MCDOT Has First Team Honored by Rewarding Excellence

Montgomery County’s Rewarding Excellence program rewards employees who develop cost-saving proposals in the workplace.

A team with the Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Sign Shop is the first to complete a project   The team, called the “Scrap Metal Optimization” group, saved the County $16,000 in the first year the money-saving idea was put in place.  The initiative separates scrap metal from aluminum in MCDOT’s Sign Shop and sells the valuable aluminum to a salvage company.

The first year’s savings were shared between the 36 members of the implementation team and the County on a 50/50 basis.  County Executive Ike Leggett personally congratulated team members and presented each with a check for $229.

An article about gainsharing in the August edition of Governing magazine stated that many governments eliminate such programs in tight times when the programs are needed the most.  However, Montgomery County has made every effort to support the Rewarding Excellence program by collaborating with the employees’ union and partnering with employees to identify ways to become more efficient.