QUALITY OF WORK LIFE GRANTS PROGRAM
2007-2011

Applicant Guidelines

Gary Johnson, Director
NYS Governor’s Office of
Employee Relations

David A. Paterson
Governor
New York State

Danny Donohue, President
CSEA, Local 1000
AFSCME, AFL-CIO

A Joint Invitation

Gary Johnson
Director
NYS Governor’s Office of Employee Relations

Danny Donohue
President
CSEA

These guidelines explain to CSEA and management representatives of New York State agencies and facilities how to participate in the Quality of Work Life Grants Program.

We recognize that employee well-being and satisfaction is a vital part of the state’s ability to deliver high quality services to the public. We also recognize that many workplace needs and concerns can most effectively be addressed through the leadership and cooperation of labor and management working together.

The Quality of Work Life Grants Program is intended to help provide resources for joint initiatives to improve employee satisfaction and service delivery. Through your leadership, successful grant initiatives can help build trust and strengthen a willingness to work together on a day-to-day basis.

The Quality of Work Life Grants Program offers exciting opportunities. We urge you to become familiar with the program and, above all, to take part. We look forward to the results of your joint efforts.

Table of Contents

Background

Quality of Work Life Grant Categories

Break/Lunch Room Improvement
Employee Recognition
Wellness and Health Education
Working Conditions
Special Projects

Funding Limits

General Guidelines

Submission and Review of Applications

Partnership Field Associate Contact Information

Payment of Quality of Work Life Grant Funds

Grant Purchasing Guidelines

QWL Grant Application Form (four pages)

Background

The Quality of Work Life (QWL) Grants Program was established by New York State and CSEA through the collective bargaining agreements for the purpose of improving the working conditions and quality of life for CSEA-represented New York State employees. This program provides funding for proposals jointly developed by agency/facility labor-management committees. To receive grant funds, labor-management committees must demonstrate active cooperation in addressing worksite issues.

Since the program’s inception in 1986, thousands of grant proposals have been funded. Among them are proposals for the purchase of equipment for break/lunch rooms, employee recognition programs, health and wellness projects, and improvement of working conditions.

QWL Grant Categories

Break/Lunch Room Improvement

In some state facilities, dining halls or restaurants are located too far away to be convenient for employees with limited time for lunch and breaks. Some facilities lack sufficient break or lunch areas where employees can eat lunch or take brief rests. The purpose of this grant category is to help improve these areas.

Grant funds are available to purchase furniture and equipment such as tables, chairs, toaster ovens, microwave ovens, refrigerators, and coffeemakers. Generally, funds are not available to purchase equipment for worksites with five or fewer employees unless reasonable justification is provided. Funding requests will be considered to replace equipment purchased with grant funds four or more years ago. See page 8 for break/lunch room purchasing guidelines. Grant funds are not available to purchase lockers, carpet, upholstered furniture, televisions, VCRs/DVDs, radios, food service utensils, stoves/ranges, smoke ventilators, and cabinets.

Employee Recognition

Employee Recognition programs are an important way for labor-management committees to acknowledge and reward individual and team efforts that enhance labor-management cooperation, quality of services, and employee morale. Recognition reinforces individual and group motivation to achieve and take responsibility, and contributes to work improvements, which leads to a more positive work atmosphere.

Agency or facility labor-management committees may apply for grants to develop recognition programs or complement existing ones. Employee Recognition programs can be based on length of service (minimum of 10 years) or sustained or exceptional one-time performance or achievement. Recognition can focus on efforts that have improved labor-management cooperation, safety and health, quality of work life, or service delivery. Funds may be used to purchase plaques, certificates, pins, shirts, hats, clocks, dinner fees for awardees, and to cover a meal for one outside guest speaker, one CSEA representative, and one management representative per event.

Funds are to be used exclusively for CSEA-represented honorees. See page 8 for employee recognition criteria. Funds cannot be used to purchase alcohol, gift certificates, savings bonds, or to make cash or cash equivalent awards. Funds are not available to support events in which the entire workforce is recognized (e.g., employee picnics).

