Ordinance on the recognition of loyalty, basic training and retirements - Subject and Purpose of the Regulation

1. This regulation governs the competencies and modalities concerning the recognition of service loyalty for active employees, trainees, and interns who have successfully completed their basic training, as well as for individuals who are retiring.

1. This Regulation is applicable to the following categories of personnel

a) Beneficiaries A: Employees on a monthly salary

1. Employees of the cantonal administration with a permanent employment contract,

2. Administrative staff of the courts and the public prosecutor's office,

3. Cantonal police force;

b) Beneficiaries B: Employees on a monthly salary

1. * Teaching staff of cantonal schools;

c) Beneficiaries C

1. Individuals appointed by the State Council for an official part-time function who do not dedicate their entire working time to this activity;

d) Beneficiaries D

1. Presidents of cantonal commissions appointed by the State Council;

e) * Beneficiaries E

1. * Apprentices of the cantonal administration, interns of the vocational school (EMVS), and interns of the Vocational Maturity Business program (BM-W) who have successfully completed their foundational training.

**1. On the Occasion of the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, and 45th Completed Service Anniversary, the Individual in Question Receives Recognition for the Years of Service Rendered to the Canton of Valais.**

2. The calendar year in which the individual reaches the specified number of years of service is considered the anniversary year that entitles them to recognition for their service loyalty.

3. Recognition for service loyalty is generally granted in the month of the service anniversary.

1. Only the years of service performed in the Cantonal Administration of Valais, at the Cantonal Schools in Valais, and with the judicial authorities of the State of Valais shall be considered. For the regional employment centers (RAV), the years of service shall also be considered for the period during which they were not yet part of the State of Valais.

2. The years of service performed at the Castalie, the Psychiatric Structures of Central and Lower Valais (IPVR), the Valais Lung Clinic (CVP), the HES-SO Valais, and the Valais Teacher Training College (PHVS) shall also count, provided these institutions were part of the State of Valais at the time.

3. The calculation of the years of service begins on the first day of the commencement of the activity, regardless of the level of employment.

4. If the employment relationship is interrupted for a certain period, the years of interruption shall not be counted.

5. Apprenticeships, internships, activities paid on an hourly basis, and unpaid leave/sabbaticals of a year or longer are not considered as years of service.

1. The Beneficiaries A are entitled to recognition of service loyalty in the form of additional days off, according to the following table

| Years of Service | Recognition of Service Loyalty |

| --- | --- |

| 5 years | 2 days |

| 10 years | 5 days |

| 15 years | 5 days |

| 20 years | 5 days |

| 30 years | 5 days |

| 35 years | 5 days |

| 40 years | 5 days |

| 45 years * | 5 days |

2. The additional days off are granted in proportion to the employment rate at the time of the anniversary.

3. They are administered independently of the annual vacation entitlement and must be taken before the next anniversary.

4. There is an option to issue a voucher worth 800 Swiss Francs instead of the additional days off on the 10th, 20th, 30th, and 40th service anniversaries. This voucher must be related to a measure in the field of education or health. The terms "education and health" are understood in an extended sense.

5. The amount of 800 Swiss Francs can be divided over the next two years from the entitlement to recognition of the years of service.

1. Special attention is given to the 25th service anniversary, which is regarded as a significant event in a professional career.

2. Jubilarians receive 20 additional days off, granted proportionately to the employment rate at the time of the anniversary. These are managed independently from the annual vacation entitlement and must be used before the next service anniversary.

a) * ...

b) * ...

3. ...

4. To better meet the needs of the benefitting individuals, there are options between a cash amount and additional days off. However, only tranches of five days are possible; individual days may not be taken. The following options are permitted

a) if the employment rate is higher than 50 percent, the beneficiaries can choose between

1. 20 additional days off, or

2. 15 additional days off and 750 francs, or

3. 10 additional days off and 1,500 francs, or

4. 5 additional days off and 2,250 francs, or

5. 3,000 francs;

b) if the employment rate is 50 percent or lower, the beneficiaries can choose between

1. 20 additional days off, or

2. 15 additional days off and 375 francs, or

3. 10 additional days off and 750 francs, or

4. 5 additional days off and 1,125 francs, or

5. 1,500 francs.

1. Except under special circumstances, an official ceremony in the presence of the Council of State, along with a small reception, shall be organized for the jubilees listed in the protocol guide.

1. Upon retirement due to age or health, employees are entitled to a recognition for their services rendered.

2. They receive a recognition valued at 500 Swiss francs net.

3. The department head who is retiring receives an additional recognition valued at 1,000 Swiss francs net.

4. To recognize the services rendered, the relevant department organizes a ceremony, except under special circumstances, during which a communal meal is shared and the retiring employees are honored. The invitation to this ceremony is extended by the respective department head.

5. Upon resumption of duties, it is acknowledged that the benefits provided for in this article have already been granted to the employee.

1. In exceptional circumstances, the days off can be converted into monetary compensation, in accordance with the provisions stipulated for Recipients B. The Human Resources Management Office reviews the applications and provides a preliminary opinion to the head of the respective department, who then makes the final decision.

1. On the occasion of the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, and 45th achieved service anniversary, the individual concerned receives recognition of service loyalty for the years served with the State of Valais.

2. The anniversary year, which entitles one to recognition of service loyalty, is considered to be the calendar year in which the individual reaches the specified number of years of service.

3. The recognition of service loyalty is generally granted in the month of the service anniversary.

4. Teaching staff who retire at the end of the administrative year are entitled to recognition for the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, and 45th years of service, provided the anniversary date is September 1st of the same year.

1. Only service years completed at an institution recognized by the Department of Education are credited.

2. The calculation of service years begins on the first day of employment with the State of Valais, regardless of the employment level.

