NCThinks (previously State Employee Incentive Bonus Program)

NCThinks (previously the State Employee Incentive Bonus Program) is North Carolina's premier tool for rewarding state employees for providing innovative solutions to pressing organizational challenges. For more than 30 years, the State of North Carolina has paid cash incentives to state employees whose money-saving suggestions are approved. The program encourages employees to submit their suggestions and ideas for an impartial review and evaluation, so that meritorious suggestions can be recognized and rewarded appropriately.

A person who is contributing member of:

• The Teachers and State Employees Retirement System of North Carolina
• The Consolidated Judicial Retirement System
• The Optional Retirement Program

A person who receives wages from the State as a part-time or temporary worker, but is not a contributing member of the retirement programs listed above.

What Is An Eligible Suggestion?

Any suggestion from an employee or team of employees which is useful, practical, constructive and is of benefit to the state is eligible. A suggestion will be considered by the Review Committee if it offers an idea or improvement in one or more of the following areas: 

• safety 
• costs 
• productivity 
• efficiency 
• conditions 
• services to the public 
• energy resources 
• employee morale 

What Is Not An Eligible Suggestion?

Ineligible suggestions include any which are: 

• currently under consideration, have already been made and awarded, or are already in use 
• complaints and grievances 
• salary/classification/benefit changes 
• enforcement of existing rules or regulations 
• routine maintenance matters or requests for supplies and services that should be available through established channels 
• ideas that propose unclear or non-specific practices 

Monetary

When a suggestion results in monetary or dollar savings to the state, a monetary award will be granted to the suggester. The amount of money awarded for a suggestion shall be 20 percent of the annual savings resulting from the first year the suggestion is put into place. The amount awarded shall not be more than $20,000 for a single suggester or a total of $100,000 for a team of suggesters.

Non-Monetary

When an adopted suggestion results in non-monetary benefits to the state, a non-monetary award will be granted. Possible awards include up to three days of annual leave and a certificate.

Download the form. Contact Benefits Services if you need assistance.

Think your idea through carefully. Make sure your facts and figures are correct.

Your idea can be a new application of an old idea, but it must be an improvement over the old method. 

Your suggestion should be outlined step by step. For each suggestion include a statement of:

• the present method or practice
• your suggestion for improvement and how it can be accomplished
• the benefits of your idea: Summarize the benefits in terms of savings in time, labor, forms, equipment, space, postage, in dollars, etc., and include any improvements in quality of service that might result from the suggestion, if possible.
• Include drawings or photos if necessary.

Submit all suggestions to:

Benefits Services
Office of Human Resources
CB# 1045

Make sure that you sign and date your suggestion. It is recommended that you keep a copy of the suggestion you submitted.

If you have questions about the NCThinks program, contact Benefits Services.