Peer Recognition

One of the simplest ways for employees to be happy at work is for them to be able to give thanks to each other. With a peer-to-peer recognition program in place, employees can become more engaged and start to see how their position affects the work of others.

Great recognizers make it a priority to share appreciation, and they do it as soon as possible. Recognition in the moment is powerful, as it shows that you’re paying attention and you care. 

Here are both informal and formal ways to recognize peers.

Informal

The employee’s Peer Recognition Card is informal recognition used by employees to quickly recognize the actions and examples of peers done in the spirit of the agency’s LEADS core values. 

“I want to recognize a great worker, and soon! How can I do that?”

This card, and its direct peer-to-peer presentation is an instant gesture of appreciation. This card is a step above a strong handshake or pat on the back. It is an efficient way to personally recognize the practice of LEADS values shown by others

The presenter may indicate a specific core value on the card that the recipient has demonstrated in his or her work, professional relationships or leadership. 

If more detail or personalization of the recognition is desired, the presenter may opt to use the peer recognition mailing card. 

This card is a token of appreciation that can displayed in someone’s workspace. Collections of cards are silent testimony of a much appreciated worker. 

How to: 

    Complete the card by filling in the name of the person you want to acknowledge and a brief description of the action you are recognizing.
    Sign your name and check the boxes of which core values you believe were exhibited. 

Contact the Director’s Office for resupply of local office stocks of cards 

Formal

The Peer Recognition Certificate is formal recognition by employees to recognize the actions and examples of peers done in the spirit of LEADS core values.  It is a step above the Peer Recognition Card. It can be presented by the nominating employee at any time during the year and at any time during the recipient’s employment. The certificate is a quick way to personally recognize the contributions and achievements of others.

“I want to recognize a great worker, and soon! How can I do that?” 

This certificate and its timely presentation through the Employee Development office is a gesture of appreciation.  It is signed by the agency Director and a copy of the award packet is added to the recipient’s personnel record.

This certificate can be displayed in the receiving employee’s workspace. 

How to:

    Review the Peer Recognition Award Guidelines

    Complete the Peer Recognition Award Nomination Form and attach a short summary of the purpose.

    Send the form and summary to Employee Development.

    The Employee Development office will develop the certificate and route to the Director’s Office for approval.

     Upon return, Employee Development sends the certificate and documents to the nominating employee for presentation or follows up any special instructions.

References:

    AP 10.04 Employee Recognition Awards

    Peer Recognition Award Guidelines

    Peer Recognition Award Nomination Form

Contact the Director’s Office or Employee Development for assistance.  

Good Samaritan Award

The Good Samaritan Award is a monetary award to recognize the action and example of an employee coming to the aid of another person, done in the spirit of the “Good Samaritan.” This action brought distinct credit to the employee, and possibly the agency. The award consists of a public recognition and monetary award. 

“I want to recognize an employee(s) whose actions as a “Good Samaritan” bring credit to themselves and the agency. How can I do that?”

For a formal gesture of appreciation, the Director recognizes Good Samaritan employees each year during the agency Personnel Meeting. 

How to nominate:

    Summarize the activity/event in an emailed note; Employee Development will assist if requested

    Route the note through your chain as appropriate for their awareness

    Notes go to the Director’s Office for approval, then to Payroll to process.

    Prior to the presentation date, Payroll will provide a check to the Director for each awardee.

References:

    AP 10.04 Employee Recognition Awards

    Director’s Awards Program guideline

Contact the Director’s Office for guidance. 

Director’s Awards 

The Director’s Awards recognize exceptional professionalism and service within Texas A&M Forest Service. The Director’s Awards Committee reviews nominations and selects recipients.  

“I want to recognize an individual or group who stood out this year. How can I do that?”

Employees may nominate individual or team candidates. Nominee(s) must currently be and must have been a full-time employee(s) during the entire fiscal year preceding presentation of the award. Nominee cannot have received the same award in the previous year. 

The point of contact is the Director’s Executive Assistant. 

Director's Awards

• Director's Awards Program  
• Award Guidelines
  •  Bruce Miles Natural Resource Professional Award
  •  Byron "Jeff" Durant Prescribed Fire Excellence Award
  •  Charles Krenek Award for Resource Specialists
  •  D. A. "Andy" Anderson Outreach & Education Award 
  •  Director's Award for Support Staff
  •  Director's Team Effort Award
            
• Nomination Form - Director's Team Effort Award
• Nomination Form - All Other Awards

How to nominate:

    Complete the Nomination Form to nominate a qualified employee for an award.

    Complete the Nomination Form –Team Effort Award, with a narrative, to nominate a qualified team of employees. 

    Email forms to the Director’s Executive Assistant by August 31.

References:

    AP 10.04 Employee Recognition Awards

    Director’s Awards Program guideline

For more information, contact the Director’s Office or Employee Development. 

