- What is the Merit Awards Program?
In 1971, the City Council approved establishment of the City employees'
Merit Awards Commission. Basic responsibilities of the Commission are to
administer a program to receive and evaluate ideas (suggestions) from City
employees on improvements of City operations and services; to recommend awards
for such ideas; and to recommend awards for employees for outstanding service
and performance to the community. The Council has authorized funding for the
Merit Awards Program.
- What is the Purpose of the Merit Awards Program?
The City recognizes that there is great potential in its employees in the
form of ideas for doing things in safer, easier, and/or more practical and
economical ways. It also recognizes that employees often have performed in an
outstanding and exceptional manner. Accordingly, the Merit Awards Commission's
primary purpose is to recommend Merit Awards to yourselves for ideas on
improvement of City services and operations to the benefit of the taxpayer,
while at the same time, offering a means for City employees to be recognized
for outstanding and meritorious service to the community.
- Who is on the Merit Awards Commission?
The Commission is comprised of seven City employees, representing various
segments of the City organization: Motor Equipment, Mayor, Comptroller, Fire,
Police, Planning, and Human Resources departments. Appointments to the
Commission are for two-year periods and a Chairman is elected annually.
Administration of the Merit Awards Program is located in the Human Resources
Department.
- Who is Eligible to Participate in the Program?
All City employees are eligible to submit suggestions directly to the Merit
Awards Commission, regardless of their status.
- How does an Employee Submit Suggestions to the Merit Awards
Commission?
Suggestion forms are available in the Human Resources Department. This form
will explain how to make your suggestions known to the Commission.
Please note that all suggestions received are held in strict confidence. As
indicated on the form, suggestions and ideas have names withheld from the
members of the Commission: In the event it is necessary to request an
evaluation report on the idea, the name or names of the suggester(s) are also
kept confidential.
Please also note that while you are encouraged to discuss any idea or
suggestion with your immediate supervisor, this is not required. Consequently,
if you feel you have a suggestion or idea which would be of benefit to the
City, you are encouraged to put the idea on paper and let the Commission
members review your idea and to decide whether the idea merits a cash award.
- Are there any limitations to submitting Suggestions?
Employees may submit suggestions and ideas as often as they wish, and
employees are encouraged to continue to send in their ideas even if a
particular idea or suggestion has been formerly rejected for an award by the
Commission. There are some limitations, however, making employees ineligible
for awards. Examples are the following: employees are not eligible for an
award when the subject or project has been assigned previously to him or her
for research, development, or a solution; when the employee would be expected
to offer such ideas or suggestions as part of his job responsibility; and only
those ideas recently conceived or implemented as a result of the suggestion of
the employee will be considered by the Commission.
If you are in doubt as to whether your idea or suggestion would be
considered part of your job responsibilities, you are encouraged to submit the
idea in any event.
- How Much of a Cash Award Would an Employee Receive If the Idea Was Found
Feasible?
Cash awards take into consideration feasibility, whether the idea is new,
total cost savings (including time and safety factors, equipment, etc.) and/or
benefits derived from the suggestion which directly improve the services
provided to Madison's citizens. Consequently, most cash awards are based upon
first year estimated savings. Awards have been granted, however, where the
benefits could not be measured directly.
The Merit Awards Commission would like to take this opportunity to
encourage you to put down your ideas on the suggestion form and submit them to
the Commission. As the Commission is composed of City employees, it is your
Commission to be used as an outlet for expressing your ideas and suggestions
in the City of Madison. You can therefore be assured that all ideas and
suggestions are given impartial and objective consideration as to their
feasibility, implementation, etc.
Thank you for submitting your ideas, and we hope that you will be lucky
enough to be one of the suggesters who receives a cash award in the near
future!
Merit Awards Form (PDF)
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