Washington State Teamwork Incentive Program
The Teamwork Incentive Program is for two or more employees who help their agency save money or increase revenue. Awards can be up to 25% of the actual net savings/revenue derived during the project period, with a maximum award of up to $10,000 per person. The team and agency management agree on the percentage of the savings prior to submitting the application to the Board. The award distribution among team members is also agreed upon before the application is submitted to the Productivity Board.
Applications may be submitted before or after project implementation. Completed projects are nominated by the agency.
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Who is my agency's coordinator?
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To find who is facilitating suggestion applications for your agency, check our agency coordinator list.
If your agency or coordinator isn't listed, contact the Productivity Board staff at 360-725-0381 or [email protected].
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How it works
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Review the program’s eligibility criteria, and if your idea meets the requirements, please complete a "Before" project application form, or an "After" project application form.
For cost saving or revenue generating suggestions you must provide a fiscal analysis. This fillable Cost-Benefit Analysis Worksheet can be used to show your calculations. Submit the form using the button at the bottom of the page.
If you need assistance, please contact your agency's suggestion coordinator or the Productivity Board staff. To find who is facilitating suggestion applications for your agency, check our agency coordinator list.
The Productivity Board staff will send your eligible suggestion to your agency. An evaluator will review the suggestion to determine if it is practical and should be adopted or not, and follow up with you within 45 days.
If your agency determines that your idea has merit, we will send it to our board for consideration. The board makes the final decision and may request additional information.
Applications may be submitted before or after the implementation of the idea.
Get more information on the Teamwork Incentive Program Guidelines.
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What happens next
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As part of your application, you will calculate the dollar savings to be realized, as well as the improvements your idea will make to overall productivity in the agency. Your agency will have a subject matter expert to analyze your suggestion and choose to approve it or not approve it. Approved suggestions are eligible to receive up to 25% of the first-year savings paid by their agency, with a maximum award of up to $10,000 per team member.
When your suggestion and its evaluation is reviewed by the board, you may be asked to provide additional information, or attend a board meeting to discuss your idea. If the board chooses not to adopt your suggestion, you can appeal their decision once and give more information telling why you feel it should be adopted. If the appeal is denied we will close the suggestion file.
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Examples of past ideas
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A Teamwork Incentive Program project at the Department of Transportation helped the agency eliminate outside vendor fees by creating a new management and reporting system for its field inspectors. The new system saved the agency $422,480 in the first year.
A team recommended a change in their agency’s janitorial contract that resulted in savings of $86,880.88.
An Elections team streamlined processes for publishing Voter’s Pamphlets, saving $100,173.
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Send in your suggestion
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Applications may be submitted before or after project implementation. Your agency must approve the project, and nominate a team for completed projects.
Learn about the difference between the Teamwork Incentive Program "Before Project" and "After Project" applications:
View and complete the Teamwork Incentive Program "Before Project" application.
View and complete the Teamwork Incentive Program "After Project" application.
Describe the specific problem and provide a workable solution. Supply as much detail as possible and include examples or attachments to validate your idea. Each team member must sign and date the form.
If you are submitting a suggestion as an individual, please fill out the Employee Suggestion Program application.
Reach out to your agency coordinator if you have questions or need assistance, or contact the Productivity Board staff at 360-725-0381 or [email protected].