Tenure and Retirement

Texas A&M Forest Service leadership recognizes that a career with the agency calls for a notable degree of dedication and self-less service. The purpose of the tenure and retirement awards is to recognize an employee’s service at significant milestones in his or her career.  Members of the Employee Development office monitor employees’ years of service and manage the awards process. Awards are presented during the agency annual personnel meeting. 

“How are employees recognized for tenure or retirement?” 

For tenure awards, the Director recognizes employees at their fifth year of employment, and at each following five-year interval. If the recipient is eligible for a tenure award and retires prior to the next scheduled personnel meeting, the tenure award is presented at the employee’s retirement reception. 

For retirement awards, the respective division front office notifies Employee Development of upcoming retirements. For retirements of 10 to 19 years of service, Employee Development provides the award item. For 20 years or more, the division front office is responsible for the award item.  

How to request a retirement item:

     The employee's supervisor contacts the empoyee's Associate Director to coordinate dates and an award item. 

    Based on the verification of years of service, Employee Development supplies the award items for retirements of less than 20 years. 

    The Associate Director obtains the Director’s approval if the award exceeds $400. 

References

    AP 10.04 Employee Recognition Awards

    Tenure and Retirement Awards guideline

Contact the Director’s Office or Employee Development for more information. 

Tokens such as Challenge Coins or engraved pens are used to freely recognize an individual or group that has made a significant, lasting, and positive impact on the agency.  

“I want to recognize an external individual or group, and soon! How can I do that?”

These are tokens a step above a strong handshake or pat on the back. It is a way to personally recognize the significant contributions of others. 

Tokens can displayed in someone’s workspace as silent testimony of a much appreciated partner or supporter.

Criteria for recipients:

    Advance the agency’s mission through educating the public over a period of time.

    Volunteering significant hours assisting with the delivery of TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE programs.

    Assisting significantly on a project needing considerable time and effort; quality improved because of contributions.

    Providing assistance that helped to save significant amounts of money and time.

    Recipient could be a private citizen or an employee of one of our contributors.

How to request an item:

Contact the Director’s Office making sure to include your supervisor in the request. 

The Texas Tree Farm Program, co‐sponsored by the Texas Forestry Association (TFA) and the American Tree Farm System, is a forest certification program to promote the growing of renewable forest resources on private lands in the State of Texas.

Since 1945, the Texas A&M Forest Service has supported this program in the commission of its sustainable forestry program as well as individual professional participation in the planning and administration of the Texas Tree Farms annual awards banquet/recognition process that is held in October of each year.

The established criteria for this award program makes some Texas A&M Forest Service employees eligible for recognition based upon their contribution to the goals and objectives of the Texas Tree Farm program.

This procedure establishes the required process for the recognition of Texas A&M Forest Service employees by the Texas Tree Farm Program.

1. All recognition and awards afforded Texas A&M Forest Service employees in this program will be in compliance with all Federal and State Laws and System Policies pertaining to gifts and awards including monetary awards.

2. Acceptable recognition and awards to Texas A&M Forest Service employees would include:

     a. Certificates and plaques

     b. Items having a value of less than $50, not including cash or negotiable instruments

     c. Comp registrations to banquets, meetings or conferences

     d. Attendance at annual recognition banquets or presentations

3. Any monetary award or an item of value of $50 or more may not be accepted by a Texas A&M Forest Service employee from TFA. However, this award may be submitted in the form of a monetary gift to Texas A&M Forest Service by TFA for the selected employee.

     a. TFA will notify Texas A&M Forest Service Employee Development of any Texas A&M Forest Service employees selected to receive a Texas Tree Farm award and will remit a check to Texas A&M Forest Service for the amount of monetary awards to be paid.

     b. Texas A&M Forest Service will record the payment as a gift and deposit it into a Restricted Fund account for Texas Tree Farm Program Awards. The monetary award will be made to the employee by the Texas A&M Forest Service at a time and place as established by the Director (most likely at the Annual Personnel Meeting). This award will be considered and recognized as an employee award for service related to Texas Tree Farm program.

     c. Monetary awards for this program will be processed through the Texas A&M Forest Service payroll system in the same manner as all other Texas A&M Forest Service employee awards.

Any questions regarding the handling of an award to a Texas A&M Forest Service employee should be directed to the Employee Development office.

The Vice Chancellor's Awards In Excellence 

Established in 1980, this awards program recognizes the commitment and outstanding contributions of faculty and staff across Texas A&M AgriLife. These awards provide us with a unique opportunity to celebrate the contributions and achievements of our faculty, students, and staff members.

https://agrilifeawards.tamu.edu/vice-chancellor/excellence/  

TAMUS Board of Regents Fellow Service Awards 

The A&M System Board of Regents established the Regents Fellow Service Award Program in 1998.  The purpose of this Award is to recognize and honor service, extension and research professionals who have provided exemplary professional service to society that has created large and lasting benefits to Texas and beyond. This award is specifically for agency professionals in the eight A&M System agricultural and engineering agencies and is analogous to the Regents Professor Award Program.

https://www.tamus.edu/academic/awards-recognition/regents-awards/