Got a bright idea? Share it and get rewarded!
The Employee Suggestion Program invites employees to share ideas that save the state money or help us work safer and better. Employees can earn rewards when their ideas are adopted. 

Who can participate? 
Open to all active and retired state employees, except those in Career Executive Assignments and exempt classifications with a collective bargaining designation of “managerial.” These state employees may participate but are not eligible for cash awards. 

What kinds of ideas qualify? 
Ideas that describe a specific problem, offer a workable solution and benefit the state by: 

• Reducing or eliminating state costs 
• Improving state operations or procedures 
• Improving safety for employees or the public 

What ideas are not eligible? 

Ineligible suggestions include those: 

• Already being reviewed or were reviewed in the past year 
• Involving new or increased taxes or fees 
• Rasing money by placing a heavier cost on one group of taxpayers in a way that is unjust or inequitable 
• Asking for changes to job pay, job classifications or the creation of new job positions 
• Asking for a study, survey or review, with the next steps depending on the results  
• Based on personal complaints or grievances 
• About terms and conditions of employment, which are subject to the collective bargaining process under the Ralph C. Dills Act 
• Solving simple fixes like spelling, punctuation, broken links or math corrections 

How much can I earn? 
Awards range from $50 to $50,000, depending on the improvement and savings. 

How do I submit an idea? 

• Complete the Employee Suggestion Program Form (STD 645) 
• Clearly describe the problem, your workable solution and how it would benefit the state 
• Submit your form to your departmental Merit Award Administrator 

Know someone who showed real courage? Nominate them! 
Some employees take action that goes far beyond their job duties and risk their own safety to protect others or state property. The Medal of Valor is the highest honor California gives to an employee for a heroic act performed on or off duty. This award celebrates courage, selflessness and extraordinary service. It recognizes employees who step forward when others need help the most. 

Two levels of recognition: 

• Gold Medal: Special Act Award for an extraordinary act of heroism performed at great personal risk to save a life 
• Silver Medal: Special Service Award for a heroic act that goes above and beyond normal duties performed at personal risk to save a life or protect state property 

How does this award honor heroism? 
Medal of Valor recipients receive: 

• A gold or silver medal 
• A lapel pin 
• A citation describing the heroic act 
• A certificate signed by the Governor 
• Recognition at the annual Medal of Valor ceremony 

How can I nominate someone? 

1. Complete the CalHR 012 nomination form. Nominations must include supporting materials such as eyewitness statements reports or articles and a draft citation summarizing the heroic act. 
2. Submit it to your departmental Merit Award Administrator. 
3. Your departmental Merit Award Administrator will review, obtain approval signatures and submit the nomination package to the CalHR Your Impact Program. The deadline is typically the Friday after Labor Day in early September.

What happens next? 
The State Merit Award Board evaluates each nomination and provides a recommendation. The CalHR Director makes the final decision. Approved nominations are honored at the statewide Medal of Valor ceremony coordinated with the Governor’s Office. 

Want inspiration?  
Visit the Medal of Valor website to read stories of past honorees.  

Great work deserves great recognition! 
Many departments participate in this optional program that honors employees and teams whose work makes a meaningful contribution to state government. These awards highlight excellence and support a culture of appreciation and engagement. 

What do these awards honor? 

• Outstanding and superior achievements 
• Important contributions to science or research 
• Unequaled personal effort in overcoming unusual difficulties or obstacles 
• Completion of assigned tasks in a significantly shorter period of time than expected 
• Major improvements in methods, organization, procedures or products 

Three levels of recognition 

• Gold Award 
  • Engraved plaque or certificate, and/or  
  • Cash or gift award from $50 to $500 

• Silver Award 
  • Engraved plaque or certificate, and/or  
  • Cash or gift award from $25 to $250 

• Sustained Superior Accomplishment 
  • Framed certificate, and/or  
  • Cash or gift award from $25 to $250 
  • For 24 months of ongoing superior performance 
  • One nomination per 100 employees 

Want to learn more or submit a nomination?  
Participation varies by department. Please contact your departmental Merit Award Administrator for details on your department’s participation, process and timelines. 

