Employee Suggestion Program
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is eligible to participate in the Employee Suggestion Program?
- All New York State employees, retirees, and employees on New York State preferred lists are eligible to submit suggestions.
- What types of ideas are eligible for consideration?
- Eligible ideas include, but are not limited to, the examples identified in the listing below. Generally, eligible ideas are those which:
- directly contribute to economy or efficiency;
- directly increase effectiveness in the performance of a function of State government;
- improve office procedures, forms, or methods;
- save time and materials;
- consolidate operations and/or forms; and
- propose new ways to reduce costs, eliminate delays, or improve service or effectiveness.
- Is my suggestion eligible for award consideration if it is related to my job duties
and responsibilities?
- Yes, suggestions determined to be job-related may be eligible for award
consideration at a reduced rate, based on the extent to which the suggestion is
related to the suggester's actual job duties.
- What types of ideas are ineligible for consideration?
- Ineligible ideas include, but are not limited to, the examples identified in the
listing below. Generally, ineligible ideas are those which:
- have already been made and awarded or are already in use or under consideration;
- propose salary/classification/benefit changes;
- propose matters subject to the collective bargaining process;
- relate to normally accepted safety practices;
- impose new or additional taxes or fees for revenue, as opposed to cost recovery purposes;
- correct obvious or manifest errors;
- enforce existing laws, rules or regulations;
- propose the acquisition of private property for public purposes; and
- involve complaints or grievances.
- When should I submit my suggestion?
- You should submit your suggestion as soon as possible after you have developed your idea. Suggestion Program rules require that credit be given to the first person who submits a suggestion which successfully addresses a particular idea.
- How do I submit my suggestion?
- Please submit your suggestion on-line
- Can suggestions be jointly submitted by employees?
- Yes, joint suggestions must be signed by all suggesters and include all appropriate information for each suggester. Any award will be divided equally among the suggesters.
- How will I know if the Suggestion Program office has received my suggestion?
- The employee completes the suggestion form, ESP-607 and submits it to the New York State Department of Civil Service Employee Suggestion Program. An acknowledgment is sent to the suggester within 24 hours indicating the assigned suggestion number and date of receipt.
- May I submit a suggestion which concerns an agency other than the one where I am employed?
- Yes, but certain State units do not participate in this Suggestion Program. Suggestions pertaining to the operations of these units are not eligible.
- Who will evaluate my suggestion?
- Each participating agency has its own Suggestion Committee, which refers suggestions to the appropriate program area for evaluation. The Committee reviews the program area's evaluation and forwards its recommendation to the New York State Suggestion Program.
- How long will it take the Suggestion Committee to evaluate my suggestion?
- Agency Suggestion Review Committees have a 45-day period to evaluate a suggestion. Agencies may require additional time to complete the evaluation.
- How will I know whether my idea has or has not been approved?
- You will be notified by the Suggestion Program Office.
- What if my suggestion is disapproved but is later put into effect?
- Suggestions which are not adopted remain active for an equity period of two years following the notice of disapproval. During this time, no one will be eligible to submit your ideas as their suggestion. If your suggestion is implemented within this two-year equity period, please notify the Suggestion Program so that appropriate action can be taken.
- If my suggestion is adopted, what kind of award will I receive?
- All suggesters whose ideas are approved and put into effect will receive a Certificate of Merit signed by the members of the Civil Service Commission. Suggestions that result in tangible benefits (total gross savings reported during the first year of the suggestion's use) may be eligible for up to 10% of the net first year savings or 10% of other financial benefit to the State, up to a maximum of $50,000. Suggestions that result in intangible benefits (those which are primarily non-monetary in nature or which do not lend themselves to monetary appraisal) may be eligible for an award up to a maximum of $5,000.
- If I receive a monetary award for my suggestion, is the award taxable?
- Yes, all monetary merit awards granted under the Employee Suggestion Program are taxable.
- What factors are considered in determining the award amount?
- In addition to actual monetary savings or other tangible or intangible benefits resulting from implementation of a suggestion, the Civil Service Commission may consider any of the following factors:
- Nature of the idea
- Its originality
- Extent of use
- Effectiveness
- Ingenuity
- Effort involved
- Importance of the operation affected
- Relationship of the idea to the suggester's job duties and responsibilities
- Whom may I contact for additional information?
- Contact the Suggestion Program staff by e-mail or by phone at 518-473-6598.
