value honesty really a lot, so just be honest and a real yourself. 

© Image | Google

Joe, a British photojournalist, and writer, won over his parents-in-law very smoothly. The first time he arrived at his wife’s home in Kaiyuan, a small village in Yunnan Province, he was totally accepted by the whole family even though he couldn’t speak Chinese, but just by being “my usual self,” he said.

“To a major degree, it also depends on your Chinese partner. Having a supportive Chinese partner in your corner, as I did, can really make a difference.”

 

Meet family members

 

If you get a very good acceptance from your Chines in-laws and they have no intention to meddle in your relationship, it’s the moment to meet with family members, especially during traditional Chinese festivals. 

© Image | Google

When that moment comes, make sure that both you and your partner are ready. Also, it’s important for you to know something about the traditional Chinese culture in advance. It is possible that you will have a big dinner with many family members, so ask your partner about that and prepare some gifts for each of them. 

 

© Image | Google

 

“Here in China, love is something that is shown through action, such as making your favorite dinner or buying something special, and married Chinese men are less likely to kiss or hug their spouses in front of others,” said Jenny.

 

How to get along with Chinese in-laws?

Welcome to share your view with us!

Ref | GlobalTimes

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