Latest news with #Javier
USA Today
8 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
How to be the manager employees want to work for: 5 actionable strategies
Being a manager isn't just about assigning tasks and meeting deadlines; it's also about motivating and inspiring team members. It's about shaping the culture your team experiences every day. 'People rarely quit companies — they quit managers who fail to see and support them as human beings,' says Jonathan Javier, a career consultant and CEO of Wonsulting. In today's workplace, where burnout is high and loyalty is low, employees don't just want competent managers; they also want managers who are approachable and supportive. They want leaders who listen, support and inspire. Research backs this up: a 2021 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that interpersonal skills, such as conflict management and emotional support, improve employee attitudes and performance. So, how do you become the kind of leader people want to work for? Here are five ways to start. What makes a great leader? The best bosses invest in people. They listen, communicate clearly, take accountability and lead with courage and humility. It's these so-called soft skills that will make you a strong boss. Great managers don't have all the answers; they ask the right questions. Your job isn't to solve every problem, but to create space for your team to share ideas, roadblocks and solutions. 'Good leaders actively listen, understand people's challenges and make space for honest conversations,' says Javier. To do this, prioritize regular one-on-one meetings and use open-ended questions to dig deeper: What's working? Where are you stuck? How can I help? Repeat back what you hear and ask thoughtful follow-ups. Listening is one of the most powerful tools a leader has. Great bosses don't just talk, they make sure their message lands. Clear communication helps teams stay aligned, focused and confident in their goals. 'Be explicit about priorities, and ask team members to summarize tasks in their own words,' says Javier. 'This is especially important in fast-moving startups.' Don't overlook nonverbal cues, either. Research from Harvard Business School suggests that 65% to 93% of communication is nonverbal. If you deliver feedback with your arms crossed or without eye contact, your team may feel dismissed or defensive, even if your words are supportive. Your body language should reinforce clarity and respect. Great bosses aren't flawless, they're accountable. While a weak leader dodges blame, a standout one takes responsibility — and action. 'Address issues directly instead of letting them linger. 'Fail fast,' and admit mistakes quickly,' says Javier. 'Then, share what you're doing to fix them.' Say you miss a major project deadline, and the delay affects the entire team. Be transparent about the mistake, acknowledge your role, and offer support to help the team recover. This kind of accountability fosters trust and sets the tone for a workplace culture where honesty and improvement are mutually reinforcing. Great leaders don't just talk about courage; they show it through bold decisions, honest feedback and principled action. Creating that kind of environment makes employees more willing to take calculated risks. Innovation doesn't come from playing it safe. Research from Embry-Riddle University found that "intelligent risk", where potential rewards outweigh potential harm, is closely tied to a company's financial success. By encouraging calculated risks, you open the door to new ideas, smarter processes and better outcomes. 'Celebrate when people take ownership,' Javier adds. 'Use those moments as learning opportunities, even when outcomes fall short.' Great managers don't just give feedback, they ask for it. Regularly checking in with your team demonstrates humility, fosters trust and facilitates growth. Try asking, 'What's one thing I could do better?' This simple question can open the door to honest conversations about your leadership style. You might gather feedback during quarterly reviews, informal one-on-ones or even a quick Slack exchange. The key is to listen with curiosity — not defensiveness — and follow up with action. 'Good leaders are open to feedback and create space for others to shine,' says Javier. The more you model that mindset, the more your team will thrive. Good leadership drives real results Strong leadership doesn't just boost morale, it drives results. Empathetic managers help reduce turnover, increase engagement and build teams that want to stick around. A 2023 study published in Heliyon found that toxic leadership directly contributes to employee dissatisfaction and high rates of resignation. If you want to be the kind of manager employees respect and rally behind, embody these five behaviors and lead like someone worth following. What is USA TODAY Top Workplaces 2025? If you're looking for a job with a great manager, we can help. Each year, USA TODAY Top Workplaces, a collaboration between Energage and USA TODAY, ranks organizations across the United States that excel at creating a positive work environment for their employees. Employee feedback determines the winners. In 2025, over 1,500 companies earned recognition as top workplaces. Check out our overall U.S. rankings. You can also gain insights into more workplace trends and advice by checking out the links below.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Huge victory for Brits as Spanish hotel bosses hit back at anti-tourist attacks
