Employee Suggestion Program
Unlock your Creativity
2006 marked the 60th year of the New York State Employee Suggestion Program. Since 1946, the program has adopted over 10,000 suggestions from approximately 12,000 employees. State employees and retirees are encouraged to identify specific areas for improvement and propose valid solutions, in order to promote efficiency and effectiveness of state operations. The program encourages open communication and the expression of ideas from employees.
Since the inception of the program, suggesters have received awards totaling over $1.5 million and the State of New York's net first year savings is more than $38 million. All suggesters whose ideas are approved and implemented 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 evaluation) may be eligible for an award up to a maximum of $5,000. Suggestions determined to be job-related, may be eligible for award consideration at a reduced rate based on the extent of which the suggestion is related to the suggester's actual job duties.