Evening star., 1954-11-29
Questions and Answers Tell
Story Of Incentive Awards

The Civil Service Commission
has explained In question -and-
answer form the highlights of
the new Government employe IN
centive awards program author
lied by Congress this year.
The CSC's questions and an
swers follow:
@. When did the new Incen-
tive Awards Program for Fed
eral employees go into effect?
A. II went into effect Novefn-
ber 80.
@. Why is the new program an
Improvement over the previous
ones?
A. The new program covers
nearly all Federal employees ex-
cept those in the Tennessee VAL
ley Authority. while previous COW
erage was far more restrictive. 1t
also permits larger awards and
encourages a decentralized sys-
TEN of administration that
should have the effect of speed
ing up action on employe sug-
gestions and contributions. For
the first time. employees who
make contributions that benefit
other agencies may receive
awards from the other agencies.
Another new feature is that the
President may give awards for
superior service.
csc Administers Program.
@. What agency is going to
administer the awards program?
A. The Civil Service Commis-
sion. Placing authority for the
program in one agency Is an
otner improvement, since pre-
viously there was overlapping
and some confusion caused by
divided responsibilities.
@. Does this mean that the
Civil Service Commission is re-
sponsible for making awards to
the employees Of all Government
agencies?
A. No. Each agency is re-
sponsible for awards to its own
employees under plans set up in
accordance with Civil Service
Commission guides and prin-
ciples. The Commission will
assist agencies In developing ef-
fective programs. It will also
handle the mechanics Of getting
the contributions made in one
agency considered in other agen-
cies that may benefit from them.
@. What kinds Of acts or serv-
ices or suggestions make an en-
ploye eligible for an award?
A. An employees contribution
may be of the idea" or "inven-
ton" type. or Of the perform
ance" type.
@. What are examples Of the
idea" or invention" type of
contribution?
A. An employe may receive an
award for an idea that results in
improved operations. The fact
that the idea is not new or
original does not necessarily
mean that it may not receive an
award; the test is whether it will
improve operations If adopted.
@. What are examples of the
performance" type of contribu-
tion?
A. An employe may receive an
award for outstanding perform
ance of his assignments, or for
sustained above-average per-
formance. He may also receive
an award for handling an emer-
gency situation connected with.
his work in an exemplary man.
ner, or for creative efforts that
make important contributions to
SCleIlce OF research.
Kinds Of Awards.
@. What kinds Of awards may
be granted?
A. There are two kinds-hon-
orary awards and cash awards.
Awards in the form of within
grade increases, which were
given under the former program,
will no longer be made.
@. What are the limits on the
amount Of cash awards?
A. An agency may make a
cash award up to $4,000. With
the approval of the Civil Service
Commission, an agency may
make an award up to 5000.
@. Does an employe contribu-
ton have to result in the saving
of money In order to be eligible
for cash award?
A. No. Cash. awards may also
be given for contributions re-
sulting in intangible benefits.
@. What standards are used to
decide the amount of a cash
award?
A. For a money saving contri-
button, the award is based on
the estimated saving for the tirst
year of operation following its
adoption. This is the table for
arriving at the amount of
awards:
Savings. Amount Of Award.
Up to 200 $40
F., M 5s