2010 State Employee Recognition Day
May 5, 2010

2010 State Employee Recognition Day Guide

State Activities  |  Press Releases  |  Governor's Proclamations

State Activities

Alabama

The State of Alabama is excited to recognize our employees this May. The State Personnel Department has coordinated with two minor-league baseball teams in Alabama, the Huntsville Stars and the Montgomery Biscuits, to host State Employee Recognition Nights at their baseball games on May 8th and May 13th, respectively. At the baseball games, State employees will be recognized for their hard work and commitment to the State of Alabama. The nights of fun will include door prizes, discounts, recognition of each department during the game, and even a concert at the game in Montgomery! Also, one State employee will be chosen to throw the opening pitch, while another will be chosen to sing “God Bless America.”

Each department is expected to submit a nominee for Employee of the Year by the end of April. A special plaque will be awarded to the Legislative, Judicial and Executive Branches’ Employee of the Year at the State Employee Recognition Night in Montgomery. The Governor of Alabama has also signed a Proclamation declaring May 2-9 as State Employee Recognition Week. A copy of the Proclamation will be distributed to all employees.

Also, each department has been encouraged to have a department-wide party to recognize their employees. So far, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education, the State Personnel Department, and the local Departments of Human Resources have indicated that they will have an event for their employees in May.


Colorado

Colorado has the following State Employee Recognition Activities in place:

  • Article in Stateline (our statewide newsletter) advising employees of the date and celebrations and encouraging departments to plan at least one event. (intended publish date 04/19/10)
  • Governor’s Proclamation (signing ceremony desired – but not arranged)
  • The State Personnel Director will participate in “Take Your Boss to Work Day” and work with a front line employee on Wednesday, May 5th – State Employee Appreciation Day.
  • Launch the 2010 Governor’s State Top Achievement Recognition (STAR) Awards and request nominations (event to be held late summer/early fall)
  • In honor of State Employee Appreciation Day the Colorado Rapids and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox are offering all State of Colorado employees discounted tickets for the following games:
  • Colorado Rapids v. LA Galaxy, Wed, May 5, 7:30pm at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
  • Colorado Springs Sky Sox v. Fresno Grizzles, Wed, May 5, 6:05pm at Security Service Field 
  • More entertainment information/discounts Employees may take advantage of throughout the year can be found by clicking here.


Georgia

Due to budget constraints, Georgia discontinued a state sponsored statewide awards program and luncheon. However, key efforts to acknowledge employee recognition still continues as well as agencies are asked to utilize the day to honor those who are state employees.

Memo from Governor Sonny Perdue (pdf)

Memo from Georgia State Personnel Administration (pdf)


Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky celebrates Employee Recognition Day in October.


Missouri

Due to the challenging work each agency is engaged in to address current budget and workplace issues -- as well as the hectic schedule of activities likely to occur at the Capitol at the close of session -- State Employee Recognition Day (SERD) events originally schedule for Friday, May 14 have been rescheduled to Friday, August 20, 2010.

Information for the 2010 event is available at www.serd.mo.gov .


Nebraska

Nebraska will continue its practice of celebrating Employee Recognition Month in October. The Governor will sign a proclamation, and we will travel to seven central locations to recognize State of Nebraska employees and celebrate their service with the State. Culminating the month's event's will be the Employee Manager of the Year awards ceremony conducted in the rotunda of the Capitol, where the Governor will present awards to our agencies top employees and managers, including an admiralship in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska.


Nevada

The State of Nevada's 2010 State Employee Recognition Week webpage.


Oklahoma

Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry will issue executive proclamations delaring May 3-7, 2010 as "Public Service Recognition Week" in the State of Oklahoma, and May 5, 2010 as "State Employee Recognition Day" in the State of Oklahoma. All state agencies will be encouraged to plan appropriate activities to recognize state employees, the services they provide, and employee contributions on behalf of the people of Oklahoma.

Additionally, Governor Henry will declare May 6, 2010 as "Quality Oklahoma Team Day" and will issue commendations to state agency teams for their continuous improvement projects during the Quality Oklahoma Team Day Awards Ceremony in the Oklahoma House of Representatives Chamber. Projects to be recognized are those that decreased agency costs, generate income, improve customer service and satisfaction, improve deliver systems or resource management, improve employee morale, and/or establish valuable partnerships with other agencies and organizations. Last year 67 projects were recognized representing 16 state agencies. For additional information on Quality Oklahoma Team Day, click here.


Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, Governor Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed, May 3, 2010, as State Employee Recognition Day in the Commonwealth. View the Governor expressing his appreciation to all commonwealth employees and read the Governor's letter, proclamation, and accompanying press release on the Employee Recognition website.

To recognize the invaluable contributions of state employees, on May 3 Governor Rendell announced the recipients of the Governor's Awards for Excellence and praised all state employees for their dedication to public service. Information about this event may be found on the Governor's Awards for Excellence website.

In Common, special edition.


South Carolina

The State of South Carolina believes that it is important to recognize its state employees for their dedication and contributions to the State of South Carolina. Therefore, managers in South Carolina state government are always creative in planning various recognition activities for their employees during National Public Employee Recognition Week. In addition, to emphasize the importance of state employees and their contributions, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford issued a proclamation declaring Wednesday, May 5th, State Employee Recognition Day in South Carolina. 


Some agencies will recognize their employees during National Public Employee Recognition Week by celebrating their employees throughout the week. These agencies will conduct various recognition activities each day of the week, such as a hot dog lunch, an ice cream sundae social, and opportunities for staff to participate in team building activities. Some of these team building activities include giving employees the chance to draw for prizes; having co-workers guess the number of jellybeans in a jar; or having employees anonymously submit pictures of their pets and then asking co-workers to match pets to their owners. Employees who win these games will receive prizes.

Other agencies will celebrate their employees on Wednesday, State Employee Recognition Day, by having executive staff serve employees breakfast, a barbeque lunch, or refreshments. Some managers will provide a lunch for their staff by purchasing pizza or providing a catered lunch. Others will take their staff to a restaurant for lunch. One agency will play a movie and provide food for their employees during lunchtime. Another agency will transform its Break Room into a “Game Room,” by installing televisions and XBOX and Sony Playstation gaming systems, so that their employees can play games during their lunch breaks. Other agencies will coordinate State Employee Recognition activities with their ceremonies celebrating Employee of the Year, Outstanding Leaders, or their ceremonies celebrating retiring employees and those employees celebrating 10, 20, 30 or 40 years of State Service.

In addition, during National Public Employee Recognition Week, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Patriots Point Maritime Museum will offer state employees a special 20% discount off of their merchandise in their gift shops. The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism will offer a 15% discount on merchandise in the State House Gift Shop. On State Employee Recognition Day, state employees can take advantage of a 10% discount on merchandise at the State Museum’s Cotton Mill Exchange. In addition, state employees who become a Museum Member will receive an additional 10% discount. The Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum will also offer a 10% discount on merchandise in its gift shop.


Washington

Washington State will hold four Public Service Recognition Week events throughout the state:

  1. Olympia: Wednesday, May 5, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (East Plaza Lawn)
  2. Seattle: Thursday, May 6, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Westlake Plaza)
  3. Tri-Cities: Thursday, May 6, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Washington State University, Richland Campus)
  4. Spokane: Friday, May 7, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (TBA) 

The Public Service Recognition Week flyer.

The Productivity Board website provides more information on employee recognition activities.



Press Releases

NASPE press release



Governor's Proclamations


Florida: Governor Charlie Crist

Georgia: Governor Sonny Perdue

Nevada: Governor Jim Gibbons