Employee Recognition Program (Awards)

The Department's employee recognition program is designed to provide the means to recognize and reward individuals and groups for excellence in support of USDA's mission and goals.

All USDA employees are eligible for some form of recognition. This includes all full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees, regardless of appointment type. In addition, former employees whose contribution occurred when they were employed with USDA and private citizens who contributed to the mission of USDA, NRCS or the Federal Government as a whole are eligible to receive recognition. Private citizens are eligible only for nonmonetary recognition.

The basic policy is that awards are granted for excellent work which is linked as directly as possible to the accomplishment of Agency mission, strategic plans, and other organizational goal. Awards should be distributed fairly and equitably. Guidance for award amounts can be found in the time-off scale or measurable and non-measurable benefits scale located in the Department's Guide for Employee Recognition.

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