HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS-13-012 - Amendment to Council Policy II-225 - Years of ServREPORT TO:
Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
January 28, 2013
SUBMITTED BY:
Michael Goldrup, Director Human Resources
PREPARED BY: Tami Turner, Manager of Employee Strategies
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
All
DATE OF REPORT:
January 14, 2013
REPORT NO.: FCS-13-012
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL POLICY II-225 - YEARS OF
SERVICE RECOGNITION PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION:
That Council Policy II-255 (Years of Service Recognition Program) be repealed and
replaced with the revised policy attached to Finance and Corporate Services Department
report FCS-13-012.
BACKGROUND:
Since 1990, the City has had a “Years of Service Recognition Program” and policy that
recognizes employee anniversary milestones as well as long service employees.
In 2012, staff said that they want recognition to be more relevant to their work and that
recognition celebrations should take place at their place of work, with colleagues who they work
with on a regular basis. The long standing Years of Service Recognition Committee agrees with
staff feedback and is recommending changes to the current program that will be more relevant
to the City’s diverse workforce. The committee is confident that by implementing the
recommended changes, we will promote higher staff engagement and participation in the
recognition program, and that the program will positively impact the City’s commitment to
creating a culture of appreciation and fun, an area of focus of the People Plan.
REPORT:
Challenges - Current Years of Service Recognition Program:
a) The long service pins that employees receive when reaching anniversary milestones are
no longer valued as they were in past years.
b) Attendance at the Civic Employees’ Recognition Reception has been consistently low
over the past few years (34%).
c) Costs for gifts have consistently risen as the number of retirements have increased.
d) Staff resource requirements to support the current program are high due to
administration and event planning responsibilities.
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Summary of Proposed Changes to Years of Service Recognition Program:
a) Discontinue the years of service pins (recognition of anniversary milestones (5, 10, 15,
20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 years). Recognition of anniversary milestones (1, 5, 10, 15,
20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 years) to continue in the form of a congratulatory letter signed
by the Department Head and presented by a member of management.
b) Discontinue the Civic Employees’ Recognition Reception held in May of each year.
Celebrations will be at the discretion of the employee’s department.
c) Eligibility for a gift award will change. Currently, full-time employees achieving 15, 20,
25, 30, 35, 40, or 45 years of service receive a gift commensurate with their experience,
and retirees with 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, or 45 years of service, both full-time and
continuous part-time receive a gift commensurate with experience. The proposed
recommendation for change will result in awarding a gift to full-time and continuous part-
time retirees with 25+ years of service, and employees who have resigned with 25+
years of service only.
d) Current long service employees (25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 years) will be recognized
annually at The Main Event.
e) Mayor and members of Council will be welcome as a guest to attend departmental
celebration events for retirees and long service employees who resign, at their
discretion.
Attached hereto for the Committee’s consideration is a copy of the revised version of Council
Policy II-225 (Years of Service Recognition Program).
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
This report aligns with the People Plan Areas of Focus related to a ‘Culture of Appreciation and
Fun, A Culture of Inclusion, A Culture of Safety & Wellbeing’, which calls for the development of
”… a flexible and substantive Corporate Recognition Program that allows for different kinds of
recognition as our organization grows and develops.”
In addition, this report also pertains to the strategic direction related to ‘A Culture of Appreciation
and Fun’ area of focus as well as the People Plan’s ‘This is Where We Want to Work’, which
states:“We seek the best people and promote continued development. We encourage and
mentor one another to reach our full potential. We have fun. And we know the power of ‘thank
you’.”
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The reduction of cost for the program, from $23,800 to $10,000 annually, was incorporated into
the 2013 Budget, being considered on January 17, 2013. The key elements of savings include
the pins, gifts, and the recognition reception.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The Long Service Recognition Committee supports staff feedback that corporate recognition
programs need to be relevant to today’s diverse workforce. The Committee responded by
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recommending changes to the Long Service Recognition Program that they are confident will
meet the needs of the varying drivers of engagement of our employees.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
(must be a member of CMT)
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POLICY NUMBERAPPROVED:
: II-255 December 17, 1990
Amended: May 21, 1996
POLICY TYPE
: HUMAN RESOURCES December 10, 2001
June 14, 2010
SUBJECT:
YEARS OF SERVICE RECOGNITION PROGRAM
POLICY APPLIES TO THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION(S)
Management, Permanent Full-Time Non-Union, Continuous Part-Time Non-Union
Permanent Full-Time Union, Continuous Part-Time Union
PURPOSE:
To provide tangible recognition to employees reaching anniversary milestones and to long
service employees and retirees
PROGRAM:
1. Eligibility
a) All eligible employees reaching their anniversary milestone (1, 5, 10, 15, 20,
25, 30, 35, 40, 45)
b) All retirees and employees who have resigned with 25 plus years of service
2. Presentations and Awards
a) All eligible employees reaching their anniversary milestone (1, 5, 10, 15, 20,
25, 30, 35, 40, 45) will be presented with a congratulatory letter signed by the
Department Head within one (1) month of reaching that milestone
b) All retirees and employees who have resigned, with 25 plus years of service
will be presented with a gift of the employee’s choice valued at $300,
excluding tax, by the Department Head. In addition, retirees with 25 plus
years of service will receive a lifetime membership to the Municipal Retirees
Organization Ontario, valued at $25. If possible, the gifts are to be presented
to the employee prior to the employee’s departure.
KITCHENERPage 1 of 1 JUNE 2010
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