Human Resources

IDEA Rewards!

• Idea Rewards Program (ESP) Frequently Asked Questions
• What is the Idea Machine?
• What is an idea (suggestion)?
• Why should I participate?
• How do you get involved?
• What happens to my idea (suggestion)?
• What is the idea eligibility criteria?
• Who is eligible?
• What are the awards?

Idea Rewards Program (ESP) Frequently Asked Questions

Miami-Dade County has designed the Idea Machine and the Idea Rewards Program (ESP) to capture and recognize employee innovation. Your idea may improve the quality of government services. Recognizing your idea and others that are successfully implemented stimulates morale and increases productivity.

If your idea is successfully implemented by a County Department it may be eligible for a cash award.

What is the Idea Machine?

The Idea Machine is the technology created to capture every employee idea. It is available on eNet. You will need your employee identification number and password to enter your idea.

What is an idea (suggestion)?

An idea must be submitted in writing through the Idea Machine. To be considered for cash award through the Idea Rewards Program (ESP), the idea has to be original by identifying a specific problem and recommending a specific method or improvement to solve it. It also has to meet the Idea Rewards Program (ESP) eligibility criteria.

Not all idea submittals to the Idea Machine will be formally evaluated. Employees are invited to see a list of idea submissions and rank the ideas. Idea submitters may be asked to provide more details so their idea can be further considered for implementation and their participation recognized.

Why should I participate?

You may have knowledge of a problem that needs to be addressed. By bringing it to attention and offering your solution you participate in creating an improvement. Miami-Dade County government requires ideas from everyone to stay innovative, contain costs, and deliver excellent public services. Sharing your idea may also energize others to do the same.

If your idea is eligible and successfully implemented you will be recognized.  Even when an idea cannot be implemented, it can bring a problem or situation to light that can be improved.

How do you get involved?

Start creating ideas! While there are no rules or regulations for creating good ideas, successful submitters find the following principles helpful.

• Narrow down the problem. Be very specific.
• Concentrate! Handle one problem at a time. Submit them separately, if appropriate.
• Be persistent. Good ideas rarely come on the first try.
• Be confident in your search for solutions.
• Let your creativity take over. When your mind gets tired, rest for a while. Your mind will keep working unconsciously and come up with more ideas when you are actually working on something else.
• Anticipate questions and obstacles likely to arise when implementing your idea. Figure out counter arguments in advance. Be ready to sell your idea!
• Determine what the benefits of your idea will be to the County, your department, and other employees.

Ask for help, when you need it. If you need technical assistance, don't be afraid to ask your supervisor, your department Idea Specialist (ESP Coordinator) or the County's Idea Manager at 305-375-1364 for help.

Go to the Idea Machine to submit your idea. If your idea is considered eligible for any of the Idea Rewards Program (ESP) award categories you will receive email notification. Should you need to submit any additional information, please contact the Idea Manager at 305-375-1364, Human Resources, SPCC, Suite 2110.

What happens to my idea (suggestion)?

As soon as you submit your idea to the Idea Machine you will receive a message acknowledging your participation. Then you can watch to see if your idea has been assigned to a County Department. Employees can also vote to support an idea. But every idea submission will not receive a formal response or evaluation.

ideas will be referred for consideration through the Idea Rewards Program (ESP) for cash award when eligible. Most departments have an Idea Specialist (ESP Coordinator) familiar with the eligibility criteria and award process. The Idea Manager is available to assist departments and idea submitters as needed.

What is the idea eligibility criteria?

While an idea can be submitted through the Idea Machine, not all submittals are eligible for recognition and cash award. For example, the following idea topics are not eligible for Idea Excellence Award (Special Award) cash recognition:

• Personal complaints or personnel grievances
• Adjustments in benefits, salaries, or job classifications
• Matters within the scope of collective bargaining
• Matters requiring legislative or court action other than by County Ordinance
• Stricter enforcement of existing rules, regulations, ordinances
• Items involving routine corrections, maintenance, or housekeeping activities and adherence to prescribed safety practices
• Increases in existing fees or charges
• An IDEA previously awarded cash

Who is eligible?

All County employees are eligible to submit idea to the Idea Machine and may be recognized in different award categories which are part of the Idea Rewards Program/ ESP.

What are the awards?

Below are some of the awards available to employees who qualify with winning ideas.

Idea Excellence Award (Special Award)

This is a cash award presented to an employee, or co-submitters, (below the level of Division Director) whose idea is successfully implemented by a County Department. The implemented idea must meet the idea eligibility criteria detailed in AO 7-8.

The Idea Excellence Award is presented for ideas with either tangible or intangible results. An intangible idea is one where a cash value cannot be determined. Intangible ideas can receive up to $1,000 based on a point scale accessing the applicability and successful results. A Tangible idea is one where either savings or revenue can be measured and a cash value assessed to the results. Tangible awards are based on 10% of the first year net savings during the first year of implementation and pay a maximum of $5,000.

Grand Idea Award

This Award will single out the most outstanding Idea Excellence Award (Special Award) winners at the end of the fiscal year. It may include cash, non monetary award and/or administrative leave.

Idea Innovator Award

This category recognizes employees not eligible for Idea Excellence Awards (Special Award) due to their job assignment or area of responsibility. It may include a maximum of $500 cash, non monetary award, and/or administrative leave.

Idea Team Award (Bravo Award)

This category recognizes a group of employees who solve an assigned problem successfully. Each member of the group may be eligible for an equal portion of a $500 cash award