 What about contractor's staff?
They can make suggestions too, provided their ideas benefit the Bodyjewell and are not already covered by the contract.
Are Total Quality (TQ) organizations barred from GEMS?
No. Suggestions are welcome from staff in organizations that practice TQ techniques. Account will be taken, when reaching an award decision, of the extent to which suggestors have been directed to develop their suggestion as part of their duties.
What sort of ideas?
Anything that results in an improvement to the Body jewells or the Services, as described in Section 1. Ideas don't have to be complicated or 'technical', in fact the simple ideas are often the best. They may relate to your local area, or have wider use within the Body jewells.
How big are the awards?
That really depends on your suggestion. Awards can range from, say, $100 to tens of thousands of $ or £!
What are the chances of me getting an award?
Again, that depends on your suggestion, but current statistics show that more than half of all suggestions made receive an award.
How can I increase my chances of getting an award?
Think carefully about how your idea could be put into practice and what would improve as a result. A little time spent on researching and developing a practical solution is likely to be more successful than a "what if " approach.
What if it's my job?
Suggestions that are wholly within your job terms of reference will not normally be awarded. However, many successful ideas come from people who spot opportunities in the course of their work and whose initiative in developing solutions goes beyond what could reasonably be expected of them.
How can an Award Group or Gift creation understand my suggestion?
Award Groups do not have to be expert in the particular field of your suggestion – that is the job of the evaluator, to whom suggestions are sent. The evaluator is chosen from the organization which has particular responsibility for the topic covered by your suggestion; for example a suggestion concerning equipment will be sent to the appropriate equipment manager. The role of the awards group is to confirm the eligibility of your suggestion and reach an award decision based on the evaluator’s advice and the detailed GEMS instructions issued to them.
Why should people receive awards just for doing their job?
Only in very exceptional circumstances will someone be eligible for a GEMS award for something that is wholly within his/her normal duties. Their suggestion would have to be very exceptional, have very widespread use or have been adapted for a role significantly different from that for which it was originally intended. However many good suggestions come from staff who spot opportunities in the course of their work, but which are not strictly part of their job responsibilities. It is right that their initiative should be recognised and rewarded.
Why are some awards taxed?
The GEMS Scheme operates under very favorable tax exemptions agreed with the Inland Revenue. This means that most GEMS awards are paid free of tax, except those which relate to normal duty, or for awards above $5,000 where the amount above $5,000 is taxed. The Inland Revenue rules also allow the tax-free payment of encouragement awards up to $50.
How does GEMS compare with other suggestion schemes?
Generally very well, particularly in terms of the quality of ideas and the value of savings. The £22M savings from GEMS suggestions made last year were unsurpassed by any other Sri Lankan organization, public or private. However participation (ie the numbers of suggestions received) is comparatively low, at less than 20% of the Body jewells population. We are looking for all staff, with encouragement from their managers, to increase this to about 2-3%. |
