Commissioner's Directive

Date:
2008-08-28

Number - Numéro:
265

CSC RECOGNITION PROGRAM

Issued under the authority of the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada

PDF

Policy Bulletin 264

[  Policy Objectives  |  Authorities  |  Cross-References  |  Definitions  |  Principles  |  Roles and Responsibilities  |  Other Awards  |   ]

POLICY OBJECTIVES

1. Establish a recognition program comprised of formal recognition, informal recognition and career milestones that is consistent across CSC.

2. Create a work environment where people feel valued for their contribution.

3. Instill a sense of pride and satisfaction derived from being recognized for achievements, behaviours, qualities and skills.

4. Encourage initiative and personal responsibility by recognizing significant individual and team accomplishments through demonstrations of appreciation that collectively support CSC's Mission, priorities and government-wide objectives.

AUTHORITIES

5. Recognition Policy (Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat)

Financial Administration Act (paragraph 12.(1)(b))

Corrections and Conditional Release Act (subsection 98.(1))

CROSS-REFERENCES

6. Guidelines 265 - Administration of the CSC Recognition Program

Commissioner's Directive 001 - Mission of the Correctional Service of Canada

Treasury Board Hospitality Policy

CSC Financial Directive - Awards Given by CSC to Employees - Taxable Benefits (FOps-DIR-2008-301)

CSC Financial Instructions - Recognition of Employees and Volunteers (FOps-INST-2007-03)

Canada Revenue Agency, Policy and Guidelines for Gifts and Awards

Revenu Québec, Message for Employers (Taxable Benefits)

CSC Guidelines 351-1 - Uniforms, Dress Code and Scale of Issue (paragraph 38)

DEFINITIONS

7. Recognition: to validate and reinforce values through appreciation, acknowledgement and awarding people.

8. Employee: full-time or part-time, at any classification/level, term or indeterminate.

9. Volunteer: a member of the public who donates his or her time to CSC.

10. Partner: representatives from other agencies (within the Public Safety Portfolio) and departments, other levels of government and in the community.

11. Formal presentation: structured, scheduled activities and events internal or external to CSC.

12. Informal presentation: recognition at staff meetings and other non-formal occasions.

PRINCIPLES

13. Timely recognition is essential to creating a positive work environment where people are motivated and feel valued.

14. Recognition will be transparent, flexible, meaningful and relevant. It will respect diversity, be inclusive and equitable and responsive to individual preferences.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

National Human Resource Management Committee

15. The National Human Resource Management Committee will:

  1. promote new strategies and programs to build a culture of recognition in CSC;
  2. approve national frameworks, plans, policies and processes relating to employee awards and recognition;
  3. recommend for Executive Committee approval formal awards to be included in the CSC Recognition Program.

Assistant Commissioner, Human Resource Management

16. The Assistant Commissioner, Human Resource Management will:

  1. develop policy, including Guidelines on the Administration of the CSC Recognition Program, and provide interpretation and tools to ensure consistent application and program monitoring;
  2. ensure managers, employees, partners and volunteers are familiar with the Guidelines on the Administration of the CSC Recognition Program;
  3. render final decisions in disputable cases arising from the administration of the Recognition Program;
  4. ensure that a National Recognition Coordinator and Regional Recognition Coordinators are identified.

Senior Deputy Commissioner and Regional Deputy Commissioners

17. The Senior Deputy Commissioner and Regional Deputy Commissioners will:

  1. promote and support a culture of timely recognition;
  2. encourage employees and managers to participate in recognition activities and give them the necessary support;
  3. administer and provide financial and other resources for recognition activities including for awards and formal ceremonies held at least annually; and
  4. ensure that committees are established at the NHQ/regional level to review and approve award nominations.

18. Regional Deputy Commissioners will ensure that Regional Recognition Coordinators are identified.

National and Regional Committees

19. National and regional committees will:

  1. review and approve nominations for formal awards, ensuring that all applicable criteria outlined in Annex A of Guidelines 265 have been met;
  2. recommend nominations for awards within their region or request further information about a submission, as necessary.

Managers/Supervisors

20. Managers/Supervisors will:

  1. familiarize themselves with processes for recognition;
  2. promote and support a culture of timely recognition;
  3. ensure that significant meritorious contributions, accomplishments and career milestones are recognized on a formal and/or informal basis.

Employees/Volunteers/Partners

21. Employees/volunteers/partners will:

  1. recognize accomplishments of co-workers and managers;
  2. nominate others for recognition;
  3. recommend to managers/supervisors recognition of significant contributions by others when there is a cost associated with an award.

National Recognition Coordinator

22. The National Recognition Coordinator will:

  1. coordinate the CSC Recognition Program;
  2. provide advice to management and Regional Recognition Coordinators on the CSC Recognition Program;
  3. ensure that nomination and approval processes for all formal awards are in place and accessible to all staff;
  4. develop strategies to promote the CSC Recognition Program;
  5. ensure that all promotional materials, program documentation and any other relevant information is disseminated to Regional Recognition Coordinators in a timely fashion;
  6. maintain working relationships with staff of the Governor General's Office, central agencies, other departments responsible for public service employee recognition programs and international associations;
  7. monitor and report on awards activities;
  8. maintain and support CSC's Recognition page on the InfoNet site.

Regional Recognition Coordinators

23. Regional Recognition Coordinators will:

  1. provide guidance and advice on recognition to Site Recognition Coordinators, managers, employees, partners and volunteers;
  2. ensure that nomination and approval processes for all awards are accessible to all staff;
  3. be proactive and creative within their region to promote recognition;
  4. ensure that all promotional materials, program documentation and any other relevant information is disseminated to Site Recognition Coordinators in a timely fashion;
  5. maintain files on nominations received and ensure that all awards granted are recorded in the Human Resource Management System on a monthly basis;
  6. provide senior managers with reports on regional awards activities.

Site Recognition Coordinators

24. Site Recognition Coordinators will:

  1. work with Regional Recognition Coordinators to administer the CSC regional Recognition Program;
  2. provide guidance and advice on recognition to managers, employees, partners and volunteers;
  3. ensure that nomination and approval processes for all awards are accessible to all staff;
  4. be proactive and creative to promote recognition;
  5. ensure that all promotional materials, program documentation and any other relevant information is disseminated in a timely fashion;
  6. maintain files on nominations received and ensure that all awards granted are recorded in the Human Resource Management System on a monthly basis;
  7. provide senior managers with reports on site awards activities.

OTHER AWARDS

25. Other CSC awards are managed by NHQ sectors to recognize employees of the Service.

26. The National Recognition Coordinator will be notified prior to establishing any new award.

27. CSC participates in several external awards programs, such as those conducted by the Governor General, Canada Public Service Agency and various professional associations.

Commissioner,

Original signed by:
Don Head