Johnson School Administrative Service Center: Reward and Recognition Program

Administrative Service Center
235 Sage Hall
Phone : 607- 255-7541
Fax : 607-255-2823

Johnson School's Reward and Recognition Program

Johnson School's Staff Recognition Award

Nomination Form for the Johnson School Staff Recognition Award

Awards of Appreciation

Special Thanks Award

Dean's Award

Recognition Events

Recognition of staff is a very important process at the Johnson School. Several years ago the School designed a multi-tier approach to recognize the most outstanding contributors. The Program includes three approaches for rewarding and recognizing staff. The combination of the three results in a flexible program which facilitates timely rewards and broad ranges of recognition across the Johnson School. The most visible element of the approach was the Outstanding Contributor Award which has been given annually to individuals or teams. This award was originally designed to be a truly unique award, offered periodically to employees who met a very high standard for contribution to the School. However, it has become clear that when designing this Program an important element was not addressed - the ability of staff to recognize each other for exemplary work. The result is that the current Outstanding Contributor Award has been used to accomplish two different goals in one award. As a result the staff team that has been managing the Staff Recognition Program looked at the current process and recommended changes. Below is a summary of the changes that are effective as of the Spring of 2005.

The Outstanding Contributor Award as it existed was eliminated and staff are empowered to manage a Staff Recognition Award that is initiated by staff and faculty nominations and decided on by a panel of staff members. In order to encourage nominations, the nomination form for this award was simplified.

Nominations are reviewed by a team comprised of staff. This team chooses the award winners. The team is constituted by past individual or team recipients of the award. Each team member serves two years.

The nomination form is available at http://forum.johnson.cornell.edu/AdministrativeServiceCenter/Nomination%20form%20Staff%20Recognition%20award.doc.

For additional information on appropriate uses of departmental funds please visit Guidelines for Use of Departmental Funds for Recognition of Employees and Other Related Topics.

I. Johnson School's Staff Recognition Award

Objective and Criteria: This school-wide award is given by Johnson School staff to those individuals or teams who have made a significant positive impact in the School while demonstrating a commitment to the Johnson School Values. All employees who have had a significant impact in the School and demonstrate Johnson School values are eligible to win regardless of employment status, seniority and/or past wins.

Process: Nominations are solicited using a standard Staff Recognition Award Form. At any time during the year, any member of the Johnson School community may suggest an individual or team for this award. There is a special push for nominations in April with a May 15th deadline.

Awards: Award amounts are $500 for an individual and $1,000 for a team. Anywhere from zero to three employees and/or teams can be selected each year. Awardees are announced at the annual Recognition Luncheon.

Please follow the following link to the Nomination Form for the Johnson School Staff Recognition Award.

In addition to the newly created Staff Recognition Award, a Dean's Award has been added and the Awards of Appreciation and Special Thanks Awards continue.

top of page

II. Awards of Appreciation (Recognition within Department)

Objective and Criteria: Recognition and reward programs are most successful when the acknowledgment is timely. All members of the community are encouraged to nominate individuals and groups for this award on a regular basis. Staff who receive Awards of Appreciation demonstrate: (1) extraordinary effort; (2) exceptional quality of output; (3) willingness to go "above and beyond" the call of duty, often without being asked; and (4) have the respect of peers, customers, and others in the community.

Process: All members of the community are encouraged to recognize individuals and teams whenever they experience a job well done. There is no formal process for this award; it is intended to be flexible and easy to implement. Managers may make these awards at their discretion and are encouraged to do so in a timely fashion. Non-managerial personnel may recognize people or groups in their department with the approval of the manager and should be encouraged to present the award to the recipient(s). Written commendations are encouraged and should always include a copy to the individual's supervisor and the Director of the Administrative Service Center for the recipient's personnel file.

Awards: Awards should be unique and reflect both the level of contribution as well as the interests of the individual or group receiving the award. Managers are encouraged to be creative, as all cash and gift certificates are taxable, as are gifts over $25 in value. No one specific award or recognition can serve all constituents. Managers should encourage staff to complete "Tell Us About You" cards and use them in selecting an appropriate award.

top of page

III. Special Thanks Award (Across Departments or "up" in a Department)

Objective and Criteria: This award is identical to the Award of Appreciation but is given by someone other than the direct supervisor, with the advice and consent of managers of the departments involved. Managers and their teams are encouraged to recognize someone outside their unit for outstanding performance; i.e., Corporate Relations recommending someone in Human Resources or any other unit within the College, for assistance or special circumstances. Or, staff members can recommend recognizing someone "above" them in their own department, with the consent of that person's supervisor.

Process: Identical to the Award of Appreciation, except that proposed awards should be cleared with the recipient's supervisor and Director of the Administrative Service Center . Written commendations are encouraged and should always include a copy to the individual's supervisor and the Administrative Service Center for the recipient's personnel file.

Awards: Awards should be unique and reflect both the level of contribution as well as the interests of the individual or group receiving the award. Managers are encouraged to be creative, as all cash and gift certificates are taxable, as are gifts over $25 in value. No one specific award or recognition can serve all constituents. Managers should encourage staff to complete "Tell Us About You" cards and use them in selecting an appropriate award.

top of page

IV. Dean's Award

This is a new award initiated in 2005. The criteria for selection are consistent with the current criteria for the Staff Recognition Award. All members of the School will be eligible (faculty, staff, administration, and students). It is envisioned, however, that this award will not be given annually - only when very special contributions occur and will be based on the Dean's discretion.

top of page

V. Recognition Events

Once each year the School will sponsor a special luncheon at which time individuals throughout the School will be recognized for their contributions. Recipients who have made a significant impact will receive a certificate and symbolic award unique to this special recognition event. Past recipients will continue to be involved in the planning of this event and other celebrations throughout the year.

Also at this luncheon, the School will have an opportunity to acknowledge other accomplishments, improvements, and/or positive changes and reward those employees with verbal "thank yous." Those who were recipients of Awards of Appreciation or Special Thanks Awards throughout the year will also be publicly recognized at this event. Awards may also be presented to faculty members and/or Senior Managers as recognition if so warranted at this luncheon.

We welcome your suggestions and hope you will embrace this Program and participate in the nomination process. Also, we encourage you to take time on a regular basis to acknowledge those around you on whom you depend and who constantly amaze us with all they do. So often we inadvertently forget to thank one another. Sometimes the good deeds go unnoticed, but never unappreciated. We do not have to wait until an annual luncheon to show our gratitude! Let us raise our consciousness.

top of page

Approved March 31, 2005