Q.
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Are there ideas which are not eligible for consideration for an award?
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A.
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Yes. Ineligible suggestions include those pertaining to routine safety practices; criticism of other employees or the performance of their duties; grievances relating to salaries, promotion, position, classification, or personnel; and matters subject to the bargaining process. |
Q.
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Can my suggestion be treated anonymously?
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A.
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Yes. Simply check the appropriate box on the Suggestion Application Form. The suggestion will remain anonymous until eligible for an award, if applicable. All names of suggesters who receive an award will be released for publication. |
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May two or more employees work together on a suggestion?
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Yes. Joint suggestions must be signed by all suggesters and any award will be shared accordingly. |
Q.
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May I submit a suggestion which concerns an agency other than the one in which I am employed?
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Yes. Suggestions of this nature are encouraged. |
Q.
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My suggestion will help reduce costs in my own work unit, but probably won´t be applicable to other work units. May I submit a suggestion like this?
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A.
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As long as:
- the suggestion does not represent a part of your normal duties and you do not have the authority to make the change
- your normal duties are not research or planning
- the suggestion is not already under active consideration
- the suggestion is not a grievance relating to salaries, promotion, position, classification, or personnel
- the suggestion is not a criticism of other employees or their performances of work
- the suggestion is not related to collective bargaining
- the idea has not been implemented and practiced for more than 6 months.
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Who can I contact for more information?
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Your Agency Suggestion Coordinator (pdf) or the Statewide Suggestion Coordinator. |
Q.
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Can I find out if my idea has already been submitted?
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A.
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Yes and no. Suggestions adopted on or after July 1, 1999, are listed on the web page under Adopted Suggestions. This location is also available for employees to browse for good ideas that may have applicability in their own agency. However, once a suggestion has been adopted, no further awards will be given for implementation and savings at other state agencies or in other work units not listed in the original application. |
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Do I need to work through my supervisor before submitting a suggestion to the ESAP?
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A.
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No. It is not required that you work with your supervisor prior to submitting a suggestion to the Program. However, by discussing it with someone who has the authority to make the decision to implement a suggestion, you can get a better feel for whether the idea has a potential for being adopted, and/or you can get assistance in preparing a fiscal analysis -- saving time and energy in both the application and evaluation stages of the process. |
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Are cash awards taxable?
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Yes. Cash awards are treated as "special bonus pay" for tax purposes. Therefore, awards are subject to state, federal, and Social Security withholding requirements. Depending on the award amount, you may be moved into a different tax bracket for withholding purposes. You may wish to consult a tax professional to discuss options for minimizing the overall effect of this one-time salary adjustment. |
