Commonwealth Employee Performance Recognition Program (PRP)

A nearly 40 year tradition, the annual Performance Recognition Program is an opportunity to recognize the outstanding achievements of Commonwealth employees for their dedication and contributions to public service.

The Human Resources Division (HRD) oversees the program which features two recognition tiers. The first is a local, agency or department-managed certificate award program. Agencies or organizations solicit nominations, review and select their winners, and then directly coordinate any agency award celebrations for employees who they determine are outstanding performers. Every agency or organization has a specified Performance Recognition Program (PRP) coordinator, who manage all aspects of the agency/organization PRP employee nominations and Certificate of Achievement awards, selections and communication with winners.

Additionally, nominations are accepted for the four major Commonwealth-wide awards. Award winners are selected based on the review and recommendation of an independent selection committee, and then further review and approval by leadership. Awards are presented at an annual award ceremony hosted by HRD, the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, and the Governor and Commonwealth leadership.

The four major Performance Recognition Program awards include:

• Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service 

• Governor Paul Cellucci Award for Leadership & Mentoring in State Government 

• Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. Public Service Award

• Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award

Executive Branch or Higher Education employees who have been in service for at least two years as of January 1, 2024, may be nominated for a Certificate of Achievement award. (This excludes those employees currently holding positions to which they were appointed directly by the Governor, employees whose appointments were subject to the formal approval of the Governor and/or College Presidents and Agency Heads.) 

An individual employee may be nominated by a supervisor, peer, professional colleague or someone else who is familiar with the person's work. An individual may not be nominated by a relative or a subordinate, nor may a person nominate themselves. A group of employees may also be nominated for their performance as a team on a project or initiative.

In nominating individual or groups for Certificates of Achievement, emphasis should be placed on one or more of the following. Nominations should reflect the diversity of the workforce (i.e., position level, gender, race, ethnicity, as well as individuals with disabilities and veterans).

• Attainment of high priority agency objective(s);
• Exceptional managerial, organizational, operational and/or communications achievements;
• Exemplary leadership;
• Achievement of significant improvements in productivity, efficiency, and/or cost savings in agency or organization operations.
• All nominations must be signed as part of the nomination process with the nominator's relationship to the nominee(s) clearly specified.

About the Award

The Manuel Carballo Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Service is presented to employees who selflessly reflect a deep commitment to serving the people of the Commonwealth and exemplify the highest standards of public service. This award was established in memory of Manuel Carballo, who served as a Secretary of Health and Human Services. Manuel Carballo's dedication to excellence in public service inspires us all to strive for greatness. The award, in his name, is typically presented to 10 employees, or groups of employees, who demonstrate exemplary leadership, innovation, dedication, and creativity.

Eligibility

Executive Branch or Higher Education employees who have been in state service for 2 years as of January 1, 2024 are eligible to be nominated for the Manuel Carballo Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Service. 

Award Criteria

An independent Selection Committee will use one or more of the following criteria in selecting an individual or group for the Manuel Carballo Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Service:

• Exceptional accomplishments;
• Exemplary leadership;
• Creativity and innovation;
• Achievement of significant improvements in productivity, efficiency, and/or costs savings in agency/organization operations.

Selection Process

An independent Commonwealth Selection Committee will review all qualified nominations that are submitted by the deadline. Agency and organization leadership must approve all finalist nominees. The Committee's recommendations will be forwarded to the Governor for approval.

It is expected that the final candidates for the Manuel Carballo Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Service be in full compliance, prior to selection, with all Local, State, and Federal tax obligations, and with any court ordered child support obligation. Accordingly, the Department of Revenue will be asked to determine whether the candidate has filed all applicable tax payments and court-ordered child support payments in a timely manner. Additionally, all Commonwealth executive department winners must be in compliance with required statewide and agency trainings or other mandatory employment requirements.

The Governor approves all final selection decisions.

About the Award

The Governor Paul Cellucci Award for Leadership and Mentoring in State Government was established with the purpose of honoring an outstanding leader in the area of mentoring in the workplace. Governor Cellucci embodied what it meant to be a public servant who gave of himself while supporting the development of others to embrace public service and the philosophy of paying it forward. The Award for Leadership and Mentoring in State Government, bearing his name, honors outstanding leaders and mentors in the workplace who foster a supportive and developmental approach with colleagues.   

Recipients of this award play a vital role in preparing the Commonwealth's workforce for the future by serving as a teacher, role model, and guide to either a subordinate or peer in the workplace. The candidate for the Governor Paul Cellucci Award for Leadership and Mentoring in State Government has made an ongoing commitment to the professional development of their fellow employees, sharing their expertise and transferring their knowledge in a capacity that goes far beyond the standard expectations of their role. 

Eligibility

Executive Branch or Higher Education employees who have been in state service for 2 years as of January 1, 2024, are eligible to be nominated for the Governor Paul Cellucci Award for Leadership and Mentoring in State Government. This is an individual award; groups are not eligible for nomination.

An individual may be nominated by a supervisor, peer, subordinate, professional colleague or someone who is familiar with the person's work.

Agency or organization heads and college presidents are not eligible to receive this award.

