Sandia diversity efforts recognized

Sandia leaders championed diversity and modeled an inclusive culture. Five Sandia employees received Black Engineer of the Year Awards. Twenty Sandia employees received national diversity awards in conjunction with their employee resource groups. Additionally, 100 percent of Sandia leaders attended diversity training in FY18.

4/10 work schedule successful

The successful pilot of a 4/10 alternative work schedule at Sandia/California led to leadership approval of offering a 4/10 option Labswide. The rollout of this flexible schedule option provides Sandia with a new tool for attracting and retaining employees in a competitive hiring environment. Surveys conducted before during, and after the pilot showed a dramatic increase in work schedule satisfaction among pilot participants. The data-driven pilot resulted from a collaborative, cross-disciplinary, cross-site effort among California Human Resources, Systems Analysis and Human Factors. (8000, 9000)

New performance system measures results, behaviors

Leveraging Honeywell best practices and responding to employee and leadership feedback, Sandia implemented a new performance management system that links employee performance and development by measuring results and behaviors. The system encourages leadership engagement and professional development conversations, assesses employee contributions fairly and supports pay-for-performance principles. Sandia tailored Honeywell’s performance behaviors to an FFRDC environment and launched the Management Resource Review, which resulted in formal succession plans and clear line-of-sight for associate Labs director and director positions.

Healthcare package, Medicare contracts create savings

Sandia delivered a healthcare benefits package below benchmark costs, with benefits better aligned with changing demographics. In addition, new Medicare contracts will result in additional cost avoidance in FY19 and FY20, with anticipated savings of $10.2 million. The anticipated savings enables flexibility to address other Labs priorities within normal budgets, avoiding an increase of fringe budget to cover higher healthcare costs. The strategy for cost savings enhances the Labs’ total rewards package through consumerism, effective management and active employee engagement in managing health risks.