At the direction of the Secretary of Energy, the Office of Human Capital Management has developed a new, enhanced awards program. Under the program, employees and contractors may now receive awards in three new categories. The first new awards category is the Secretary's Honor Awards. Awards in this category are presented annually at a Departmental ceremony in Washington, DC. The second new award group is the Secretary's Appreciation Award. This award may be given at any time. The third category is comprised of a set of Departure Awards which may be given at the discretion of the Secretary. The attached memorandum from Secretary Bodman announces this new awards program, and includes the program manual, awards criteria, nomination form, and other relevant information.
Nominations for the Secretary’s Honor Awards must be received by October 30, 2007.
Questions about this program may be directed to Alan Perry, Secretary’s Honor Awards Program Manager, in the Office of Human Capital Management at (202) 586-4484 or by electronic e-mail at Honor.Awards@hq.doe.gov.
Secretarial Awards Program Announcement
Secretarial Awards Nomination Form
This award may be granted to any employee or group of employees without "loss of pay" or "charge to leave" to encourage and reward superior accomplishment or other personal efforts that contribute to the quality, efficiency, or economy of Government operations. "Time-Off Awards" may be granted in increments of up to 40 hours for any single employee contribution. Employees may not receive more than 80 hours in "Time-Off Awards" during a 52-week period. "Time-Off Awards" may be approved through normal management channels. Employees have one calendar year to use time granted under a "Time-Off Award."
This award may be granted to General Schedule employees with a current performance rating of "Outstanding." "Quality Step Increases" are an increase in employee base pay and are used to recognize continuing high quality performance, usually extending over more than one rating period. Only one "Quality Step Increase" may be granted to the same employee in a 52-week period. "Quality Step Increases" are recommended by the employee's supervisor on the basis of performance rating and are approved by a management official at least one level higher than the recommending official. "Quality Step Increases" are normally granted to coincide with the end of the performance appraisal period.
This award may be given to any employee based on his/her performance rating. These awards are used to recognize superior, sustained performance on the job as related to the accomplishment of normal job duties and responsibilities. Any Departmental employee is eligible to receive a performance award. Awards are recommended by an employee's supervisor on the basis of performance appraisal and are approved by a management official at least one level higher than the recommending official. Cash awards are normally paid to coincide with the end of the rating period.
This award is given to recognize an act performed above and beyond the call of duty or an act demonstrating high quality service. Any employee is eligible to receive an "On-the-Spot Award." Any employee may nominate another employee for this award. Awards are approved through normal management channels. Award amounts may range up to $300 with a yearly cap of 5 "On-the-Spot Awards" for any single employee.
This award may be granted to an individual or group of employees for accomplishments of acts or services of special benefit to the Department. The award may be monetary or non-monetary and awarded for something that is non-recurring and normally outside of the employee's job responsibilities, a scientific achievement, or an act of heroism. Award nominations are approved through normal management channels. Any Departmental employee is eligible to receive a "Special Act or Service Award."
Type: Monetary
This awards program was designed as an alternative method of recognizing employees for their accomplishments and for performing their jobs in a manner which reflects the goals and mission of the organization. Managers and supervisors are excluded from participating in this program. On a monthly basis, each Division Director submits a nomination, with written justification, describing why the employee is being recognized. Winners are recognized by their office directors at a designated staff meeting. Each winner receives a personal engraved plaque. In addition, their names are added to an office plaque and their photo is displayed in the front office of the month.
Type: Non-Monetary
" Courier Safe Driving Award "
These awards are granted to recognize safe driving records of couriers responsible for.... The awards program provides a cash award in recognition of sustained safe driving records. An awards scale with increasing award amounts has been developed to recognize incremental periods of safe driving.
Type: Monetary
These awards are used to recognize safety records for professional drivers and professional pilots. Awards are based on the receipt of award certificates from the National Safety Council for each five-year period without a preventable accident.
Type: Monetary
This award is granted to an individual in recognition for superior and sustained contributions in advancing quality principles within the organization. The award is granted on an annual basis with the concurrence of the organization's Quality Council and organization head. Award recipients are recognized at an appropriate employee ceremony and receive a certificate signed by the head of the organization and 40-hour time-off award.
Type: Non-Monetary
This award is granted to recognize performance which exemplifies commitment to quality service to customers, both internal and external. Each employee is given five "You're Appreciated Cards" on which they may nominate a peer or other manager. Supervisory approval of the You're Appreciate Award is not required. Initiating employees present their awards directly to the recipient. Award winners are recognized at a quarterly cookies and punch social. Additionally, the names of award recipients are published on office and electronic bulletin boards.
