EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION I. PURPOSE A. To develop a guideline to properly recognize when a department member performs their duties in an exceptional manner I. RESPONSIBILITY A. The Fire Chief shall be responsible for oversight of this policy B. Shift Captains shall be responsible for day to day implementation of this policy C. Any district employee can initiate this policy in regards to any other member of the department at any time lll. PROCEDURE A. The Record of Exceptional Performance or Green Sheet is available for any member of the department to fill out for any other member of the department at any time. The four copies of the document go to the member, the Fire Chief, the member s supervisor and the member s file a. Upon receiving four Records of Exceptional Performance, the member will be recognized at the next calendar Board of Directors Meeting b. Upon receiving four recognitions at Board of Director s Meetings, the member will receive an Award of Exceptional Service and letter from the Fire Chief B. The award program recognizes employee performance in two categories, individual achievement and company achievement. The award application program shall follow the provisional steps listed: a. Any member of the department can submit award nominations to the Awards Committee b. All nominations may be received at any time throughout the year c. The Awards Committee shall review the application and rule on the merit of the nomination. 1
d. Awards shall be presented in a timely fashion e. All nominations shall be placed in the employees work file C. The award descriptions listed below identify what constitutes consideration for award honors a. Medal of Valor i. The medal of valor is presented to members who distinguish themselves by conspicuous bravery under unusually complicated or hazardous conditions. The member exhibited exceptional skill and/or bravery and used excellent judgment in accomplishing a specific mission. b. Medal of Lifesaving i. The medal of lifesaving is presented to members who save the life of another person using exceptional or extraordinary actions with rescue or medical expertise. c. Award of Exceptional Service i. The award for excellence is presented to members based upon, but not limited to consideration of the following factors 1. A member demonstrated continued service at a level of excellence 2. A member performed an outstanding administrative accomplishment 3. A member developed and initiated a means of significantly increasing the department s administrative or operational efficiency or effectiveness 4. A member made a significant positive impact on the community through the use of problem solving, citizen participation, customer service, or made an outstanding contribution in the area of community service 5. By exemplary conduct and demeanor a member successfully resolved an extraordinary hazardous situation 6. A member receives four Customer Service Questionnaires that reflect positively on the 2
member or department as reviewed by the awards committee a. Customer Service Questionnaires will be available on all apparatus and are a prepaid postage postcard style short form. Customers can fill them out and drop them in the mail or hand them back to us for on scene and real time feedback to the department D. The Awards Committee reviews all award nominations. The committee is responsible for reviewing, evaluating, and classifying nominations for awards and for relaying its recommendations to the Fire Chief E. The committee shall consist of two Line Officers and two suppression personnel who were not involved directly in the incident or event if possible a. The awards committee shall meet based on the receipt of a nomination b. One member shall be nominated within the committee as the chairperson to facilitate meetings and make notifications to the Fire Chief and the selected nominees of type of award and recommendations made c. The Awards committee will evaluate all nominations upon them being submitted d. In all cases the committee must be in majority agreement for an award to be finalized e. The Fire Chief shall have final approval F. Each Medal/Award will be formally presented to the member at the next calendar Board of Director s Meeting after the final decision is made G. All local media outlets will be notified as soon as possible and invited to the event with a press release describing the award and background story. The press release will also include a letter to the editor of local newspapers in the form of a letter from the Fire Chief 3
H. The event will be photographed by a member of the fire department for internal records of the ceremony I. The member s significant other, spouse, and/or family will be specifically invited to the event and given a mention of appreciation of their support of the member J. All other emergency agencies in the Valley will be notified and invited to the event as well. If needed, a larger public space will be secured for the event such as City Hall or the Town Recreation Center K. With any company achievement award, the department will put $100 towards an on duty crew meal either at the station or at a restaurant in the fire district. A company achievement will include all names of those involved in the event L. With any individual achievement award, the department will purchase a $100 gift card to either City Market or the Village Market, members choice, to be given to the member M. At the end of the year, all department members who received one or more nominations within that year are put into a drawing for a $100 City Market or Village Market gift card of their choice N. Plaques for each award category will be displayed in the day room. Names of award recipients will be added to the plaque corresponding to the award received. The name plate shall display name, rank and date of the event for which award was received if this date is applicable O. Award recipients for the year will be recognized again at the annual Firefighters Ball in December of each year in order to ensure department and district wide recognition of award recipients and their accomplishments P. There will be a board in the day room of the fire station where photos and blank paper are posted. During the month of a member s birthday other members of the department are encouraged to write things they appreciate about the member and 4
other positive attributes that define the member. At the end of the month the pieces of paper will be given to the member to keep if they wish to do so 5