Employee Eligibility - All State employees, except those classified as temporary.
Suggestion Eligibility - Suggestions must be submitted on a Suggestion Application Form and signed by the Suggester(s), or may be nominated by a manager or supervisor using a Management Nomination Form, and must propose to do one or more of the following:
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Eliminate useless operations, duplications, or safety hazards.
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Improve methods, procedures, product quality, service, working conditions, tools, material handling, security, safety, or work flow.
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Increase productivity, employee motivation, or life of tools and equipment.
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Provide new services or new methods.
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Reclaim defective materials or scrap.
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Reduce equipment, errors, working space, steps, or waste.
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Save time, material, labor, money, or energy
Ineligible Suggestions - Suggestions are ineligible if:
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They represent a part of your normal duties, and you have the authority to make the change.
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Your normal duties are research or planning, unless the subject matter is unrelated to your normal work assignment.
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They are already under active consideration.
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They are grievances relating to salaries, promotion, position, classification, or personnel.
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They are criticisms of other employees or their performances of work.
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They are related to collective bargaining.
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The idea has been implemented by, and practiced in, an agency for more than 6 months.
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You are a member of the Employee Suggestion Awards Commission or its Coordinator.
Identical or Similar Suggestions - If identical or similar suggestions, or nominations for identical or similar suggestions, are received, the suggestion/nomination received first will receive preference. If received the same day, any cash award will be divided equally among the employees.
Collaboration - If two or more employees have signed the same Suggestion Application Form, or are nominated for a Team Suggestion, and the suggestion is adopted, any award amount will be divided equally among those signing the application form or listed on the nomination form.
Cash Awards - Suggestions are eligible for cash awards if they are adopted and result in a verified "Hard Cash*" savings of at least $500. The award amount for hard cash savings is 10 percent of the total net savings during the 12-month period following implementation. Adopted suggestions resulting in "Cost Avoidance*" are eligible for a cash award if the net verifiable savings are at least $1,000. The award amount for cost avoidance savings is 5 percent of the total net savings during the 12-month period following implementation. Net savings are determined by subtracting one-half of the cost of implementing the suggestion from the gross savings. The savings must be verified by the agency, and the award must be approved by the Commission. The minimum and maximum awards are $50 and $5,000, respectively. Cash awards are subject to taxation and are treated as income.
*"Hard Cash" savings are those that can be realized in an agency´s budget.
*"Cost Avoidance" savings are those which are not realized in an agency´s budget, but do show a savings in employee time. For example, an employee will be able to perform more tasks due to the suggested time savings.
Suggestions determined by the Commission to have statewide or multi-agency applicability are eligible for an additional 25 percent bonus award. The Statewide Applicability Bonus will be based on the award amount for the original suggestion. The maximum statewide bonus award is $1,000. The Commission is responsible for communicating all suggestions which are determined to have statewide or multi-agency applicability to the appropriate agency staff.
Non-cash Awards - Adopted suggestions which result in intangible improvements, or do not meet the $50 minimum cash award, will be eligible for awards other than cash.
Procedures for Non-adopted Suggestions - Suggestions not adopted within two years of the evaluation date will be closed and receive no further consideration. A written request for a two-year extension may be made by an employee within 30 days of the end of the initial two-year period.
Rules Governing Suggestion Awards (pdf) - All rules governing the Employee Suggestion Awards Program are stated in the Policies, Guidelines and Requirements of the Employee Suggestion Awards Commission. This document is available from your Agency Suggestion Coordinator, or by clicking on the link provided.
All Decisions are Final - The Employee Suggestion Award Commission will make the final determination whether an award will be made, subject to Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 182.320(4).
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