3. If the employment relationship does not exist for a specific period, the years of interruption will not be taken into account.

4. Unpaid leave or sabbatical years of one year or longer will not be considered in determining the service years.

1. The beneficiaries B are entitled to a recognition of service loyalty according to the following table

Years of Service | Recognition of Service Loyalty

5 years | 200 Swiss Francs net *

10 years | 500 Swiss Francs net *

15 years | 500 Swiss Francs net *

20 years | 500 Swiss Francs net *

30 years | 500 Swiss Francs net *

35 years | 500 Swiss Francs net *

40 years | 500 Swiss Francs net *

45 years * | 500 Swiss Francs net *

2. The amount is granted in proportion to the employment percentage at the time of the service anniversary. If this percentage is higher than 50 percent, the full amount of the recognition of service loyalty is awarded. If this percentage is 50 percent or lower, then the amount of the recognition of service loyalty is awarded at half.

1. Special attention is given to the 25th service anniversary, which is regarded as a significant event in a professional career.

2. ...

3. Jubilarians receive an amount of 3,000 Swiss Francs net. The amount is granted in proportion to the level of employment at the time of the service anniversary. If this is greater than 50 percent, the full amount of recognition for service loyalty is awarded, i.e., 3,000 Swiss Francs net. If this is 50 percent or less, the amount of recognition for service loyalty is awarded by half, i.e., 1,500 Swiss Francs net.

1. Except under special circumstances, an official ceremony in the presence of the Council of State, along with a small reception, shall be organized for the jubilees listed in the protocol guide.

**1.** Upon retirement due to age or health, the affected teachers shall receive recognition for their services.

**2.** They shall receive an acknowledgment valued at 500 Swiss francs net.

**3.** To honor the services rendered, the Department responsible for education shall organize a celebration, except under special circumstances, during which a communal meal will be held and the teachers will be honored. The invitation to this celebration shall be extended by the head of the Department.

**4.** In the event of resuming activity, consideration shall be given to the fact that the employee has already been granted the benefits provided for in this article.

1. Are considered particularly as beneficiaries C: the register holders and their deputies, the bee inspectors, the heads of commercial registry offices, the prefects, and vice-prefects.

1. On the occasion of the 30th service anniversary, the individuals concerned shall receive recognition for their loyalty for the years of service rendered to the State of Valais.

2. The calendar year in which the individual reaches the specified number of service years is considered the year of the service anniversary that entitles them to receive recognition for their loyalty.

1. Calculation of Years of Service

The calculation of years of service begins with the commencement of employment with the State of Valais, provided that the employment must not be interrupted.

2. Remuneration Requirement

Beneficiary C must have received at least one salary payment per year for the year of service to be considered.

3. Resumption of Employment

If the employment was interrupted, the day of resumption of work shall be deemed as the start of employment.

1. The jubilarians receive a recognition valued at 400 Swiss francs net.

2. The mentioned recognition of service loyalty is granted regardless of the employment level.

1. Upon termination of their duties, Beneficiaries C shall receive a recognition valued at 400 Swiss francs net for the services rendered to the State of Valais, provided that they have carried out their duties for a minimum of 12 years and have not already received a recognition for 30 years of service loyalty.

1. The Beneficiaries D are the presidents of the cantonal commissions, who have been appointed by the State Council and have served as president for at least 12 years, with the exception of the staff of the cantonal administration and the teaching staff of the canton.

1. Upon their departure, the D beneficiaries receive a token of appreciation valued at 200 Swiss francs net in recognition of their services rendered to the State of Valais.

1. The beneficiaries E receive a recognition worth 200 Swiss francs net if they have successfully completed their training.

1. An extraordinary recognition in the amount of 400 Swiss Francs net shall be awarded to the best trainee, the best EMVS intern, and the best BM-W intern. The person with the highest overall average is considered the best trainee or intern.

1. At the end of a school year, an official ceremony and a light refreshment may be organized in the presence of a member of the Council of State.

2. If necessary, the responsible department shall organize the ceremony through the Personnel Management Office and bear all incurred expenses (particularly meals, entertainment, appreciation).

1. Each department head may present an additional gift to their apprentices and interns (EMVS/BM-W) who have successfully completed their training, provided that the value does not exceed 100 francs per person, within the department's budget.

1. The heads of department are responsible for verifying the list of jubilarians and informing the personnel management office in case of discrepancies.

1. Upon request from their supervisor, the individuals affected by an anniversary or a departure shall provide the necessary additional documents.

1. The Personnel Management Office ensures the processing of acknowledgments and the management of personnel data for the cantonal administration and supports department heads in fulfilling their duties. It coordinates various activities and collaborates with other offices, particularly with the State Chancellery.

2. It is responsible for organizing the celebration for the beneficiaries E.

1. The Departments are responsible for all activities related to the organization of farewell ceremonies, in cooperation with the Human Resources Management Office.

1. The Department of Education compiles the list of schools that qualify for recognition of service loyalty. It ensures the administration of the teaching staff's years of service and identifies the jubilarians. It forwards this information to the Personnel Management Office.

1. The courts and the public prosecutor's office ensure the administration of years of service and identify the jubilarians. They forward this information to the personnel management department.

1. The State Chancellery is responsible for all activities related to the organization of celebrations for the jubilees, as specified in the State Council's protocol guide.

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2. The statutory provisions regarding social insurance contributions and taxation are applicable to the amounts of recognitions received by the beneficiaries.

1. This Regulation shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force retroactively on January 1, 2012.

2. It repeals all previous provisions and decisions that contradict it, in particular the Instructions on the Recognition of Service Loyalty and Retirement of August 24, 2005, and their amendments of August 12, 2009.