Chapter 3 – Personnel, Training, and Employee Relations

31030.3.1.13 Types of Awards

• Awards range from $50 to a maximum $50,000 per adopted suggestion. The Department Secretary or designee approves awards up to $5,000. Awards over $5,000 require approval by the State Merit Award Board, DPADepartment of Personnel Administration (see CalHR), and concurrent resolution by the Legislature. Below is a summary of the various types of awards available:

• Cash Award

  • Cash awards are based on the net savings or earnings realized by the Department in the first 12 months following the implementation of the suggestion. If the first 12 months are not representative of net savings or revenue, a different period of time may be substituted. The award is 20 percent of the net savings or revenues.

• Note: Suggestions requiring substantial refinement or modification for implementation will be calculated at 5 percent of the net savings or increased revenue.

• One-Time Award

  • When an adopted suggestion results in one-time savings or revenue, the award will be calculated at 5 percent of the net savings or revenue.

• Preliminary and Supplemental Awards

  • The adopting institution, division, or program may recommend a preliminary award after a suggestion has been in place for one year. If the institution, division, or program realizes greater net savings or revenue than the preliminary award represents, it may recommend a supplemental award.

• Improved Procedures Award

  • Where an annual net savings or increased revenue cannot be determined or are calculated at less than $500, a cash award may be recommended by the adopting division in accordance with the Improved Procedures Award Scale on Page two of the STDStandard Form (DGS). 645A. Where annual net savings or increased revenue are calculated as at least $500, but not more that $1,000, the recommended cash award shall be $100.

• Improved Safety Award

  • These suggestions propose improvements in practices or facilities to eliminate or reduce injury to State employees or to the public, but the monetary value cannot be readily determined. Examples are suggestions relating to equipment modification, maintenance that is not routinely expected, and items that are not specified in building codes. To calculate awards for this type of adopted suggestion, the evaluator shall apply the Improved Safety Award Scale on Page two of the STDStandard Form (DGS). 645A.