Performance Recognition Program

The State of Massachusetts Human Resources Division coordinates the annual Commonwealth of Massachusetts Performance Recognition Program. This program gives formal recognition to Commonwealth employees who make meaningful contributions, which distinguish them from their peers. These special awards focus attention on consistent, positive achievements by both individuals and teams of state employees, and recognize those who demonstrate: innovation and dedication to their work, concern for the public trust and a commitment to excellence.


Awards are given in 4 categories:


Keys Dates for 2012: October 24, 2011 - February 3, 2012 is the nomination period. Recipients of the Commonwealth Citation for Outstanding Performance will be announced on April 10, 2012 at the Employee Recognition Luncheon. Recipients of the Eugene H. Rooney Jr. Public Service Award, Manuel Carballo Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Service and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Workforce Mentoring Award will be announced in late April and a ceremony will be held in Boston in May for the recipients.

 

Nomination process
All nominations should be sent to Allison Pickup, Human Resources, Boyden Hall 103.
All nominations will be reviewed by the 2012 Recognition Review Committee and semifinalist will be submitted to Cabinet for selection and final approval.
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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

All aspects of the Performance Recognition Program (PRP) are coordinated between the Human Resources Division (HRD) and the designated agency PRP coordinator (Allison Pickup, HR Coordinator.)

AWARDS PROCESSES
Four awards are given annually through the Performance Recognition Program. Executive Branch employees who demonstrated exemplary work performance are recognized through the award of the Commonwealth Citation for Outstanding Performance. From these employees, ten are selected for the Manuel Carballo Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Service. The Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. Public Service Award will also be awarded to employees of the Commonwealth or one of its political subdivisions who best exemplify excellence in the field of human resources development training. And lastly, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mentoring Award will be awarded to an outstanding leader in the area of mentoring in the workplace.

THE COMMONWEALTH CITATION FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
The number of awards distributed is determined by the size of the agency:
Number of Agency Employees Number of Awards
up to 50 = 1
51-400 = 3
401-1,500 = 6
1,501-2,500 = 9
2,501-4,500 = 12
4,501 or more = 15

ELIGIBILITY
Executive Branch employees who have been in state service for at least two years as of October 3, 2011 are eligible to be nominated for the Commonwealth Citation for Outstanding Performance. Employees currently holding positions to which they were appointed directly by the governor, or employees whose appointments were subject to the formal approval of the governor are not eligible. Agency heads and college presidents are also not eligible for this award.

SELECTION PROCESS
Each agency forms its own selection committee. This committee will review all nominations and recommend the names of those individuals who are most worthy of recognition. The names of selection committee members should be recorded on the Agency Selection Committee Member Information Form and kept on file at the agency. The selection committee should make every effort to represent the diversity of the work force (i.e., position level and geographic location, gender, race, ethnicity, as well as individuals with disabilities and veterans).

NOMINATION PROCESS

How to Nominate
The Citation Nomination Form must be used to describe the individual's or group's accomplishments and should indicate the reasons why the individual or group should be recognized. Nominations should be submitted to the nominee's agency coordinator by February 3, 2012.

Who Can Be Nominated

An individual may be nominated by supervisors, peers, professional colleagues or others familiar with the person's work. A person may not be nominated by relatives or subordinates, nor may a person nominate himself or herself.

A group of employees may also be nominated by supervisors, peers, professional colleagues or others familiar with the unit's work, if the performance as a unit has been exemplary.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection committee and agency head will use one or more of the following criteria in selecting an individual or group for recognition:

  • Attainment of high priority agency objectives;

  • Exceptional managerial, organizational and/or communications achievements;

  • Achievement of significant improvements in productivity and/or costs savings in agency operations.



CITATIONS

HRD prepares a "Commonwealth Citation for Outstanding Performance," for each individual winner. In the case of a group winner, HRD prepares a citation for each group member, which includes the group name and the individual's name underneath. However, if a group is larger than 15 members, HRD reserves the right to limit the amount of citations for that particular group if supplies can not accommodate it. Once all citations are prepared, HRD will send them to the agency PRP coordinator in order for them to obtain agency head signature. Once citations are signed by the agency head, they will be distributed at the agency level, preferably by the agency head.




THE MANUEL CARBALLO GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE

The Carballo Award is given annually to ten employees or groups of employees who exemplify the highest standards of public service.

ELIGIBILITY

All individuals and groups who are awarded the Commonwealth Citation for Outstanding Performance as part of this year's program are eligible to be nominated for the Carballo Award. Each agency may nominate one individual or group of employees for consideration. Agency heads and college presidents are not eligible for this award.