Award Criteria

The ideal candidate for the Governor Paul Cellucci Award for Leadership and Mentoring in State Government regularly displays one or more of the following attributes:

• Passionate about good government and the important services being provided by the agency or organization to its customers and clients;
• Plays a direct role in the professional development of a fellow employee within his or her department on an ongoing, day-to-day, basis;
• Serves as a resource and mentor to that individual;
• Helps the individual reach their goals;
• Shares their own valuable time, perspective and knowledge;
• Shows a continued interest in the individual's growth and development;
• Provides leadership in the workplace;
• Inspires others to serve as mentors and plays a part in succession planning in the workplace.

Selection Process

An independent Commonwealth Selection Committee will review all qualified nominations that are submitted by the deadline. Agency and organization leadership must approve all finalist nominees. The Committee's recommendations will be forwarded to the Governor for approval.

It is expected that the final candidates for the Governor Paul Cellucci Award for Leadership and Mentoring in State Government be in full compliance, prior to selection, with all Local, State, and Federal tax obligations, and with any court ordered child support obligation. Accordingly, the Department of Revenue will be asked to determine whether the candidate has filed all applicable tax payments and court-ordered child support payments in a timely manner. Additionally, all Commonwealth executive department winners must be in compliance with required statewide and agency trainings or other mandatory employment requirements.

The Governor approves all final selection decisions.

About the Award

The Eugene H. Rooney, Jr., Public Service Award highlights human resources development as a planned, continuous effort to provide personal and professional growth opportunities that will enhance employee competency levels. Such activities serve to improve an individual's performance on a currently held job, and/or provide new skills, knowledge and capabilities that will allow an individual to assume a new role in the organization. This award was established to honor the memory of Gene Rooney, who spent the majority of his 22 years in public service as the Deputy Personnel Administrator at the Human Resources Division. Gene strived to create both a learning and team-oriented environment; and personified creativity and innovation in public service. This award is given to those employees who have demonstrated these ideals in the area of human resources learning, development, and training. 

Eligibility

Any state, county, city or town employee who has worked in public service for 2 years as of January 1, 2024, is eligible to be nominated for the Eugene H. Rooney, Jr., Public Service Award.

Supervisors, peers, professional colleagues (not including subordinates) and others who are familiar with the employee's accomplishments may nominate an individual or a group.

Award Criteria

The ideal candidate for the Eugene H. Rooney, Jr., Public Service Award demonstrates a measurable accomplishment, which affects individual employees and/or the organization as a whole. Nominations must document the nature of the activity and provide a detailed description of the project and its impact on the organization.

Selection Process

An independent Commonwealth Selection Committee will review all qualified nominations that are submitted by the deadline. Agency and organization leadership must approve all finalist nominees. The Committee's recommendations will be forwarded to the Governor for approval.

It is expected that the final candidates for the Eugene H. Rooney, Jr., Public Service Award be in full compliance, prior to selection, with all Local, State, and Federal tax obligations, and with any court ordered child support obligation. Accordingly, the Department of Revenue will be asked to determine whether the candidate has filed all applicable tax payments and court-ordered child support payments in a timely manner. Additionally, all Commonwealth executive department winners must be in compliance with required statewide and agency trainings or other mandatory employment requirements.

The Governor approves all final selection decisions.

About the Award

Equity in Government consists of: the fair, just and equitable (a) management of public agencies, (b) development and implementation of public policy; and/or, (c) delivery of and access to state services.

The Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award is given annually to an employee or group of employees who have demonstrated commitment to and attainment of the principles of equity in one or more areas of government operations: human resources activity that promotes diversity and inclusion, procurement activity that promotes the participation of minority and women-owned business enterprises; policy development and/or implementation (including the development and implementation of regulations, program policies, and/or rules), and/or improving access and/or accessibility (physical or programmatic) to state programs or the delivery of state services.

Eligibility

Executive Branch or Higher Education employees who have been in state service for 2 years as of January 1, 2024, are eligible to be nominated for the Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award. Supervisors, peers, professional colleagues (not including subordinates) and others who are familiar with the employee's accomplishments may nominate an individual or a group.

Award Criteria

The ideal candidate for the Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award is an employee or group of employees who:

• Demonstrate commitment to the principle of equity (non-discrimination, equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion) in one or more areas of government operations: human resources, procurement, policy development and/or implementation, access to state programs and activities, and/or the delivery of state services,
• Show leadership in promoting the principle of equity,
• Achieve significant outcomes in promoting equity in governance in agency operations.

Selection Process

An independent Commonwealth Selection Committee will review all qualified nominations that are submitted by the deadline. Agency and organization leadership must approve all finalist nominees. The Committee's recommendations will be forwarded to the Governor for approval.

It is expected that the final candidates for the Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award be in full compliance, prior to selection, with all Local, State, and Federal tax obligations, and with any court ordered child support obligation. Accordingly, the Department of Revenue will be asked to determine whether the candidate has filed all applicable tax payments and court-ordered child support payments in a timely manner. Additionally, all Commonwealth executive department winners must be in compliance with required statewide and agency trainings or other mandatory employment requirements.

The Governor approves all final selection decisions.