Latest news with #salesexecutive
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Brit, 27, shares urgent warning never to sunbathe wearing jewellery after he was left bedbound for five days
A BRIT warned others never to sunbathe with jewellery on after his necklace turned the sun's rays into a "laser beam" - leaving him bedbound for five days. Ben Parsons was on holiday with his family in the South of France when he fell asleep on a beach for six hours, having only applied a single layer of factor 30 sun cream. 7 7 7 The 27-year-old says he woke up several times throughout the mammoth nap but didn't realise how strong the sun was because the wind was keeping him cool. It was only when he left the beach to return to his family's villa that he realised he was "in trouble" - his whole body was covered in a painful, bright red burn. But the worst of the burns were from where the gold necklace he was wearing had "reflected the sun like a laser beam"- causing pus-filled blisters to erupt from his chin down to the base of his neck. Ben was left bedbound for five days due to the severity of the burns, which were so painful he says it felt like his skin was ripping or stretching every time he moved. He says the ordeal "ruined" his holiday as he was unable to go outside and enjoy the sunshine. The sales executive is now warning sunseekers to regularly apply SPF and take their jewellery off when sunbathing. Ben, from Weybridge, Surrey, said: "I was lying down and the necklace was on my chest pointing up at my neck. "It was like the necklace had reflected and magnified the sun into a laser beam and it's been sizzling there. "Once I got up from the beach I was in pain and that was when I realised I'd definitely [been] burnt. "But then once I got back to my house, which was another hour from the beach, that's when I realised that I was in a bit of trouble. "It got progressively worse for the next two days to the point where I was bedbound. "I couldn't move without being in pain because I was so burned that every time I moved it felt as if my skin was ripping or stretching. "I didn't leave my bed for the next four or five days because I was in such excruciating pain. "I didn't end up going back to the beach for the rest of the holiday and I had to stay laying down in bed. 7 7 "It definitely ruined my holiday because I didn't get to see sunlight again for the next week and a half and then even getting up for dinner and lunches was painful. "Even having my eyelids open hurt." Luckily a family member on holiday with them was a nurse so got a cream to treat the burns, and wrapped bandages around his neck to protect his scorched skin. Now, Ben is encouraging other people to apply SPF and take their jewellery off when sunbathing in order to avoid the same fate. Ben said: "I would definitely say always be extra careful when wearing jewellery because whether it's real gold or not, it can potentially reflect off onto you. "I definitely recommend taking all jewellery off so this sort of thing doesn't happen. How much sun cream do you really need? THE NHS says adults should apply six to eight teaspoons of sunscreen over the entire body at each application. Given you should reapply every two hours, that is a lot of sun cream. Dr Kentley, MRA ambassador, tells Sun Health: 'Cover your first two fingers from bottom to top in sun cream and that should be enough for your face and neck each day. 'For the rest of the body, it should be around 30ml, which is the size of a shot glass. 'But that is a lot! It would mean going through about a bottle a day.' It's just a measurement to keep in mind – just remember you should probably be applying a lot more than you think. "Also apply sun cream regularly so you don't end up ruining your holiday and all of the money you spent to get there." While you may be at higher risk of sunburn while basking in the sun on holiday, you can also scorch your skin in the UK - on cloudy days too. And there's no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun's harmful effects, despite myths about a "base tan". To best protect yourself from sunburn - which can lead to skin cancer - make sure to: Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm Cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses Use at least factor 30 sunscreen Reapply after swimming or sweating 7
Fast Company
26-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
How to push back on an unethical request at work
A few years ago, a sales executive I worked with found himself in a difficult position. His company was under review for a potential buyout, and his director asked him to present a version of the company's story that, while technically true, left out critical details. The omission would make the company look healthier than it was, protecting its valuation and the leadership team's positions post-acquisition. He knew this wasn't an outright lie, but it didn't feel honest either. Was this just strategic messaging or something more ethically concerning? And how could he navigate this without jeopardizing his reputation or future at the company? A third path He chose a third path. Instead of outright refusal, which might have been career-limiting, he started by asking clarifying questions. What was the real outcome that the leadership team wanted? Was there a way to tell a fuller, more balanced story that acknowledged challenges while highlighting future opportunities? In the end, he was able to get leadership buy-in to reframe the story to focus on how the company had learned from its struggles and was taking steps to improve. It wasn't a spin. It was honest, forward-looking, and hopeful. The CEO praised the approach, and the executive maintained his integrity without derailing his career. The Institute of Business Ethics found in a study that one in three employees felt pressured to compromise the business's ethical standards. Many comply out of fear—worried they'll face retaliation, be labeled 'difficult,' or lose opportunities. But there are ways to push back without risking your career. UNDERSTAND BEFORE OBJECTING When confronted with a questionable request, most people respond in one of two ways: They comply out of fear or they push back immediately, putting their job security at risk. There's a better first step: Push to understand. Not all uncomfortable requests are unethical. Some are simply poorly communicated or misaligned with your values. Clarify: Start by seeking to fully understand the request. You may find the issue is one of discomfort rather than unethical intent. Question: Explore the outcomes they want and whether the request achieves those goals in the best way. Asking thoughtful questions often makes leaders rethink their approach on their own. Redirect: If appropriate, propose a solution that meets the same business objectives without compromising integrity. For example, rather than omitting challenges, highlight how those challenges spurred innovation or improved future outcomes. These conversations can reveal that the person making the request is open to alternatives, they just hadn't thought of them yet. UNETHICAL VERSUS ILLEGAL If you've clarified, questioned, and still feel uncomfortable, it's important to assess whether the request is merely unethical or actually illegal. That distinction determines your next move. If the request is illegal, you will want to tread carefully. If you feel psychologically safe, it can be helpful to start communicating via email to keep a digital trail (although it is possible that your manager will cover their trail by refusing to engage on email). Further, if your company has an HR department, you can share the request with them along with expressing your discomfort. One friend who works in compliance found himself in this exact situation. His manager asked him to manipulate data, a clear violation of regulations. He responded by email, explicitly stating why the request was illegal and citing the relevant regulatory code. He was never asked to do it again. Sometimes, simply stating the facts is the most powerful shield you have. However, if the request is unethical but not necessarily illegal, your next move should be a personal decision that minimizes future regret. REGRET MINIMIZATION FRAMEWORK If you're facing this kind of dilemma, it's already a bad situation. There's no playbook that guarantees success or protection. Sometimes, doing everything 'right' still results in backlash or career limitations. This is why I recommend applying what's called the 'regret minimization framework. Ask yourself: If I look back on this 10 years from now, will I regret how I handled it? This is the core of the regret minimization framework, a decision-making tool made famous by Jeff Bezos. It doesn't promise a perfect outcome. But it helps you act in a way that minimizes long-term regret, even if it leads to short-term discomfort. When you apply this framework, you're not just considering whether you'll keep your job next month. You're asking which version of yourself—today's self or your future self—you want to protect more. Do you want to be someone who went along to keep the peace? Or someone who held the line when it mattered? This doesn't mean you have to become a whistleblower or burn bridges. It simply means choosing the actions that leave you at peace with yourself, knowing you did what you could with the power and information you had at the time.