Wellness and Health Education

Wellness and Health Education programs teach life-enhancing techniques, help reduce the effects of stress, and promote lifestyles that contribute to good health. These programs may lead to fewer illnesses, less absenteeism in the workplace, and lower healthcare costs. Additionally, Wellness and Health Education programs can have a positive effect on job performance, productivity, and morale.

Grants are available to support a wide variety of programs such as stress management, nutrition, health and fitness, and heart disease prevention and control. For Wellness and Health Education programs, employees must make at least a 10% contribution towards the program cost. Local labor-management committees should take this into consideration when developing their applications. Funds are not available to purchase exercise equipment, health club memberships, or weight reduction classes.

Grants are also available to cover the initial costs of training and certification for first aid/CPR. Funding is not intended to provide ongoing recertification courses. Employees are not required to make a 10% contribution for this training.

Working Conditions

This grant category helps labor-management committees address issues related to internal or external environmental working conditions of CSEA-represented employees. Proposals for equipment purchased with grant funds should be aimed at improving physical working conditions at worksites. Some examples of equipment that may be approved for purchase include heaters, fans, ice makers, and air conditioners. Funds are not available to purchase central air conditioning or make capital improvements to a work site.

Special Projects

The Partnership is willing to consider requests that are of a unique and innovative nature. Labor and management representatives are strongly encouraged to discuss their grant proposal with their respective Partnership Field Associate before submitting a formal application in this category.

Funding Limits

State agency and facility worksites are eligible to receive a QWL grant up to $3,000 per grant category each fiscal year.

If approved, grant applications requesting more than $1,000 will be funded at the 90% level. A 10% financial contribution by the agency/facility (in addition to any in-kind contributions the applicant may provide to implement the grant project) is required. CSEA policy does not permit the use of rebated funds for the 10 percent financial contribution. Grant applications approved for less than $1,000 will be funded at the 100% level.

General Guidelines

The following guidelines apply to all categories offered through the QWL Grants Program:

• Grant applications must be co-signed by the CSEA local president and a management representative. The management representative must be a human resources manager, facility director, or equivalent.
• Labor and management representatives are strongly encouraged to discuss their grant proposal with their respective Partnership Field Associate (see page 7) before submitting a formal application.
• Grant funds are for the exclusive benefit of CSEA-represented New York State employees.
• Equipment purchased with grant funds is the property of the Partnership and will be labeled as such. The Partnership will provide inventory tags and an inventory report form. Inventory tags should be placed prominently on the equipment to promote the cooperative efforts of local labor-management. Completed inventory report forms must be returned to the Partnership before additional grant requests will be considered.
• Any changes to the project, as described in the approved grant application, must be made in writing to the Partnership prior to the purchase. In most cases, a new application will be required. Changes will be reviewed by the Partnership and a response will be generated either approving or disapproving the change. No purchases can be made prior to the receipt of written approval.
• Local CSEA and management representatives are responsible for the security, maintenance, repair, and/or replacement of equipment purchased with grant funds. Some local labor-management committees have established a “sunshine” fund to prepare for this eventuality. Warranties on purchased equipment should be carefully read and kept on file for future reference.
• Grant funds are subject to New York State Procurement Law, Guidelines, and Procedures; the provisions of the State Finance Law; the State Comptroller’s Rules and Regulations governing purchases and the expenditure of State funds; and the internal control system of each agency.
• Use the grant application form, located in the back of this booklet, to apply for all grants. The form can be reproduced for future use. The form is also available on the Partnership’s website at www.nyscseapartnership.org. Proposals must follow the application format and all items must be completed or the application will be returned.
• Local labor-management committees are encouraged to publicize grant projects in their agency, facility, and/or CSEA local newsletters.
• Projects may be reviewed by Partnership staff through on-site visits to verify data, progress, project completion, and equipment inventory.
• Failure to comply with program guidelines (project evaluations, equipment inventory, reports, etc.) may affect consideration of any future grant applications.
• Grants are considered seed money to assist state agencies/facilities with start-up projects. The grants program is not designed to be a source of funding for ongoing projects.