Brit tourists should not be used as a 'punching bag' for the worsening housing crisis impacting Spain, hotel bosses have warned in a major clap-back at protesting locals Hotel bosses on a tourist-engulf Spanish island have jumped to the defence of Brits following a string of confrontational protests. Last year, a staggering 15.3 million international visitors flocked to the Balearics - a beautiful archipelago made up of Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca. The influx resulted in fed-up locals storming the streets en masse - waving banners demanding holidaymakers 'go home'. Arguing the rising demand of holiday rentals is pricing them out of the property market - and worsening the country's housing crisis - residents even took to squirting Brits with water pistols to get their message across. READ MORE: Tiny Greek island dubbed 'a smaller Mykonos' named voted best in the world The latest protest, which took place just last month, comes as activists vowed to unleash 'misery' for Brits during the busy summer period. However, it seems the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation (FEHM) is pushing back on the island's anti-tourist landscape by launching a new campaign. The initiative, which aims to thank millions of tourists for visiting the island and raise awareness of the 'importance of tourism' to the economy, has seen around twenty billboards distributed throughout Mallorca, using positive and welcoming messages in English and German. According to local news site Majorca Daily Bulletin, Javier Vich, the president of the federation, said: "We cannot allow a radical minority to damage the work carried out over many years by so many people who have made tourism their way of life... Tourism cannot be the punching bag for all the structural problems of this community." Javier added that every month during the high season, a staggering 235,000 salaries are paid in sectors linked to tourism. This includes workers in the transport, catering, culture, leisure and hospitality sectors. The hotel boss went on to argue that Spain risks suffering a slowdown in bookings during the summer season, and more and more Brits flock to rival destinations like Greece and Turkey - which 'welcome tourists with a red carpet'. Even Morocco - which has long struggled to attract high levels of tourism, has seen its visitor numbers surge in recent months. "We must also be aware of their value," Javier warned. "Mallorca has been, is and must continue to be a hospitable land..." While the campaign may be well received by self-serving hotel bosses, that cash in on tourism, it's safe to say the news won't go down well with locals demanding change. And still - despite the alarming number of protests and graffiti that have been smeared across Spain - British expat Sandra Laurie, who has lived in Spain for nine years, says Brits should continue visiting Spain. "Local businesses, restaurants, and shops have built their success on welcoming tourists from all over the world," she exclusively told the Mirror earlier this year. "If you have a trip planned—don't let the headlines deter you. The Costa del Sol and other popular destinations are buzzing with life. The beaches are packed, the pueblos are alive with energy, and both locals and tourists are soaking up the sun, relaxing, and making the most of everything Spain has to offer." Of course, Sandra says being a 'respectful' visitor is key to being welcomed to the sunny country.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Astros second-half storylines to watch, starting with trade deadline priorities
HOUSTON — Vibes and duct tape held the Houston Astros together across an adventurous first half that tested depth and, at times, defied logic. A transformative winter injected energy and athleticism the club has rarely shown during its golden era. Injuries threatened to render those efforts useless. Two members of Houston's season-opening rotation have undergone Tommy John surgery. A third hasn't pitched in a game since mid-April. Somehow, the pitching staff still boasts baseball's fifth-lowest ERA. Advertisement Yordan Alvarez missed the final 66 games before the All-Star break. Neither Christian Walker nor Yainer Diaz has an OPS above .690. Breakout seasons by Jeremy Peña and Jake Meyers buoyed the lineup in their absence. That both entered the break on the injured list is a fitting encapsulation of an otherwise excellent run. Here are three second-half storylines for an Astros team holding a five-game advantage in the American League West. The cavalry resides in West Palm Beach, Fla., where four pitchers the Astros presumed would play prominent roles in their season are in various states of recovery from significant injuries. Their progress will determine Houston's direction at the trade deadline and, perhaps, their destiny in October. Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia are coming back from Tommy John surgery. J.P. France had right shoulder surgery last June. Spencer Arrighetti fractured his right thumb in a freak accident in April at T-Mobile Park. Both Garcia and Javier have made minor-league rehab starts with the team's Florida Coast League affiliate, but will need at least a month more to build up as traditional starters. During the team's pregame radio show on Sunday, general manager Dana Brown said Javier is ahead of Garcia, but expressed hope that both pitchers would contribute in the second half. France and Arrighetti are still in the live batting practice phase of their recoveries, a step behind Garcia and Javier. It's difficult — if not impossible — to envision any of the four pitchers returning before the July 31 trade deadline, putting Brown in a precarious position. Houston could use starting pitching help, but if their internal reinforcements are back at full strength, the need may be mitigated. The more pertinent question Brown and his baseball operations officials must ponder: How effective can this quartet be? Javier boasts a career 10.1 strikeouts per nine and, at times, has been borderline unhittable. Garcia has a lifetime 3.61 ERA at the major-league level. Advertisement Still, Garcia hasn't appeared in a big-league game in 26 months. France has been absent since April 23, 2024, and Javier since May 21 of the same year. Bear in mind, too, that pitchers returning from reconstructive surgeries almost always require close monitoring. Arrighetti, at least, made two starts this season before a batted ball broke his thumb during batting practice. Perhaps his efficacy is the easiest of the four to project. The other three offer a far more complicated conundrum. Alvarez hasn't played since May 2, a 66-game stretch in which the Astros finished 40-26 with a .268/.329/.434 slash line, but faced myriad questions about Alvarez's prognosis and recovery. Diagnosed at first with a muscle strain in the top of his right hand, Alvarez has suffered two setbacks during his recovery. The first forced Houston to take more imaging, which revealed a 'small' fracture near the fourth metacarpal. Alvarez did not swing for about a month before being shipped to the Astros' spring training facility on June 29 to face live pitching. Alvarez took one day of live batting practice, reported a recurrence of pain and hasn't swung a bat since. Team officials remain optimistic Alvarez will return at some point this season. After his most recent setback, Alvarez received two injections from a hand specialist that, according to the team, confirmed the pain is unrelated to Alvarez's fracture. A news release from the Astros called the development 'encouraging news.' Still, the trajectory of Alvarez's recovery must prompt serious concern about his ability to play again at full strength this season. Alvarez is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Thursday, at which point doctors could clear him to resume swinging a bat. Before going on the injured list, though, Alvarez slashed just .210/.306/.340 across 121 plate appearances. Just seven of his 21 hits fell for extra bases, numbers that may have been altered by an injured hand Houston can't seem to heal. Advertisement At the very least, it would behoove Brown to enter the trade deadline without any expectations for Alvarez to contribute at his full strength, allowing him to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. An ideal outcome is the Astros acquiring both by the July 31 trade deadline, but their paucity of prospect capital may force Houston's baseball operations department to hone its focus. The Astros finished the first half 29-29 in games not started by Hunter Brown or Framber Valdez, accentuating the importance of both aces and the vulnerability of Houston's rotation behind them. Rookies Colton Gordon, Brandon Walter and Ryan Gusto have held their own while Lance McCullers Jr. is in the throes of inconsistencies expected from someone who did not appear in a major-league game for 915 days. The foursome finished the first half with a 4.87 ERA. Whether any of them inspire confidence to start a playoff game — or something with similar stakes in September — is a question Houston's baseball operations officials must ponder over the next three weeks. Whether they are prepared to gamble on the health of Arrighetti, France, Javier or Garcia in their stead is another. Dana Brown has already reiterated his desire for a left-handed bat within a lineup that is one of the most unbalanced in baseball. No offense in the sport has fewer at-bats by a left-handed hitter, a byproduct of both Alvarez's extended absence and the team's curious roster construction since spring training. Adding an established left-handed bat that can either platoon in the outfield or play second base is the most direct way to upgrade Houston's injury-ravaged lineup. Welcoming Alvarez back would help, but his career-long success against left-handed pitching — while being surrounded by all right-handed hitters — will make opposing managers wary of deploying southpaws against the Astros. As it stands, Houston has taken just 642 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season. No team has fewer — an imbalance that could get exposed by the elite right-handed pitching that always appears in October. (Top photo of Cristian Javier: Logan Riely / Getty Images)
Euractiv
11-07-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
Indra moves to dominate Spain's defence sector, but raises conflict-of-interest concerns
