Staff Employee of the Year

The purpose of this Policy is to establish a program of "Staff Employee of the Year" awards for staff employees.

Policy

"Staff Employee of the Year" awards will be awarded each year that funding is available as follows:

Eligibility

All permanent SHRA and EHRA staff employees with two or more years of continuous service (at the time of nomination) with the University shall be eligible for consideration.  An exception may be considered if an employee with less than two years of service has engaged in an act that meets the definition of safety/heroism as set forth by the Office of State Personnel: “Demonstrated outstanding judgment or courage in an emergency, voluntarily risking his/her life, or exhibited meritorious action to prevent injury, loss of life or prevented damage to or loss of property.”

Award Categories

Award recipients shall be selected on the basis of outstanding achievement or service to the University, contributions to community service, or safety/heroism. An employee may be nominated in only one category per year.

One award may be given in each of the following categories:  devotion to duty, innovation, community service, and human relations.  One or more awards may be given based on acts of safety/heroism.

Award Descriptions

Awards will normally consist of a monetary award and a plaque, or similar type of recognition.

Selection

Nominations for Staff Employee of the Year Awards may be submitted by any permanent employee of the University.

Award recipients shall be selected by a Staff Employee of the Year Awards Selection Committee (Selection Committee). Representation on the Selection Committee shall be proportional to the number of permanent staff (EHRA and SHRA) employees in each division of the University.  The Provost and Vice Chancellors of each division will appoint employees to represent their divisions on the Selection Committee. The Director of Learning and Organizational Development will serve as an ex-officio and non-voting member of the Selection Committee; will serve as recording secretary of the Selection Committee; and will call the first meeting of the Selection Committee annually.

The considerations and proceedings of the Selection Committee shall be kept confidential both during and after its deliberations and selections.

The Selection Committee may select only one award recipient for each of the qualifying categories with the exception of safety/heroism.  Multiple employees may receive an award for safety/heroism.    If the Selection Committee determines that there is not an eligible candidate for an award category, or if the nomination(s) submitted are not supportive of the award category, the Selection Committee may elect not to select an award recipient in that category. 

Responsibilities

The Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources will publish appropriate guidance to implement this program in accordance with the provisions of this Policy.

Nominations must be submitted to the appropriate department or office head in accordance with the schedule published by the Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources.

Department and office heads will review and forward each nomination with appropriate comments through administrative channels to the Provost and Vice Chancellors in accordance with the published schedule.

The Provost and Vice Chancellors will review all recommendations for employees within their respective divisions and forward not more than the prescribed number of recommendations with appropriate comments to the Selection Committee.  

The Chancellor (or a designated representative) will present the awards on behalf of the funding organization during the annual UNC Charlotte Staff Recognition Week activities.