Type: Non-Monetary
The purpose of this award is to provide a platform in which to honor outstanding contributions to programs at Headquarters and field installations by encouraging innovation and improved efficiency in the execution of ES&H responsibilities. All Federal and contractor employees are eligible for recognition. Each field facility may nominate an individual or group of individuals by preparing a brief description of the ES&H achievement. Nominations are received by an award selection committee comprised of representatives from headquarters and field program staff. Committee recommendations are forwarded to the departmental element head for final award decisions. The award consists of a certificate, coffee mug, monetary award and recognition on an engraved office plaque.
Type: Monetary/Non-Monetary
"You Done Good" thank you cards are used as a means of providing immediate feedback to a Federal or contractor employee who deserves a special thank you. Cards are available for all employees and may be completed for any other employee as appropriate. Nominating employees are provided an opportunity to write their own personal message on the card, which includes a stub record of the award. Nominating employees are encouraged to give the "You Done Good" cards directly to the employee they wish to thank and to send the stub to the recipient's supervisor as notification of the recipient's good work.
Type: Non-Monetary
This award is given to an employee for an outstanding contribution in the area of process or product improvement, innovation, or customer service. Any employee may be nominated by an organizational manager. Nominations are reviewed by an awards committee on the basis of outstanding contribution in the area of customer service, process or product improvement, or outstanding contribution in innovation. Award recipients receive a time-off award for 8 hours.
Type: Non-Monetary
This award is given to contractor employees based on significant achievement in providing extraordinary service or using quality methods in an outstanding manner in representing the organization or in satisfying customer requirements. Contractor employees may be nominated by any organizational manager on an annual basis. Award nominations are reviewed by an awards committee on the basis of significant achievement in customer service, using quality methods in satisfying customer requirements, and process or product improvement. Award recipients are presented with an engraved plaque.
Type: Non-Monetary
This award is given to promote outstanding contributions toward furtherance of workplace diversity. These awards are used to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a consistent or exceptional effort in promoting nondiscrimination within the workplace. Award nominations are solicited annually on the basis or pre-described awards criteria for managers, team leaders and non-supervisory employees. Any employee may nominate another employee. Award nominations are reviewed by the organization's diversity program manager/committee, with one employee from each of three groups being selected by the organizational head. Plaques and cash awards are presented to award recipients at an annual awards ceremony.
Type: Monetary
" Quarterly Recognition Award "
This award is intended to recognize important contributions made by individuals during a quarter period. The contributions for consideration should be especially noteworthy and may be based on broad rather than rigorously detailed criteria. Employee contributions should have been within the preceding quarter and should be work related. All employees are eligible to receive a quarterly recognition award with a maximum of six awards granted per quarter. Nominations may be submitted by any employee and will be reviewed by an awards committee with winners approved by the organization head. Award recipients receive a "Certificate of Appreciation" signed by the organization head and may receive a cash award of up to $150. An article describing the employee's achievement is included in a local employee publication.
Type: Monetary/Non-Monetary
This award program is designed to recognize and provide quick and immediate recognition for employees who demonstrate preferred safety behaviors. Supervisors and managers receive "Safe Buck" coupon books which provide each manager with 3 "Safe Bucks" per quarter. "Safe Bucks" are awarded by the supervisors based on the following criteria: situations above and beyond an individual's normal work duties, recognition and resolution to safety issues, going the extra mile to support/promote safety initiatives, and attending more than required safety training/education. "Safe Bucks" are redeemable by the recipient at the organization's recognition store. Awards are valued at $50-100.
Type: Non-Monetary
" Exceptional Achievement Award"
This award is given to replace performance awards and is given throughout the year, rather than following the organizational performance appraisal cycle. Nominees are evaluated on the basis of; value added contribution, substantial contribution, highly significant contribution, and exceptional contribution. Award nomination forms are approved through normal supervisory channels and recipients are awarded a cash bonus based on the value of their contribution.
Type: Monetary
Nominations for the "Praise Store" may be submitted for the following employee contributions: teamwork, customer service, leadership, improved process, environmental excellence, safety or other (to be specified by the submitter). "Praise Store" items are divided into 2 categories: "Ruby" for a contribution impacting the employee's immediate organizational unit; and "Diamond" for contributions which impact beyond the employee's immediate organizational unit. The nominating employee and the recipient's supervisor will jointly determine the category of the item to be rewarded based on the value of the employee's contribution. Awards are presented within one day of submission to the Human Resources Department.