MADRID – Spanish technology and defence giant Indra began formal merger negotiations with defence company Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E) on Thursday, a move that would consolidate the country's growing defence sector. The proposed deal has sparked serious conflict-of-interest concerns in Spain, however, as Indra President Ángel Escribano is also a co-owner of EM&E – along with his brother, Javier. The situation has raised eyebrows in Madrid, with critics suggesting that Escribano may in essence be facilitating the acquisition of his own company. According to consultancy reports commissioned by Indra, EM&E is valued at €1.5 billion. Indra had not responded to questions from Euractiv as of publication time. The deal comes amid Indra's broader ambition, outlined in its 2024 strategic roadmap, to become Spain's dominant national defence champion within the next decade. The company is well-positioned to benefit from the recent push by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez government to boost defence spending, announced last April. Currently, defence contracts account for 12% of Indra's total revenue. Merging with EM&E, one of Spain's leading private defence contractors, would reinforce Indra's defence portfolio, which already includes majority stakes in Tess Defence (51%) and ITP Aero (9.5%), as well as new strategic partnerships with German armaments giant Rheinmetall. In breach of the law? EM&E, meanwhile, is Indra's largest private shareholder with a 14.3% stake. The state-owned SEPI fund holds another 28%, raising concerns about anti-competitive behaviour and market concentration that could potentially breach Spanish and European Law. "From a competition law perspective, the possible merger raises significant questions about market access and fair competition," Francisco Marcos, a professor at Madrid's IE Law School, told Euractiv. He warned of potential 'foreclosure effects' and 'self-preference in public tenders', especially as both firms already play major roles as state contractors. Marcos stressed the need for thorough regulatory scrutiny to ensure "efficiency and competitive plurality" in a strategically vital and publicly funded sector. Technology firm SAPA, Indra's third shareholder (7.94%) has come out against the merger, and independent board members reportedly also plan to vote against the transaction. Some considered resigning from the board over the potential conflict of interest and the risk of legal liability in potential shareholder lawsuits. El País reported on Thursday evening after the initial talks that Indra will create an independent commission to decide on the purchase, to 'guarantee good corporate governance'. Indra's executive board is set to vote on the merger on 23 July. (cs, bts)
Boston Globe
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Some migrants detained in LA ICE raids have already been deported
Advertisement 'The way they deported him wasn't right,' said his father Javier, 42, who spoke on the condition that only his first name be used because he does not have legal immigration status. 'He is a calm, working man. We are asking for justice because they violated his rights.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up As protests over workplace raids in California's largest city continued Monday and the Pentagon announced it would be sending 700 Marines to backstop National Guard troops, immigration lawyers, advocates and relatives were scrambling to find information about those detained. Mexico's foreign minister said four immigrants detained in the raid had already been removed from the United States, a speed that some advocates said was unusual. The Trump administration has not released a total count of how many immigrants have been picked up in the raids that sparked a wave of unrest in Los Angeles and demonstrations around the country. But as the protests continued, a picture of who was detained was slowly coming together. Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security released information on 16 people who they said had criminal histories that included charges or convictions of crimes including robbery, sexual battery and drug possession, according to the agency. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News on Monday that those picked up in the raids represent the 'worst of the worst.' But immigrant advocacy groups say they have collected information indicating that more than 200 people were detained and that many do not have criminal records. Eva Bitran, director of immigrants' rights and a senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California, said that among the people detained is a woman who was pulled over while dropping her 4-year-old son off at day care. 'The people who have been arrested are our neighbors and community members and the workers that make the city of Los Angeles run,' Bitran said. 'We know there were arrests at car washes, at Home Depot - really the places where immigrants are just trying to go about their lives and go about their jobs.' The administration has sought to ramp up its daily arrest numbers as part of an effort to fulfill President Donald Trump's campaign promise to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said in May that the administration's goal is for ICE to make a 'minimum of 3,000 arrests' every day. Since then, the administration has increased its arrest numbers. Advertisement A senior DHS official last week credited ICE's 'enhanced enforcement operations and increased cooperation from local law enforcement partners' for the increase in arrests. The senior DHS official said that 2,368 people in the country illegally were arrested on June 4 and 2,267 on June 3. Those numbers are a dramatic increase from the roughly 660 arrests a day that the Trump administration touted during its