Submission and Review of Applications

1. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their grant proposal with their respective Partnership field associate (see page 7) before submitting a formal application. Additionally, applicants should make sure their agency/facility fiscal officer or CSEA local treasurer has reviewed the grant application and is aware of the purchasing guidelines established for the QWL Grants Program as explained on page 8.

2. Complete and forward applications to the appropriate field associate at the address provided on page 7. The field associate will acknowledge the receipt of the application. The applicant may be contacted to clarify and verify submitted information or to provide additional information, if required.

3. Once the application is considered complete by the field associate, it will be forwarded to the QWL Grants Review Committee for decision.

4. When reviewing applications, the Committee will consider a number of factors including:

• the reasonableness of the proposal’s cost
• documentation of need
• the number of CSEA-represented New York State employees the proposed grant will benefit
• the level of labor and management contribution to the overall proposal the degree of innovation
• the number of grant proposals previously approved for the agency, facility, local, or worksite

5. Once a decision is made by the QWL Grants Review Committee, a letter will be sent to the CSEA local president and management signatories. A copy of the letter will also be sent to the agency/facility fiscal officer or CSEA local treasurer.

For more information or assistance with the QWL Grants Program, contact the Partnership Field Associate for your CSEA Region:

CSEA Long Island Region 1 and CSEA Metropolitan Region 2:

Zoranda Wilson
PO Box 220271
Rosedale, NY 11422
Phone and Fax Number: (718) 712-5776
wilsonz@nyscseapartnership.org

CSEA Southern Region 3 and CSEA Capital Region 4:

Timothy Gerard
289 Cole Hill Road
East Berne, NY 12059
Phone and Fax Number: (518) 872-1106
gerardt@nyscseapartnership.org

CSEA Central Region 5 and CSEA Western Region 6:

Mark Houck
119 Falls View Drive
Montour Falls, NY 14865
Phone and Fax Number: (607) 535-7382
houckm@nyscseapartnership.org

Payment of Quality of Work Life Grant Funds

If the grant application is approved, a letter will be sent to the CSEA local president and management signatories on the application. The authorized agency/facility fiscal officer will also receive a copy of the approval letter along with a Journal Transfer/Revenue Transfer (AC 22) form and instructions for completing it. Agencies/facilities are required to first make purchases with funds from their own operating budgets and then submit the Journal Transfer/Revenue Transfer form for reimbursement. Applicants are encouraged to work closely with their purchasing office throughout the grant application process and to accurately identify the responsible agency/facility fiscal officer on their application form.

In extenuating circumstances, CSEA locals may request permission to make purchases from their local treasuries and request reimbursement via a State of New York Quick Pay Voucher (AC 3031). Locals are strongly encouraged to discuss this reimbursement method with their respective Partnership field associate before incurring any financial liability.

Once all items are purchased by the agency/facility, the completed Journal Transfer/Revenue Transfer form must be submitted to the Partnership with proof of payment. Information about payment process will be provided to the authorized agency/facility fiscal officer if the grant is approved. If the CSEA local made the purchases, a completed Quick Pay Voucher must be submitted to the Partnership with proof of payment. Information about the payment process will be provided to the CSEA local treasurer.

All purchases must be completed within 90 days from the date of the approval letter OR before the end of the New York State fiscal year in which the grant was awarded, whichever comes first, or the grant will be withdrawn.

Grant Purchasing Guidelines

Break/Lunch Room Equipment

Coffeemakers, microwave ovens, refrigerators (number of employees vs. size of equipment)

* For worksites with more than 30 employees, two 1.4 cubic foot microwave ovens will be considered if adequate justification is provided.

Employee Recognition

Meals

Breakfast: $5 maximum per person
Lunch: $10 maximum per person
Dinner: $25 maximum per person

Non-Monetary Awards (Maximum amount per person for purchase of item)

Years of Service:

10 Years: $35

15 Years: $40

20 Years: $45

25 Years: $50

30 Years: $60

35+ Years: $75

Achievement:

Employee of the Month: $15

Employee of the Year: $30

Other: $25