State Productivity Board approves cash awards for employee suggestions

(OLYMPIA)– The Productivity Board, a state employee incentive program of the Office of the Secretary of State, voted unanimously, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, to approve recognition of two teams of Washington state employees for their suggestions to reduce costs, saving more than $9.8 million in taxpayer money.

In total, 17 employees across two teams submitted their cost-savings ideas through the Productivity Board’s Teamwork Incentive Program and are eligible for cash awards up to $10,000 or 25% of the savings derived from the project period, whichever is less, according to a news release from the Office of the Secretary of State.

“I continue to be inspired by the creativity and innovation of Washington state employees,” said Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. “Every day, your public servants strive to make state government work better and more effectively for Washingtonians despite not always having the resources to do so.”

One team, comprised of 12 Washington State Department of Transportation employees and one Department of Enterprise Services employee, submitted a suggestion that replaces the high annual cost of a commercial insurance policy for the State Route 520 bridge system (Evergreen Point Floating Bridge) in Seattle with a lower cost self-insurance policy. This change, implemented July 1, 2024, will save taxpayers an estimated $9.8 million each year. Each team member that accepted an award will receive $10,000.

A team of four employees at the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) in Vancouver saved more than $46,500 by internally resourcing a safety system installation project, rather than outsourcing a contracted vendor for the work. The project was completed in one-third of the estimated time, at less cost, and with fewer student and staff disruptions than originally planned. Each WSSB employee was awarded $1,746.40.

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.