Employee Recognitions (HR29)

SUBJECT:
Employee Recognitions

PURPOSE:
To provide guidance for equitable recognition of employees.

RATIONALE:
Everyone wants to be appreciated for a job well done. Graceland encourages leaders to find ways to reward employees that go above and beyond their job.

Informal Recognition

There are many ways to reward employees both monetary and non-monetary. Monetary could be gift certificates, cash, lunch, etc but should not be more than $25 to avoid tax consequences. Non-monetary rewards could include “free” time off, a letter of commendation in a personnel file, special recognition, a handwritten thank you note. Leaders may use time off for extraordinary efforts in consultation with Human Resources. Appreciation should be timely and appropriate to the achievement.

Things that don’t cost anything are sometimes the most effective motivation for employees and should be used freely. Please call Human Resources for more ideas.

Formal Recognition:

Every Spring, employees with milestone anniversaries (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, etc) will be able to choose a gift for their contribution to Graceland. This gift will be presented at the Employee Spring Banquet/Reception. Employees will also receive a framed certificate identifying their years of service.

Employees who retire or resign after five or more years of service may be recognized by a campus reception. The department leader will be responsible for planning and scheduling the reception. The Human Resources Office will pay $200 towards the cost of the reception. If the employee has more than 10 years of service, they will also receive a gift from the University. The selection of the gift will be the responsibility of the Leader of the department. Human Resources will provide the following amounts for the gift determined by the total years of service:

Employees who retire with more than 15 years of service will be eligible for Graceland Health Insurance at current employee rates. Refer to the Retiree Health Premiums and Coverage Policy. Faculty may be eligible for other privileges as detailed under Section XV, Retirement Benefits, in the Faculty Handbook.

Retirees will be honored at the Employee Spring Banquet/Reception each April. An engraved brick will be placed in the brick plaza in front of the Higdon Administration Building with the retiree’s name and years of service.