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Group working on recommendations to
recognize employees for accomplishments

A team of ITD employees has been charged with proposing new and innovative ways to recognize individual achievement. This team was formed as a result of the department’s strategic plan.

The nine-member Employee Reward and Recognition sub-team is organized under the “Investing in Our People” focus area team. Its purpose, according to the team charter, is to “identify monetary and non-monetary employee reward program best-practices appropriate to ITD’s culture and budgetary constraints.

“The recommended strategies of the rewards and recognition team should be aimed toward reinforcing efforts related to supporting and furthering the focus areas of: Customer Service, Partnering, Agency Performance and the department’s values.”

The team’s goal is to make those recommendations by Oct. 30, explains team leader Lori Millonzi of Human Resource Services.

“We want to identify a process of acknowledging employee accomplishments that are meaningful, appropriate and meet the state’s guidelines regarding monetary gifts,” she said. “That becomes even more important when there aren’t sufficient resources for salary increases.”

She said the group wants to develop no-cost strategies that emphasize personal and professional achievement.

“The team has considered a number of ways we can celebrate efforts that are above and beyond normal expectations. We believe that non-monetary recognition can carry equal or even greater meaning for employees than tangible rewards, such as plaques and inexpensive gifts.

“We want an employee’s peers, supervisors and the rest of the department to know about outstanding, truly exemplary efforts. Sometimes just saying ‘Thanks. You’ve done a great job.’ can go a long way.”

The Employee Reward and Recognition sub-team invites employees to provide suggestions on structuring the recognition program.

“All ideas are welcome and will be seriously considered, as long as they remain within the scope of our mission and do not rely on public funds,” Millonzi said. “Think outside the box. Be creative. Be bold. Help us create a program that employees will really appreciate.”

Suggestions can be sent or expressed to any of the following team members:

• Mary Lou Brown
• Mike Cram
• Mel Coulter
• Brian Emmen
• Gary Genova
• Jerri Hunter
• Derra Kolar
• Lori Millonzi
• Jim Phillips