Money talks:
employee incentives

by Kris Mikkelsen
Wilmette Park District

We at the Wilmette Park District, as I'm sure is true of just about all facilities around the country, have a difficult time motivating and keeping part-time staff at productive levels of work performance.

After our annual raises in October, our staff is back to being unmotivated and unproductive within a month. Even with the new raises, most of our returning part-time employees could be making 50 cents to $ 1 per hour more flipping hamburgers. After checking with the area fast-food restaurants, most of these businesses were hiring new staff at S5 to $5.50 per hour with reviews after 90 days, and then again semi-annually.

Over the last year and one-half, we have increased our starting wage from $3.35 to $4.65 per hour to become more competitive with these businesses. However, we do have some part-time staff who have been here for two years or more who are making $5.25 per hour or more.

Since the park district is located in the affluent North Shore area of Chicago, the employees feel that working a whole year for a 5 percent raise is a joke. Others feel that working is a joke period. To actually emphasize the lack of need for jobs, there have been cases brought to the management's attention where parents have offered these employees more money not to work for the park district.

The prevailing attitude of the "good" part-time staff is, "Why should I work harder than the 'lazy' part-time staff the whole year when if I work harder a few months before my review, I'll still get a better review anyway?"

This is the type of attitude we are trying to eliminate. To do so we developed a constant motivating factor--an award system— something that is in reach of all part-time employees on a monthly basis.

The objective of the award system is to motivate staff to increase productivity each day of the month and to have part-time staff take pride in the jobs they perform each day.

Through the following incentive program, part-time staff would have something to strive for on a monthly basis, yet to achieve that goal of "Employee of the Month,'' the part-time staff would have to perform their jobs better than all other employees on a daily basis.

This "Employee of the Month Award" is structured in a way that all part-time employees understand—money. We offer a $25 to S50 monthly incentive award for the "Employee of the Month." The way that the award winner is determined is to evaluate the part-time employees on eight categories consisting of knowledge of work responsibilities; quality of work; quantity of work; responsibility; relationship to the public; attendance and punctuality; attitude; and care of facilities and equipment.

The higher the point total, the higher the incentive award would be, not to be less than $25 but not to exceed $50. The "Employee of the Month" is evaluated by the assistant manager along with the other five building supervisors with final approval from the ice rink manager. This program was originally designed for the ice rink staff, but could easily be implemented in all departments of the park district with some slight modifications. To be eligible for the award, the part-time employee must work 20 or more hours per week.

As an added incentive, the "Employee of the Month" also receives an automatic 25 to 50 cents per hour increase in salary for the following month of the award. This increase would correspond to the employees' bonus. (Check with your payroll department regarding the workability of the above option to find out if there are any obstacles to prevent its implementation through your current payroll format).

We have achieved great success with the implementation of the program. We feel it has had a dramatic impact on the part-time employees' attitude and overall job performance. This program has instilled competitiveness among all the part-time staff, and could easily be implemented into your facility.

12 th Annual Legislative Conference has record-breaking attendance

The 12th Annual IAPD Legislative Conference held April 25 at the Ramada Renaissance Hotel in Springfield, boasted the largest audience ever.

The day offered park commissioners and park professionals an opportunity to meet with their legislators at the Capitol. The conference is designed to provide first-hand and up-to-date information on the Association's Legislative Advocacy Program and all pending legislation affecting park, forest preserve and conservation districts. State administration officials and other recognized authorities in the legislative field presented the latest techniques and materials to help those attending better understand the legislative arena.

House Speaker Michael A. Madigan was the IAPD 1990 Outstanding Political Leader Award recipient. He has played a key role in the passage of OSLAD legislation.

Attorney General Neil Hartigan, Democratic candidate for Governor, spoke on meeting the needs of park districts and their constituents in the future. Sen. Aldo DeAngelis (R-40th District), Rep. James Keane (D-28th District), and Doug Whitley, president, Illinois Taxpayers Federation, gave presentations on property tax reforms.

After the conference, a Legislative Reception was held at the Sangamo Club in honor of all of the members of the 86th General Assembly where IAPD members socialized with their representatives and senators.

Illinois Department of Conservation Director of the Office of Planning and Development John Comerio, second from left, is recognized for his 20 years of outstanding service to the park, conservation and recreation fieId by IAPD Executive Director Dr. Ted Flickinger, left, IAPD President Bernadine Rechner, and IAPD General Counsel Peter M. Murphy, right.

Attorney General Neil Hartigan gives a presentation on meeting the needs of park districts and their constituents in the future. Joint Legislative Committee co-chair Kelli Garvanian, left, enjoys his comments.

Sen. Aldo DeAngelis (R-40th) delights the audience with his part of a presentation entitled, "Property Reform: New Directions or The Same Old Song,"at the 12 th Annual IAPD Legislative Conference.

Rep. James Keane (D-28th) adds to DeAngelis' comments on property tax reform at the Legislative Conference held April 25 at the Springfield Ramada Renaissance Hotel.

Park commissioners and park professionals enjoyed a Legislative Reception at the Sangamo Club following the Legislative Conference. At left, Peoria Park District President Bonnie Noble, center, meets with Rep. David Leitch, left, and Sen. Carl Hawkinson.

Rep. John Hallock, left, Winnebago County Forest Preserve Director Mark Keister, Rep. Zeke Giorgi, and Winnebago County Forest Preserve commissioners Mickey Goral and Robert Millard take a minute to pose for this photograph at right.

From left, Bert Grey, Director of the Oswegoland Park District, Sen. Forest Etheredge, Charles Hoscheit, Director of the Fox Valley Park District and Channahon Park District Commissioner Ronald Lehman enjoy a lively conservation at the Legislative Reception at the Sangamo Club.

Lemont Park District Commissioner David Garvey, left, Rep. Jane M. Barnes, and Lemont Park District Director Robert Porter get together at the Legislative Reception following the Legislative Conference. Mrs. Jim Edgar, wife of Secretary of State Jim Edgar, talks with Bruce Larson, left, President of Urbana Park District and Rep. Gordon Ropp. Sen Adeline Geo-Karis, seated, chats with Vernon Hills Park District Commissioner Kelli Garvanian, left, Vernon Hills P.D. Director Carl Hartman, and Vernon Hills P.D. Commissioner Cynthia Peterson.

Rep. Arthur Turner takes time out of his busy schedule to chat with Cynthia Peterson, Commissioner of Vernon Hills Park District. Gary Hasselbacher, left, commissioner of Coloma Township P.D., and Mike Sterba, right, director of Coloma Township P.D., greet Rep. Richard Mautino. Lyie Reedy, Freeport Park District Commissioner, left, standing, and Woodridee P.D. Commissioner Arlene Vandenberg, visit with Sen. Harlan Rieney, seated, left, and Freeport P.D. Commissioner Mike Cassidy.

This group of men paused from their conservation long enough to have a photo taken at the Legislative Reception. They are, front from left, Jim Petkus, Dr. Ted Flickinger IAPD Executive Director, Don Burns, Guy Gattone; back from left, Sen. Richard Kelly, Rep. Terry Steczo, Director of Oak Forest Park District James Chevalier, and IAPD General Counsel Peter M. Murphy. Petkus, Gattone and Burns are commissioners at Oak Forest Park District.

From left Director of the Addison Park District William Tookey, Rep. Lee Daniels, Itasca Park District Director Randy Schawel, Itasca Park District Commissioner Tom Reynolds, and Donald Jessen, president of Addison Park District, enjoy the Legislative Reception at the Sanagmo Club.