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Cash Awards

If you work at Commerce, there are numerous awards that you may be eligible to receive! Everything from work-related merchandise to gift certificates to cash to time off from work! Awards programs give managers a wide variety of options to recognize and reinforce employee excellence. 

Awards fall into three categories: Cash Awards, Non-Monetary Awards, and Honor Awards

Not all operating units have On-the-Spot, Cash-in-a-Account, or Special Operating Unit Awards, so check with your servicing human resources s office of operating unit.

Awards noted with * may be given at any time throughout the year.

Cash Awards 

As an employee, you may be eligible to receive a Cash Award. A cash award is a one-time, lump-sum payment that is given for various reasons: 

A performance award (5-Level only) is a performance-based cash payment based on your rating of record for the current appraisal period. A performance award will not increase your base pay. See Chapter 4 of the Performance Management System Handbook (Recognition Section) for more information.

Performance Bonus/Pay Adjustment (Commerce Alternative Personnel System only) - Employees who receive performance rating scores of 40 or above are eligible to receive a performance bonus and/or pay adjustments. They also receive locality pay and the annual general increases each January. Those with scores below 40 are ineligible to receive these pay and bonus increases. 

A Special Act Award * is a cash award granted for one-time, non-recurring contributions, a scientific achievement, or an act of heroism. All employees with a Level 3 (or equivalent) performance rating or higher are eligible for this type of award. An employee may be nominated for this award at anytime during the year and this award may be granted at anytime during the year. See Chapter 6 of the Performance Management System Handbook (Recognition Section) for more information.

A Cash-in-Your-Account Award (CIYA) * is a small cash award granted for going the extra mile in getting the job done. CIYA Awards are not in recognition of overall performance, but rather for specific instances of exemplary performance. All employees, except employees in the Senior Executive Service, are eligible for these awards and they may be given at anytime during the year. See Chapter 12 of the Performance Management System Handbook (Recognition Section) for more information.

A Special Operating Unit (SOU) Award is primarily a special recognition cash award program sponsored by an individual operating unit. The programs are designed to meet an operating unit’s particular interests in recognizing certain groups of employees. Award programs may range from recognition of scientific accomplishments to Employee of the Year. See Chapter 7 of the Performance Management System Handbook (Recognition Section) for more information.