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Policy No.: 1093
Effective Date: 10/25/02
Revised Date: 12/15/23
Reviewed Date: 12/15/23

Employee Recognition and Reward Policy

Purpose

1.1 The Employee Recognition and Reward program is designed to provide incentives to individuals and groups to maximize their contributions to UNMC and to enhance UNMC's ability to hire and retain qualified employees in competitive labor market conditions. This program allows the administrative units and/or department flexibility in creating appropriate recognition and reward structures.

Scope

2.1 All regular employees whose overall performance is above and beyond the scope of their position should be given the same opportunity to be rewarded for going the extra mile and for adding value to UNMC.

Service Awards are based solely on the number of years of employment in the University of Nebraska system and are given in 5-year increments for staff and 10-year increments for faculty.

Managerial professional, office service, graduate assistant, other academic employees, faculty and administrative staff are eligible for the Chancellor’s Council Silver ‘U’ Award.

Managerial professional and office service employees are eligible for the Chancellor’s Commendation Gold ‘U’ Award. Faculty and administrative staff are not eligible for this award.

Faculty are eligible for the Outstanding Teacher Award, the Spirit of Community Service Award, the Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Graduate Students Award, the Outstanding Research and Creativity Award (ORCA), the Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award (OTICA), the Innovation, Development, and Engagement Award (IDEA), and the University-wide Departmental Teaching Award (UDTA).

Faculty are also eligible for the UNMC Scientist Laureate Award, the Distinguished Scientist Award and the New Investigator Award.

All paid employees are eligible to access the People Are Everything site.

Basis of the Policy

3.1 The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) has a variety of programs to recognize and reward employees with non-cash and with cash awards. These awards recognize employees whose performance is above and beyond the scope of their position and their achievements add value to the vision and mission of UNMC.

UNMC Policy No. 1099, Non-Discrimination and Sexual and Other Prohibited Harassment, should be considered during recognition and reward selection.

All University-wide, UNMC campus-wide and Unit/department-wide recognition and reward programs are based on the availability of funds at each level.

Authorities and Administration

4.1 The UNMC Human Resources Associate Director of Employee Relations is responsible for the administration, implementation, and maintenance of the Employee Recognition and Reward Policy at the campus level in consultation with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance- Executive Director of Human Resources and the Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance.

Policy

5.1 It is the policy of the University of Nebraska Medical Center that, when appropriate, a unit or department may make a non-cash or a cash award to an employee or groups of employees for significant accomplishments, achievements, or excellent work performance.

For unit/department wide recognition and rewards programs, units/departments need to provide Human Resources - Employee Relations and Finance - Payroll the unit/department reward and recognition program plan summary and program plan administration. Once program plan summary and plan administration is in compliance with accounting and payroll policies and procedures, the unit/department reward and recognition program may be implemented.

5.2 Centrally funded and administered programs include the following: the Chancellor's Commendation Gold 'U' Award, the Chancellor's Council Silver 'U' Awards, People Are Everything recognition and reward eCards and Service Awards.

Unit-administeredd programs include any incentive or recognition program developed and implemented at the Unit or department level.

UNMC Faculty Senate administered programs include the following: Outstanding Teacher Award, Spirit of Community Service Award and Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Graduate Students Award. These programs are centrally funded.

UNMC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research administered programs include the following: the UNMC Scientist Laureate Award, the Distinguished Scientist Award and the New Investigator Award.

University of Nebraska - Central Administration administered and funded programs include the following: Outstanding Research and Creativity Award (ORCA), Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award (OTICA), University-wide Departmental Teaching Award (UDTA), and Engagement Award (IDEA). 5.3 The fair market value of personal property gifts over $50.00 to UNMC employees will be added to taxable wages. Income and social security taxes will be withheld in accordance with the Internal Revenue Service. Gifts that will be excluded from taxation include: 1) personal property gifts for length of service achievement, other special service achievement, or retirement; 2) personal property or gift certificates that may only be used for personal property, when the value is of a De Minimus (small) amount, such as holiday gifts of hams, turkeys, candy or a gift certificate only redeemable for specific products or services of $50 or less.

5.3 The fair market value of personal property gifts over $50.00 to UNMC employees will be added to taxable wages. Income and social security taxes will be withheld in accordance with the Internal Revenue Service. Gifts that will be excluded from taxation include: 1) personal property gifts for length of service achievement, other special service achievement, or retirement; 2) personal property or gift certificates that may only be used for personal property, when the value is of a De Minimus (small) amount, such as holiday gifts of hams, turkeys, candy or a gift certificate only redeemable for specific products or services of $50 or less.

All cash value awards are subject to taxation.

Record Keeping

6.1 Each unit is responsible for keeping records relating to reward and recognition activity for a period of three years afterward.

• Employee name and UNMC personnel number
• Reason for the recognition
• Type of recognition given with reference to purchase order number

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Please see UNMC's Notice of Non-Discrimination regarding the University of Nebraska Medical Center's commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment free from discrimination and harassment.

Additional Information

• Contact Human Resources-Employee Relations at 402-559-6020 or 402-559-7394
• UNMC Procedures No. 1093, Employee Recognition and Reward

Nomination Forms

• Gold ‘U’ Award Nomination Form
  
• Chancellor’s Council Silver ‘U’ Award Nomination Form
  
• Innovation, Development and Engagement Award (IDEA)
  
• Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award (ORCA)
  
• Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award (OTICA)
  
• Outstanding Teaching Award Nomination Form and Selection Criteria
  
• The Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Graduate Students Award Nomination Form and Selection Criteria
  
• The Spirit of Community Service Award Nomination Form and Selection Criteria
  
• University-wide Departmental Teaching Award (UDTA)
  

Reward and Recognition web sites

• People Are Everything Employee Online Rewards & Recognition Program (Sign in with your UNMC NetID & Password)
  

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