Excellent Work - Life Balance

Today’s employees seek more than just monetary compensation. The State of Georgia continues to attract and retain employees who seek to balance their professional careers together with their personal lifestyles. Georgia’s high quality of work-life options include:

Paid Time Off (PTO):

The State’s generous paid-time-off program allows a minimum total of 30 days of annual and sick leave each year. Georgia also offers 12 paid state holidays annually. Click here to view the State Holiday Calendar

Flexible Work Schedules:

Eligible employees have the flexibility of working schedules that allow varying start and ending times while meeting necessary core business hours. Start times may be fixed or float, depending on agency needs. The established agency work schedule continues to be an option.

Work Away:

State employees also have the opportunity to participate in other work-life schedule alternatives of the Work Away program. They include: the alternate work schedule, which results in an additional day off during the same two-week work period as a benefit of working longer days to obtain the hours; the compressed work week, which is generally four 10-hour days with the 40-hour work week being achieved in four work days; and telework, which offers eligible employees the flexibility of working at home or other remote locations for one or more days per week, month or selected time period. Work Away is part of Georgia’s ongoing effort to reduce commuter road miles traveled by state employees. Increased employee morale and job satisfaction, reduced absenteeism and sick leave usage, better job performance and fewer distractions are just a few of the benefits employees receive with this work-life benefit. Click here for more information on:
Work Away - Telework

The Employee Assistance (EAP) & Wellness Program:

Created to help maintain employee productivity by offering services that include early intervention and prevention. EAP helps retain valuable employees by preventing or resolving problems through early identification and treatment. Many programs are free or available for a nominal fee.

Georgia Employee Recognition Program:

The Employee Recognition Program celebrates the achievements of government employees who make significant contributions in areas such as customer service, community service, employee suggestions, safety, heroism, teamwork, leadership, and faithful service. The program celebrates the value of employees who go above and beyond the normal call of duty to support the citizens of Georgia. For Public Employee Recognition Week, peers, supervisors and agency heads have an opportunity to nominate employees for their unique achievement, unswerving devotion or dedicated service. A formal ceremony is held to honor awardees.
The State also recognizes its employees for every five years of continuous service. Career employees are recognized for their service through the Faithful Service Award Retiree Recognition Program. Employees who retire with 30 or more years of service are entitled to receive their choice of either a watch or plaque. Employees retiring with 10 to 29 years of service receive a lapel pin.

Staff Development and Training opportunities:

Talented employees often remain with employers who value and encourage their professional success. State government employees can look forward to opportunities to advance their careers through training and development opportunities and certification programs. Training and development programs involve opportunities for meaningful work and support for continued knowledge growth and competency development. General and specialized training for support staff, supervisors, managers and executive leadership is available at state and local offices through various media, including classroom instruction and e-Learning. Click here to access information on various State sponsored Training Opportunities

Tuition Assistance:

Tuition assistance may be provided by the State for some critical positions in state government. Contact your agency human resource officer for additional information. The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) also provides financial aid for post-secondary education. GSFC is a state agency that offers loans, HOPE scholarships and grants to Georgia residents seeking higher education. For more information, visit their web site at www.gsfc.org

Employee/Management Conflict Resolution Services:

State agencies strive to provide safe and pleasant work environments for their employees. Dispute Resolution Services, which include mediation and grievance hearings, are available to assist the employee, the supervisor and the agency maintain positive work experiences for every one. Mediation services are confidential, informal processes that generally create a win-win situation for both parties. Grievance hearings, although more formal, allow both parties the benefit of sharing views and presenting evidence before a neutral third party (an experienced hearing officer) to bring about an agreeable resolution to problems and issues.

Giving Back to the Community

In addition to the day-to-day services State employees provide to the many residents of Georgia, they are also good citizens who care about their neighbors. Through the State Charitable Contributions Program (SCCP), State employees give back to their communities by contributing to hundreds of diverse charitable health, human service, educational and environmental organizations. Understanding that government cannot address all the needs of its citizens, the charitable organizations participating in the SCCP help fill the gaps by providing much needed services. Each year, employees have an opportunity to make direct financial contributions to the SCCP by payroll deduction, cash, check or money order to the charities of their choice. Thanks to the financial support of Georgia’s State Government and University System employees, the SCCP has raised over $36 million since its inception in 1982.

Employees’ Suggestion Program

The Employee’s Suggestion Program (ESP) encourages State employees to make suggestions for improving state government through increased effectiveness and efficiency and savings of taxpayer dollars. Suggestions that result in tangible and intangible savings could result in recognition and a monetary reward of up to $5,000.
Click here to learn more about ESP