OLYMPIA – The Productivity Board, a state employee incentive program of the Office of the Secretary of State, voted to recognize three state employees with cash awards for their ideas to reduce costs or generate revenue for the state.
“These ideas from our state employees will improve how agencies provide services to the public,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “In these uncertain financial times for the state government, it is important to listen to those who having unique insight into their agency’s work.”
Bryce Dickison, from the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, suggested that the size of registration certificates be standardized. This allows agencies to print certificates themselves, eliminating BRPELS’ paying printing vendors and incurring mailing costs.
Crystal Hall, from the Washington Student Achievement Council, suggested the Department of Enterprise Services could donate used office furniture to K-12 schools that would otherwise be put into the landfill.
Tim Kelly, from the Washington State Department of Children Youth & Families, suggested a change to eliminate double client bookings.
The Productivity Board encourages all state employees to help save taxpayers' money by offering up to $10,000 for a successful employee proposal to increase government efficiency. First created by the Legislature in 1982 and reinstated in 2023, the Productivity Board has saved the state millions of dollars.
New submissions can be made through the Employee Suggestion Program for an individual’s idea or through the Teamwork Incentive Program for larger process improvements for two or more employees’ ideas.
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Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program. The Secretary of State oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime and the Civic Engagement Program to increase governmental trust and participation for all Washingtonians.