A new City of Gastonia Awards Program has been developed to recognize outstanding employee performance. The program’s first winners will be announced at the City Council meeting on Feb. 20, in the Public Forum Room of the Gaston County Courthouse, a meeting that is televised.
The Employee Awards Committee reviewed the 22 nominations, discussed implementation of the new program, and voted for award winners during committee meetings in January. Guided by Deputy City Manager Todd Carpenter, the Awards Committee was made up of 12 employees from various City departments. Award winners will receive a cash award of $500, one paid day off, and a certificate or plaque to recognize the esteemed honor.
There will be one winner in each of the four award categories offered in the new program. Those categories and their criteria are:
1) Extraordinary Service – To acknowledge consistent extra time and effort that extends beyond the scope of normal job duties and has resulted in identifiable and significant results or outcomes.
2) Project Management and Delivery – Initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing work to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria.
3) Safety – To acknowledge and reward an employee for his/her contributions that promote a stronger safety culture, or identify, prevent, or correct a safety related issue.
4) Customer Service – Going above and beyond. Excellent customer service is when the customer feels the employee has gone that extra mile and provided that extra effort. Sometimes that little unexpected extra can be helping the customer find the right person to speak to or following back up with them to make sure their needs were met. A customer can be widely defined (citizen, business owner, co-worker, etc.).