Type: Non-Monetary
Awards are granted to formal work teams that have demonstrated the value of teamwork by their superior accomplishments. Any formal work team composed of Federal employees is eligible to receive a team award. Nominations of teams may be submitted by any employee on a quarterly basis for review by a rewards committee. "Team of the Quarter Award" winners receive a 16-hour time-off award and are eligible for the "Team of the Year Award." "Team of the Year Award" winners receive a 40-hour time-off award. In addition, team award winners receive a certificate of achievement and are recognized on an office plaque.
Type: Time-Off
This award has been established to recognize and publicize the contributions and achievements made by physically and mentally disabled Federal employees. Any employee may submit nominations for this award. Award nominations are reviewed through normal management channels with awards being approved by the organization head. There is no limitation on the number of nominations which may be submitted by each organization. The award consists of a "Certificate of Appreciation" signed by the organization head and an appropriate memento. This award is presented by the organization head.
Type: Non-Monetary
Named in memory of an organizational employee, this award is granted to recognize superior leadership and job performance of supervisors and managers. Managers and supervisors submit nominations for subordinate managers and supervisors annually on the basis of the previous 12-months achievements and accomplishments. Nominations are ranked by a review panel of SES employees on vision, innovations in resources management, leadership, contribution to mission and management process improvement. The award recipient is presented with an engraved plaque and letter of commendation.
Type: Non-Monetary
This award has been established to recognize employees for extra efforts provided in the accomplishment of work objectives. Any employee may nominate another employee for a nominal gift. There is no limit to the number of awards that an individual may receive in a year, however, an individual can only receive one gift per extra effort. A small inventory of gift items is maintained by the human resources department. Awards are approved by designated individual(s) within the various organizational components. Nominators are responsible for obtaining the gift from the store and presenting it to the receiving employee.
Type: Non-Monetary
This award has been established to recognize employees who engage in volunteer service to the community. Community service may include civic or humanitarian activity performed during non-duty hours. The purpose of this award is to stimulate and demonstrate the effectiveness of volunteerism. Any employee involved in a volunteer activity is eligible for this award. Any employee may nominate a fellow employee for this award. Award nominations are submitted through normal supervisory channels and must be approved by a management official. There is no limitation of the number of nominations which may be submitted by an organization. The award consists of a certificate of appreciation signed by the organization head and an appropriate memento. The award is presented during an annual event.
Type: Non-Monetary
This program recognizes an employees performance in the elimination of human suffering and economic loss associated with accidents. Factors used in measuring performance are individual and based on reporting and accident rates. This is a noncompetitive program established to enhance employee awareness and the benefits of working safely. Any employee is eligible for recognition under the safety program which includes a "Certificate of Safety Recognition," safety mementos and "Accident-Free Work Year Awards." "Time-Off Awards" are also granted to recognize accident-free work for sustained periods of time. Award nominations are initiated by the organization's safety office and are presented at an all employee meeting.
Type: Non-Monetary
This award is granted to an employee or group of employees for outstanding contribution to the organization or other achievements deemed by the organization head to merit the highest incentive award granted by the organization. Any employee is eligible for the award including employees from other organizations whose contributions benefitted the awarding organization. This award is granted at the discretion of the organization head. An employee may receive up to $7500 during any one fiscal year. The award is accompanied by a certificate signed by the organization head and is presented during an appropriate ceremony.
Type: Monetary
"Administrator's Heroism Award "
This award is granted for a special one-time service or act of heroism by an employee or group of employees that is in the public interest or connected with or related to official employment. The award is appropriate when the act is substantially beyond expectations and normally nonrecurring in nature. Any employee is eligible to receive this award. A written recommendation should be prepared within 15 days and not later than 30 days after the event that justifies the award. The award nomination is approved by the organization head and consists of a plaque, copy of the nomination and a letter which is presented by the organization head at an appropriate ceremony. The award is also publicized in a local employee publication.
Type: Non-Monetary
" Special Outstanding Achievement Reward (SOAR)"
These awards are granted to an employee for outstanding performance of his/her job or a contribution resulting in savings and/or other benefits to the Government. These awards are intended to facilitate on-going recognition of individual or group performance on an on-going basis throughout the year. Considerations under which these awards are appropriate include; sustained high level performance of job duties, performance which exceeds expectation on a specific assignment or aspect of a job function, performance which significantly improves the level of customer service or teamwork, outstanding performance under contraining or usual conditions, an act in the public interest, state-of-the-art achievements, and process/product improvements. Any employee or employee of another organization benefitting the organization is eligible for a "SOAR Award" and may be nominated by any other employee at the same grade or higher. Approvals follow normal supervisory channels with a limit of $5000 per employee per fiscal year.
Type: Monetary