first 100 days. Officials attributed the increase, at least in part, to the mobilization of other law enforcement units to bolster ICE's operations. These include the FBI, US Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. While DHS highlighted the arrests of some of those detained in Los Angeles, the agency did not answer further questions about the operation, including whether any employers were among those arrested and how many of those picked up had a criminal record. Immigrant and community advocacy organizations have established a hotline and a 'rapid response' network to quickly assist people facing detention and deportation. As of Sunday night, their emergency line had received more than 120 calls from distraught families, said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesperson for CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. Cabrera said that advocates have obtained information for about a third of those taken into custody and that they include undocumented immigrants who had been in the United States for decades. Many also do not have legal representation and are being transferred quickly to detention facilities far from their homes, he said. Elaina Jung Hee Vermeulen was among a group of attorneys who waited for hours Sunday outside ICE's Metropolitan Detention Center hoping to speak with detainees. She said she had succeeded in speaking with just one of the more than a dozen individuals detained at Ambiance Apparel, whose relatives she is assisting. Advertisement 'We've been consistently deprived access to them,' Vermeulen said. 'There's a robust coalition of immigration attorneys ready and willing to consider representation for folks if they are kept in California, but we can't do that until we have access to them. It's been effectively impossible.' The garment factory operation devastated members of the tight-knit Indigenous Zapotec community, which has roots in southern Mexico. Many had been working at the warehouse for years before ICE descended on the location. The Biden administration ended workplace immigration raids and said merely being in the United States illegally wasn't cause for removal. But Trump has renewed the worksite raids, which can lead to arrests for alleged crimes. They can also lead to the detention and deportation of workers for being in the United States without legal papers, a civil offense. US Attorney Bilal 'Bill' Essayli said federal agents were conducting a criminal investigation and served a search warrant on the business related to an investigation about fake employee documents. Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, said on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' on Monday that ICE's raid in the Fashion District 'wasn't an immigration raid' and that authorities were carrying out 'criminal warrants' connected to money laundering, tax evasion and customs fraud investigations. When asked on MSNBC whether everyone arrested had a criminal record, Homan replied, 'Absolutely not.' He added: 'We're going to enforce immigration law' and said they'd do so 'especially in sanctuary cities.' Carlos Gonzalez's brother and uncle were two of those detained by ICE. The 22-year-old was half asleep when he got a call and said he could hardly believe it. He went down to the Fashion District and watched as several members of his Indigenous community were put in chains. He said he felt powerless. Advertisement 'You don't know how to help,' Gonzalez said. He was particularly concerned for his mother, who had already lost one son. 'It almost hurts more knowing your son is alive but you don't know how to reach him.' Gonzalez represented one of six families demanding ICE liberate their loved ones during a news conference on Monday just outside the factory's iron gates. Sons, wives, uncles and daughters held up signs with blown-up family photos. Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente said two of those removed from the United States back to Mexico had final deportation orders while two others opted to leave voluntarily. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called on the Trump administration to respect the rights of those detained in the immigration sweeps while also urging protesters to refrain from violence. 'We make a respectful but firm call to United States authorities for all immigration procedures to be carried out with adherence to due process, within a framework of respect for human dignity and the rule of law,' she said at a daily news briefing. Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute, said anyone picked up with a final deportation order has few options. 'If they had final orders of removal and especially if they weren't responding, that means they had orders and never left,' he said. 'The position of the administration is that you don't even get a hearing, you already had a hearing and we're just executing the old order.' Advertisement Yliana Johansen-Méndez, chief program officer at the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, said her organization has confirmed with family members that two people were deported the same day as their arrest. After she heard about the first removal, she said, she thought, 'That seems really fast. Maybe we got it wrong.' But then, 'the next day we heard the same thing.'iedad attended the protest outside Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles on June 8, to show solidarity for other immigrants.
