Original Date: 07/10/2006
Revision Date: / /

Tobyhanna Army Depot continually strives to improve its Recognition and Awards Program to ensure that employees are recognized in an equitable manner and that employee morale remains high. The program reinforces productive employee behavior and enables a positive organizational culture.

TYAD considers employee awards and recognition as a key component of an employee’s ongoing motivation and continually strives to improve the Recognition and Awards Program to ensure employee productivity is rewarded equitably and employee morale remains high.

One of the innovative awards that has been implemented is “Rewarding the Workforce,” which is based on the net operating result (NOR). This award replaces the traditional sustained superior performance and quality step increases. The maximum amount of the award is capped at $1,500 per employee and the minimum is $500. To be eligible for the full payout, an employee must meet specific time-in-job requirements. Employee with significant adverse actions against them, violations of Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines, violations of standards of conduct, ratings of less than fully satisfactory, or those on leave without pay for more than six months are not eligible for the payout. The On-the-Spot, Special Act, and Time-Off awards continue as before. This reward system improves management-employee relations and morale. Employees are now constantly looking for ways to improve the NOR and frequently assess how individual actions will affect the NOR.

TYAD also established the Team Award to recognize teams for special efforts. Team members receive a letter of appreciation signed by the depot commander accompanied by a jacket embossed with a TYAD logo. The depot commander presents the team members at a ceremony with the recipients’ peers present. The immediate supervisor, or any individual having direct knowledge of the team’s act in coordination with the team member’s supervisor, can initiate the award.

The Length-of-Service Award ceremony is held monthly to recognize employees for 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years of service. The depot commander presents the award for 30 years of service, which consists of the presentation of a certificate and pin, a signed and framed picture of TYAD, and a flag flown over the depot and the United States Capitol on or about the honoree’s 30^th anniversary date. For 35 years of service, an engraved wall clock is presented; for 40 years, an engraved gold wrist watch is presented; for 45 years, a personalized crystal decanter with an embossed Army coin is presented; and for 50 years, a tree is planted in an appropriate place on TYAD’s grounds with a plaque commemorating the milestone placed near the tree. Coworkers, friends, and family of the recipients are welcome to attend all Length-of-Service Award ceremonies to honor employees and recognize TYAD’s appreciation for the recipients’ dedicated service to the country.

The Incentive Awards Program, an automated process that resulted from a 2006 Lean event, further enhances the existing awards and recognition programs as well as improvements to turnaround times by streamlining and eliminating non-value-added steps in the various awards processes. Initial cost savings of approximately $100,000 were immediately realized. Continual emphasis is placed on the depot’s Incentive Awards Program so that the workforce receives proper recognition. This program reinforces employees’ productive behavior and creates a positive organizational culture.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.