- Philosophical Statement
The Division of Youth Corrections in an effort to increase staff productivity and acknowledge staff achievement knows that immediate recognition can contribute to increased staff pride and increase staff morale. It is understood that if we accomplish both, it will improve the overall operations of the Division of Youth Corrections. As a Division we are committed to recruit, develop and maintain a well-prepared and highly competent and diverse staff across the four major work units.”
IIA. Nomination Types:
- Productivity/Measurable Quantity - when an employee’s work results in a level of production that is significantly above expectations, or significantly exceeds the productivity of other workers with similar jobs in similar circumstances.
- Cost Savings - whereby an employee’s work results in demonstrable, confirmable cost savings for the organizational unit or the Department as a whole. Included in this category would be situations in which an employee discovered significant additional financial resources for the organizational unit.
- Attendance - because attendance is recognized as an important factor in performance, exceptional attendance can enhance the value and contribution of any employee. An employee who demonstrates perfect or near-perfect attendance may be eligible for reward.
- Referral/Recruitment- whereby DYC employees receive awards for providing referrals or recruiting people who are subsequently hired to fill vacancies in either hard to fill jobs, or for jobs where there is a high turnover rate.
- Customer Service - including outstanding proactive attention to details and needs of customers, exhibiting a “can-do attitude”, attempts to improve response time, and an on-going contribution to a positive public relations effort. Feedback can come from phone calls, letters of commendation or other employees.
- Team Player Contribution and Team Achievement - incorporating efforts at working well with others on DYC teams, offering ideas and assistance when working on teams or committees, modeling work habits or displaying leadership to facilitate the achievement of team goals and objectives. The Team Achievement award would have to be a team-based award, rewarding exemplary achievement for all the DYC team members.
- Special Project Assignment - when an employee successfully completes an assignment that is beyond the expectations and range of his or her regular daily job description, while at the same time not neglecting regular duties.
- Extra Effort - beyond normal scope of duties, incorporating high levels of commitment and energy toward achieving a goal under trying circumstances (tight deadlines, low staffing levels, inclement weather, etc.), while at the same time not neglecting regular duties.
- Innovation/Creativity in Systems Improvement Projects - including streamlining work processes and demonstrating innovation in the areas of response time improvement, product/service quality, minimizing errors, productivity enhancement, cost savings, and ideas to generally make DYC operations run smoother and more effectively.
- Life Saving - making a life saving contribution to the life of a youth or fellow worker. Either by physical or mental assistance to the person.
IIB. Eligibility for Rewards & Incentives
- DYC state employee – fulltime and part time
- Facility Contract Staff
- Detention Education Staff
- Volunteers
- Nomination Process/Selection/Approval
- Selection of nominations for the R&I program within each agency may:
- Utilize an agency Employee Advisory Council for selection and recommendations for R&I’s.
- The Appointing Authority may establish an R&I committee for their agency.
- The Appointing Authority may utilize an existing Management Team in the agency as a selection committee.
- Approval authority should follow current practices where monetary expenditures are
part of the incentive award.
- Non-Monetary awards can be delegated to an individual or committee as determined
by the appointing authority for the agency.
- Administrative Leave has to be approved by the appointing authority.
IIIA. Rewards & Incentives – Monetary and non-monetary
All monetary incentives are taken from each agency’s operating and/or personal services
budgets. If an organization from one funding source nominates a person from another
funding source the award and the incentive must be negotiated before the award is made
to the employee. Both administrators must sign the nomination form to ensure they have discussed the issue and indicate on the form which funding source the incentive will be charged. This can also be a cooperative venture where the two program areas share the cost. This cooperative agreement also applies for granting administrative leave.
If the two appointing authorities fail to reach an agreement, the nomination form with both appointing authorities comments, is referred to the next level of supervision with in three working days for final resolution.
