ND Legislature Looks To Increase Rewards For State Employees Finding Efficiencies

Back in November of last year I wrote about an incentive program for North Dakota State Employees. The State Emplmoyee Suggestion Incentive Program had, at the time, been around for about 19 years and according to an open records request had paid out $36,189.70 to employees for suggestions which had resulted in $539,848.88.

Below is the full chart I received from the Office of the State Insurance Commissioner (which, for some reason, tracks the program). My favorite suggestion is the one to stop using telegrams. Because apparently we were still doing that.

I bring this up because the legislature is now considering expanding the program:

BISMARCK, N.D. (GPN) – North Dakota state workers have an incentive program that encourages them to suggest ways to save taxpayer money.

For years the bonus has been capped at $2,000. The North Dakota Senate on Monday unanimously approved raising it to $4,000.

Bismarck Sen. Nicole Poolman says the change could prompt employees to look for bigger savings in state government operations.

Currently employees get 20% of any savings from their suggestions, up to the cap.

I like this program a lot. It’s easy to forget, at times, that our government does have a lot of people working for it who do care about their jobs. Who do want to do a better job, and who don’t want to run up unnecessary costs for the taxpayers.

Providing incentives for these people is a good idea.