Long service deserves a meaningful celebration! 
These awards honor employees who have given 25 or more years to public service. Taking part in the program is optional. Each department decides whether to participate. 

Who is eligible? 

• State employees with 300 months of qualifying state service 
• State employees who are retiring with 25 or more years of state service 

The State Controller’s Office keeps records that determine who is eligible. These records may be different from CalPERS service credit totals. Purchased service credit does not count toward this requirement. An employee who is eligible can get both awards. The 25-Year State Service Award and Retirement Award are two separate mementos. They cannot be combined into one. 

Employees who retire with less than 25 years of service cannot get these awards. They also cannot buy awards on their own. 

Employees who move to a different department stay eligible. If the new department participates in the program, that department is responsible for presenting the award.

Two levels of recognition: 

• 25-Year State Service Award for employees with 25 years of state service 
• Retirement Award for employees who are retiring with 25 or more years of state service 

Departments can give employees a certificate, plaque or another suitable memento. Starting August 1, 2025, the most a department can spend is $165 plus tax per award. Awards must be a memento, not cash payments.  

General Award Process:

1. Department Procedures 
   Each department must create its own policies and procedures. These guidelines make sure employees meet the requirements and follow the right purchasing steps. Usually, the departmental Merit Award Administrators or personnel specialists tell supervisors when an employee is getting close to 25 years of service. 
   
2. Award Selection 
   Departments can buy mementos for eligible employees directly from MTM Recognition, which is a supplier on the DGS State Price Schedule. MTM Recognition offers:
      – Core Items: Common award options (watches, clocks, vases and so on) that do not exceed $165.
      – Non-Core Items: Additional catalog options that may exceed $165. Availability is at departmental discretion. Employees can cover costs above the state-paid limit.
   For more information, find MTM Recognition’s State Price Schedule details on  Cal eProcure. Search Contract ID 2-26-84-14A. 
   
3. Payment for Awards 
   If a department approves it, employees can pick items that cost more than $165. 
   Here is how it works:
      – The employee first pays the balance using the CalHR 160 form before the order is placed.
      – Orders will not be submitted until the employee’s payment is received.
      – The State of California will pay up to $165 plus the tax on that amount using standard state payment steps.

Want to learn more?  
Please contact your departmental Merit Award Administrator for details about department participation, eligibility and ordering procedures. 

Recognize excellence in human resources! 
This annual award honors individuals and organizational groups that demonstrate exceptional performance in human resources (HR).   

Who is eligible? 

• Active or retired state employees 
• Individuals or organizational groups that deliver outstanding HR service 

What does this award honor? 

• Dedication to excellence in HR 
• Outstanding customer service to the state, the department or employees 
• Significant achievements or contributions in HR 

Two levels of recognition: 

• Individual Award for an employee whose work demonstrates excellence in HR 
• Organizational Group Award for a team whose collective work reflects outstanding performance in HR 

How does this award honor HR excellence? 
Award recipients receive: 

• An honorary award such as a plaque or glass award 
• A certificate signed by the CalHR Director 
• Recognition on the Negri Award plaque located in the CalHR building 
• Recognition at the CalHR Conference

How can I nominate someone? 

1. Complete the CalHR 601 nomination form. Nominations must include supporting materials such as examples project outcomes or measurable accomplishments and an accomplishment summary that explains how the nominee meets the award criteria. 
2. Submit it to your departmental Merit Award Administrator. 
3. Your departmental Merit Award Administrator will review and submit the nomination package to the CalHR Your Impact Program. The deadline is typically in early July.

What happens next? 
The CalHR Negri Award Committee evaluates each nomination and provides a recommendation to the CalHR Director who makes the final decision. Departments are notified, and planning begins for the award ceremony, which is typically held as part of the CalHR Conference. 

Want inspiration?  
Visit the Negri Award website for more information of past honorees.