With the new year comes a new opportunity for Missouri's state employees to benefit from referring candidates to the workforce.
Through Show Me's Got Talent program, which is set to debut Monday, state team members who refer new employees will be eligible for $250 or $500 at that new employee's 90-day tenure: The $500 pot is reserved for those who help recruit for positions that are more difficult to fill, according to a news release.
Funds are available for those recruiting first-time state employees or candidates who the state has not employed for at least six months, and new team members must be hired into full-time, benefit-eligible positions.
The new program will be administered by the Missouri Office of Administration (OA), which manages the employees and functions of state government.
"Implementing a state employee referral program is not just about finding new talent; it's about fostering a culture of collaboration and shared success," OA Commissioner Ken Zellers said in a statement. "When our own team members become ambassadors for the State of Missouri, we not only tap into a rich pool of potential candidates but also strengthen the bonds that make our state workforce a community dedicated to excellence."
Any of the state's 17 departments that use the MO Careers Job Application platform may participate in the program. State employees can create an online account to join the new program once it launches.
State employees involved in the hiring or recruitment process are ineligible to participate in the program.
"Through the launch of this new state employee referral program, this recruitment strategy helps us commit to building a unified, empowered workforce," OA talent acquisition manager Jessie Pace said. "By encouraging our team members to be architects of our state's future, we will be able to source top talent and forge a collaborative spirit that propels us to better help our customers."
The program was proposed by the winning team of the 2022 Show Me Challenge, in which state employee teams compete to propose the best methods to better serve Missourians. The proposal was funded last year in the state budget by lawmakers.
Learn more about the program online at hireMOtalent.mo.gov.