We are currently in the process of launching a new scheme called ideasYKA which is essentially an employee suggestion scheme. The scheme is currently under evaluation by HR.

WHAT IS ideasYKA PROGRAMME
IdeasYKA program is being launched as an employee suggestion scheme. It is the program’s objective to encourage employees to give ideas for improving Group’s operations. The program will assess the potential value of the ideas and reward employees whose ideas are implemented or approved for implementation.

The program is designed to give employees an opportunity to directly contribute more effectively to the running of the business.

PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME
The ideasYKA programme will be as broad ranging as possible; to give staff the opportunity to give positive ideas that will lead to one or more of the following improvements:

Increased productivity
Reduction in expenditures
Increased profitability/revenues
Improved quality of services
Enhanced safety and security
Working procedures
Innovative ideas for promotion/publicity.

The scheme will not consider issues relating to pay or grading, terms and conditions of employment or the job description.

REWARDS
All employees giving ideas that meet any of the above preliminary criteria will receive an appreciation reward in the form of a token gift (Approx of BD 2 value). All the ideas will be subjected to further scrutiny for selection of award winning ideas.  

On the merit of ideas made, the best three ideas of the month will be rewarded with Cash payments and certificates as follows:

Gold Award: BD 150 + Certificate
Silver Award: BD 100 + Certificate
Bronze Award: BD 50 + Certificate

In exceptional cases, where the implementation of the Idea has led to tremendous financial benefit to the company, the employee will be considered for additional monetary rewards over and above the commensurate with the quantum of financial impact made.

SUBMITTING IDEAS
Employees can submit as many ideas as they want. Employees will submit their ideas to the ideasYKA programme coordinator at the Human Resource Department. The ideasYKA form will be made available to all line Managers. The form may be completed and submitted to the HR department. The form may also be found in Appendix I, and may be submitted by e-mail (ideasyka@almoayyed.com.bh)

SELECTION OF THE AWARD
The scheme is open to all the employees of YKA Group. Short-listing of the ideas will take place at the end of every month and awarded every month.

TRACKING IDEAS
The employee giving an Idea will receive a reference number from the ideasYKA programme office. This number will identify the ideas throughout the evaluation process. Every attempt will be made to ensure the anonymity of the suggester until the Idea is approved for adoption.

IDEAS ELIGIBILITY
Ideas are eligible for award consideration when their implementation is expected to result in savings (including cost avoidance) or increased revenue, or when operational, service, or safety improvements occur. Ideas may be implemented in the employee’s own department and/or in one or more other departments.

Ideas may be ineligible for award consideration for some reasons (for example, an idea is ineligible for award when an employee can be expected to implement it as part of his or her job duties, responsibilities and assigned tasks).

EVALUATOR
On receiving the ideas from the employee, the HR department will refer it for evaluation to a person (evaluator) in the Group who has the required expertise in the subject matter of the idea and knowledge of related business. The evaluator will be sufficiently qualified to consider the following:

originality of the idea;
potential value/benefit of the idea;
feasibility of implementation;
extent of application;
estimation of costs; and
Estimated savings to be expected from implementation.

The evaluator is expected to consult with appropriate authority to develop cost, revenue, and/or savings information.

An employee may not evaluate his or her own Idea.

FACTORS USED TO DETERMINE VALUE
Evaluators are to use the following six factors in estimating the point value of an Idea:  

degree of improvement in performance, operations, forms, facilities, or equipment;
degree of improvement in employee relations, working conditions, safety, service to the customer, or customer friendly attitude;
extent of application;
completeness of proposal;
effort involved in developing the idea; and
Cost of adoption.

GROUP OR DUPLICATE AWARDS
If two or more employees individually submit similar ideas that are received at the same time, the ideas will be evaluated together, and any awards will be divided equally among all eligible. Two or more employees may join to submit ideas as a group. Any award will be shared equally among eligible group members.

ADDITIONAL CASH REWARDS
Any additional monetary rewards will be authorized only for eligible employees whose ideas are adopted and implemented and result in substantial quantifiable BD savings or increased profits.

CALCULATION OF ADDITIONAL CASH AWARD AS PERCENTAGE OF SAVINGS OR GROSS PROFIT
Additional cash awards shall be computed as a percentage of net savings or profit as outlined below.

If the amount of net

1st yr. savings/profit is:    the cash award will be:

Over BD 20,000        BD 300 + 1% of amount over BD 20,000
BD 1001 - BD 20,000    1.5% of the savings/profits
BD 1000 or less        No additional cash award is made.

PANEL
A 3-member panel will be constituted representing senior management of the company to select the ideas for award, taking into consideration the recommendation of the evaluator and their own assessment. The decision of the panel will be final.

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION
Human Resource Department will coordinate the process for obtaining a certificate of recognition signed by the Chief Executive / Group HR Manager / Quality Manager and will send this to the employee’s division head for appropriate presentation to the employee.

HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT ROLE
The Human Resource Department is responsible for:

developing and interpreting this program;
providing program forms and other information;
collecting information concerning ideas submissions and awards;
providing promotional support for the program and assisting division’s promotional efforts; and
Publicizing accepted ideas and financial awards to Group employees.

Human Resource Department will manage the program by:

receiving and tracking ideas;
Forwarding the token appreciation gift to the employee’s division for handing it to employee giving the idea.
protecting the identity of the suggester during the evaluation process;
determining an appropriate expertise for evaluating  each Idea;  
receiving and reviewing the completed evaluation
Putting the evaluator’s recommendations before the panel,
Informing the suggester (and his or her division, if the idea is to be adopted) of the panel result and confirming the award;
ensuring that the final value of the first year’s implemen­tation of a idea with tangible benefits is recorded by the affected division, and directing additional cash rewards based on that value;
obtaining and sending to the suggester’s division a certifi­cate of recognition if the Idea is adopted.