NOMINATION PROCESS

The Carballo Nomination Form must be used to provide a career profile and a description of the outstanding contributions and/or accomplishments of the individual or group. Please be sure to address each criteria on the nomination form.
 

SELECTION PROCESS

Selection Committee

A selection committee, which includes a representative from the offices of both the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, and representatives from business, labor, community groups, academia and the media who are knowledgeable about Massachusetts state government, will review the nominations and recommend to the governor the names of ten finalists who are most worthy of receiving the award.

Selection Criteria

The Selection Committee will use one or more of the following criteria in selecting an individual or group for this award:

  • Exceptional accomplishments;

  • Exemplary leadership;

  • Creativity and innovation;

  • Achievement of significant improvements in productivity and/or costs savings in agency operations.


The Governor will make the final selection decisions.

THE AWARD

A commemorative plaque and a Carballo Citation signed by the governor will be presented to each individual or group in May.



EUGENE H. ROONEY, JR. PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

The Rooney Award highlights human resource development as a planned, continuous effort to provide personal and professional growth opportunities that will enhance employee competency levels. Such activities serve to improve an individual's performance on a currently held job; and/or provide new skills, knowledge and attitudes that will allow an individual to assume a new role in the organization.

ELIGIBILITY

Any state, county, city or town employee who has worked in public service for 12 months as of October 3, 2011 is eligible to be nominated for the Eugene H. Rooney, Jr., Public Service Award.

NOMINATION PROCESS

Supervisors, peers, professional colleagues (not including subordinates) and others familiar with the employee's accomplishments may nominate an individual or group.

The Rooney Nomination Form must be completed and must include a detailed description of the nominee's special accomplishments and his/her positive impact on other employees and on the organization as a whole.

The nomination should be forwarded to the appropriate Appointing Authority, after a supervisor or other person knowledgeable about the nominee's contribution, has verified the information on the nomination form.

The nominator is responsible for assuring that the nomination is forwarded to the appropriate parties, including the Appointing Authority, for verification and sign-off.


SELECTION PROCESS

Selection Committee

A Selection Committee including the Chief Human Resources Officer, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission and the Co-Chairs of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Public Service will review nominations. The Committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the governor for approval.

Selection Criteria

The following selection criteria will be utilized:

  • The nominee must demonstrate measurable accomplishments, which affect individual employees and the organization as a whole.

  • The nominator must document the nature of the activity and provide a detailed description of the project, and its impact on the organization.

  • Supervisor/senior manager must include supporting documentation, i.e., comments that corroborate the nominee's accomplishments.


THE AWARD

A commemorative plaque will be presented to each recipient in May.


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MENTORING AWARD

The Mentoring Award honors outstanding leaders in the area of mentoring in the workplace, whether it be through a formal mentoring program within their department, or on a more informal basis through the candidate's own initiative. Recipients of this award play a vital role in preparing the Commonwealth's workforce of tomorrow by serving as a teacher and role model to either a subordinate or peer in the workplace.

ELIGIBILITY

Any Executive Branch or Higher Education employee who has been in state service for 2 years as of October 3, 2011 is eligible to be nominated for the Mentoring Award.

NOMINATION PROCESS

An individual may be nominated by a supervisor, peer, subordinate, professional colleague or others familiar with the person's work.

The Mentoring Nomination Form must be completed and must include a detailed description of the nominee's special accomplishments as a mentor and his/her positive impact on another employee(s).

The nomination should be forwarded to the appropriate Appointing Authority, after a supervisor or other person knowledgeable about the nominee's contribution, has verified the information on the nomination form.

The nominator is responsible for assuring that the nomination is forwarded to the appropriate parties, including the Appointing Authority, for verification and sign-off.


SELECTION PROCESS

Selection Committee

Screening committees throughout the individual agencies will review all submissions within their own agency. Each agency will select a nomination to forward to the Human Resources Division (HRD) for consideration.

A Selection Committee consisting of the members of the Chief Human Resources Officer's Advisory Council will review all the nominations submitted. The Selection Committee will then recommend to the Governor the candidate(s) they believe to be most worthy of the award.

Selection Criteria

The ideal candidate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Workforce Mentoring Award:

  • plays a direct role in the professional development of a fellow employee within his or her department on an ongoing, day-to-day, basis;

  • serves as a resource and mentor to that individual;

  • helps the individual reach their goals;

  • is generous in sharing his or her own valuable time and knowledge;

  • shows a continued interest in the individual's growth and development;

  • provides leadership in the workplace;

  • inspires others to serve as mentors and play a part in succession planning in the workplace.


THE AWARD

A commemorative plaque will be presented to each recipient in May.

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If you have any questions please contact Allison Pickup x6126 in the Office of Human Resources.

Last Modified: October 20, 2011