HRM: Non-monetary awards, length of service recognition
The Forest Service supports recognizing employees for their achievements and their length of service. Supervisors and employees should review the reminders below, along with any collective bargaining agreements, to learn about the various options for recognition.
Non-Monetary Award
- Non-monetary awards are a way to recognize employees based on achievement. Types of non-monetary awards include Honorary Awards, Informal Awards and Certificates of Merit.
- Non-monetary awards may be given instead of or in addition to monetary and time-off awards.
- Neither form AD-287-2 nor eTracker requests are required.
- Units should establish their own process for awarding non-monetary awards.
Non-Monetary Award Type | Description | Note |
---|---|---|
Honorary awards | A form of formal recognition and the highest level of non-monetary award | $150 limit on any one item. Examples include an engraved crystal award, engraved plaque, or for employees who work outdoors or meet with the public, a jacket embroidered with the Forest Service logo. |
Informal awards | More casual than honorary awards and typically used to give frequent and timely recognition of contributions that don’t merit a monetary, time-off, or honorary award. | Usually below $35 in value. Examples include t-shirts, ballcaps, mugs, engraved paperweights, challenge coins, and laptop shoulder bags. |
Certificates of merit | May accompany achievement awards and quality step increases. | Should be signed by a supervisor or manager. |
Length of service recognition
All employees are eligible for length of service recognition based solely on the length of service. Achievements and ratings are not considered. Length of Service Certificates differ from non-monetary awards because they recognize career milestones instead of performance.
- Units should establish their own processes for awarding Length of Service Awards and use the following guidelines:
- Units may present a Length of Service Certificate, and either a lapel pin or charm (or equivalent) or a commemorative challenge coin as long as the cost per item is comparable to pins and charm, approximately $2-3 each.
- Certificates may be presented starting with 5 years of service at 5-year intervals.
- Employees receive credit for all federal service including civilian and all honorable military service credited to their Service Computation Date for leave.
- Honorary and informal non-monetary awards may not be granted solely for length of service.
Where to purchase
- Certificates: Use the Government Printing Office. You must have a GPO deposit account or a government credit purchase card.
- Pins, coins, charms and more: Visit the Western Heritage webpage.
More information
For information about awards, including monetary, non-monetary, Quality Step Increases and more, visit the HRM Awards webpage.
Help is available
Open an HR Help case:
- Call: 1-877-372-7248, Press 2
- Email: hrm_contact_center@usda.gov
- Self-Service: ConnectHR > HR Help link
For detailed instructions, visit the HR Help How-to Add a Case Guide.