I.     Introduction

 II.     Employee Eligibility

III.    Suggestion Eligibility Criteria

IV.    Group Suggestions

  V.    Time Limit on Awards Consideration

 VI.    Payment of Awards

I.        Introduction

This program provides cash or honorary awards to State employees and retired State employees whose adopted suggestions will result in substantial savings or improvement in State operations. The program is administered by the Employee Suggestion Award Board which is composed of the Commissioner of Finance and Administration, the Commissioner of Personnel, the Commissioner of General Services, the Executive Director of Fiscal Review Committee, and one member appointed by the Tennessee State Employees Association.

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II.      Employee Eligibility

Most employees of State government, except elected and appointed officials, are eligible to submit suggestions for cash awards. Those employees ineligible for a monetary award will be eligible for an honorary award. Ineligible employees include:

1. Governor's staff, department commissioner or equivalent;
 
2. Assistant or deputy commissioner, assistant to commissioner, major fiscal and administrative policy departmental staff or equivalent;
 
3. Director or division chief including the full line division chief to a statewide program. Includes chief of division supervising several line service units or equivalent;
 
4. Assistant to director or division chief, section chief or head or major departmental function or equivalent;
 
5. Temporary, emergency and contractual employees are ineligible for participation or claim;
 
6. Former State employees, unless retired from the State, are ineligible;
 
7. Persons who are dismissed from State service for cause are ineligible to receive awards;
 
8. Commissioned and non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel in the National Guard, and Federal employees under the jurisdiction of the Adjutant General are ineligible for participation or claim;
 
9. Members of State Boards or Commissions are ineligible for participation or claim;
 
10. Employees whose duties primarily concern administrative planning, evaluation and research, or whose duties include the making of suggestions, or who are expected as a part of their job, to produce ideas for improvement and act upon them may not submit suggestions related to their duties;
 
11. Employees who are assigned a particular problem to solve or improve that is within the scope of their duties and responsibilities, are not eligible for award for any improvement developed as a result of that assignment;
 
12. Employees serving on special committees except Quality Circles are not eligible for award on suggestions falling within the scope of the committee's function;
 
13. Members of agency or State suggestion committees, or personnel assigned to assist and coordinate activities of such committees are ineligible for participation or claim.
 

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All suggestions are eligible for award consideration except proposals to make a change which is under active consideration by those responsible and suggestions which fail to present a positive, constructive concept for improvement. Among ineligible suggestions are:

1. Those which involve personal grievances.
 
2. Those which recommend increased taxes or license fees.
 
3. Those which recommend a change in the pay or classification of a position or class.
 
4. Those which recommend a "study," "survey," or "review" with the course of action to be taken in accordance with the findings.
 
5. Those which do not propose a method or way to make the improvement.
 
6. Those which correct a condition that exists only because established procedure or policy is not being followed.
 
7. Those which are the result of assigned or contracted audits, studies, surveys, reviews or research.
 
8. Those which, if adopted, will not:
 
1. Improve methods or procedures; or
2. Eliminate "bottlenecks," duplication of work; or
3. Increase production, efficiency, service; or
4. Save lives, time, money.
 
9. Those which involve forms will be eligible for consideration only if the suggestion reduces the total number of forms required and such reduction does not conflict with Federal regulations.
 
10. Those which recommend a change in agency missions, program goals, or organizational objectives.

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IV.    Group Suggestions

The amount of an award for a suggestion made by a group of employees shall be determined on the same basis as if the suggestion had been submitted by one employee, and the amount awarded shall be divided equally among those employees making the suggestion. Members of the group shall be identified by name at the time the suggestion is submitted.

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V.     Time Limit on Awards Consideration

1. An employee's rights to an award shall be based on employment status at the time the suggestion is submitted and shall be protected if:

1. The suggestion is adopted and implemented within two years from the date of receipt even though the employee may have separated from State Government, unless dismissed for cause. The Employee Suggestion Award Board must be notified that the suggestion was implemented.
2. An agency implements the suggestion within two years of the date of the original notification of non-adoption (even though the employee may be separated from State government in good standing at time of implementation). The Employee Suggestion Award Board must be notified that the suggestion was implemented.

2. Suggestions denied for award by the board may be resubmitted once within a one (1) year period if accompanied by substantial additional information which would add merit to the suggestion. If resubmission results in a second denial, the suggestion shall be deemed permanently denied and may not be resubmitted.
   
   Suggestions which are not resubmitted shall be deemed permanently denied after the passage of one (1) year and will not be reconsidered by the Board.

3. In the case of a deceased employee, the award shall be paid to the employee's estate.

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VI.     Payment of Awards

The maximum cash award approved for suggestions submitted after July 1, 1985 shall be limited to ten (10) percent of the first year's estimated savings, or $10,000, whichever is less. Suggestions recommended for a cash award that have a first year's estimated savings of less than $250 will be awarded $25. Any cash awards approved by the Board shall be charged against the appropriation item or items to which estimated savings apply.

Contact the Office of Human Resources to obtain forms and further instructions for submitting suggestions through this award program or visit the Department of Personnel Employee Suggestion Award Program at http://www.state.tn.us/personnel/resources/suggestion/index.htm. 

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Source:  Public Acts 1977, ch. 212; Public Acts 1987, ch. 325; Procedural Guide for Coordinators and Evaluators, State of Tennessee Department of Personnel, 1987; March 4, 2004 legislative change in award amount.