REQUEST FOR COUNCIL DECISION

/

February 19, 2002

TOPIC

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION POLICY

PROPOSAL

To formally adopt an Employee Recognition Policy for the Town of Vegreville staff.

PROPOSED BY

Jerry Danyluk, Town Manager

BACKGROUND

The Town of Vegreville has never had an adequate Employee Recognition Policy. The Town’s Organization Review completed in 1998 by Pommen and Associates Limited recommended that a policy for publicly recognizing excellence and performance in the work place be implemented. Our proposed policy will provide recognition in the following areas:

a)  Employee of the Year Award for each Department.

b)  Reward for employees who take limited sick days.

c)  Employees who maintain a safe working environment and have remained accident free each year.

FINANICIAL IMPLICATIONS

The cost of our recognition policy will be borne by each Department. The cost of each award will be offset by the benefits the Town will receive from:

a)  Great work ethics, work quality and productivity.

b)  Innovative and creative ideas.

c)  Fewer sick days taken each year.

d)  Fewer employee days off due to accidents and Worker’s Compensation Board claims.

RECOMMENDATION

Recommendation is being made that the Town of Vegreville implement the Employee Recognition Policy retroactive to January 1, 2002.

Report Writer Date Forwarded

JD/ck

Town of Vegreville

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD PROGRAM

The Town of Vegreville wishes to reward full time employees who have excelled in their job and as a representative of the Town of Vegreville through the implementation of an “Employee of the Year” Award Program.

Eligibility:

Town of Vegreville employees hired to Full-Time Permanent or Seasonal positions.

Award Criteria:

·  Great work ethics, work quality and productivity

·  Versatility and flexibility

·  Positive attitude, leadership and role model

·  Team player

·  Innovator and initiator of creative ideas

·  Volunteers for special assignments

·  Frequently receives positive feedback from fellow staff members or the public

One employee from each of the following five departments will receive an “Employee of the Year” award.

1.  Administration

2.  Public Works

3.  Parks, Recreation and Culture

4.  Fire Department

5.  F.C.S.S., Bylaw Services, RCMP Clerical Staff, and Director of Library Services

Procedure:

Staff from each department will vote for a recipient from their department near the end of October in the form of a ballot system. The Employee Recognition Committee will count the ballots and each recipient will receive their award at the Annual Town Christmas Party and a plaque will be put on display at the place of work. If a tie occurs in the department, the Town of Vegreville will supply each recipient with a monetary award in the amount of $100.00.

Award Value:

✭ Each “Employee of the Year” will receive a monetary award in the amount of $100.00.

February 19, 2002

Town of Vegreville

ATTENDANCE AWARD PROGRAM

The intent of this program is to reward employees who take no, or very few sick days.

Sick days have a definite negative impact on the operations of the Town, (ie: rescheduling of personnel, staff morale and the financial impact).

Eligibility:

Town of Vegreville employees hired to Full-Time Permanent Positions.

Time Period:

The program will cover a 12-month period running from November 1st to October 31st of each year.

The reason for this time frame is that it will allow sufficient time for the Employee Recognition Committee to review the amount of sick time taken by employees and confirm who is eligible to receive an award. Awards will be presented at the Annual Town Christmas Party, which is traditionally held in early December of each year.

Award Values (twelve-month period):

✭ Up to Three Sick Days One paid day off work

✭ Zero Sick Days One paid day off work and a one-month “Full Facility

Family Pass” to the Aquatic and Fitness Centre

Additional Annual Incentives (no sick time taken – consecutive years):

✭ Two Consecutive Years One paid day off work and a three-month “Full Facility

Family Pass” to the Aquatic and Fitness Centre

✭ Three Consecutive Years One paid day off work and a six-month “Full Facility

Family Pass” to the Aquatic and Fitness Centre

✭ Four Consecutive Years One paid day off work and a nine-month “Full Facility

Family Pass” to the Aquatic and Fitness Centre

✭ Five Consecutive Years One paid day off work and a one-year “Full Facility

Family Pass” to the Aquatic and Fitness Centre

✭ Every consecutive year after five will receive the same award level as in year five.

Note:

The Department Head has the authority to send an employee home from work if in their opinion the employee is too sick to perform their duties effectively. If this occurs, the employee will be marked down as sick on their time sheet.

February 19, 2002

Town of Vegreville

SAFETY AWARD PROGRAM

The purpose of this procedure is to establish guidelines for awarding employees for their role in maintaining a safe working environment for all Town employees.

Eligibility:

Town of Vegreville employees hired to Full-Time Permanent Positions.

Procedure:

1.  THAT, Safety Awards be awarded to employees who have remained accident free and in compliance with the Safety Program. “Accident” is defined as an incident which is considered being the employee’s fault and resulted in time off from work or resulted in property damage (at the discretion of the CAO). “Compliance” means the employee has not received written notification of non-compliance of the Health and Safety Program.

2.  THAT, November 1st is the anniversary date of the program at which time the Occupational Health Committee will review the accident reports for the year to list the employees eligible for the Safety Awards, based on the number of years they have remained accident free.

3.  THAT, any employee who has an accident of their own accord and resulted in time off from work or has received written notification for non-compliance will be required to start the accident free time period over.

4.  THAT, the cost of the Safety Awards be allocated to the applicable department.

5.  THAT, Safety Awards will be presented at the Annual Town Christmas Party.

Award Values (consecutive years):

✭ One-Year $20.00

✭ Three Consecutive Years $60.00

✭ Five Consecutive Years $100.00

✭ Ten Consecutive Years $200.00

✭Fifteen Consecutive Years $300.00

✭Twenty Consecutive Years $400.00

✭Twenty-Five Consecutive Years $500.00

✭ Thirty Consecutive Years $600.00

February 19, 2002