2.4 Incentives and Consequences

On this page:
2.4.1 Accountability and Responsibilities
2.4.2 Incentive Programs
2.4.3 Consequences for Poor Performance

MIT has established incentives and consequences to support EHS performance.

2.4.1 Accountability and Responsibilities

MIT's faculty, researchers, staff, and students are all responsible individually for implementing the EHS Management System, and for complying with MIT's high EHS standards as well as federal, state, and local EHS regulations, and other requirements. In addition, faculty, researchers, students and staff are expected to employ best feasible management practices to ensure a safe, healthy and environmentally sustainable campus.

The responsibility for satisfying MIT's EHS Requirements is designed to flow through the supervisory chain:

• From individual researcher, student or staff member;
• To Principal Investigators or other Supervisors, who are responsible for compliance with EHS Requirements by members of their labs or groups;
• To DLC Heads/Directors, who are responsible for their DLC's performance;
• To the Vice Presidents and Deans, who are responsible for their School's performance
• To the EHS Council and other Committees, responsible for overall Institute performance and oversight, in close consultation with the Environmental Programs Office (EPO), and
• To the Senior Officers of the Institute

2.4.2 Incentive Programs

MIT has two recognition programs, "Appreciation" (spot) awards and "Infinite Mile" awards, to recognize excellent performance of academic and administrative employees in a particular area or a project to supplement the Periodic Performance Review process. 

Appreciation awards are small awards - such as thank-you notes, gift certificates, lunches and other small prizes - given at the time of a specific achievement to provide immediate and spontaneous recognition of an exceptional contribution by an individual and team. 

Infinite Mile awards are larger financial or non-financial awards that recognize excellent contributions to the objectives of each strategic area within the Institute. The Institute has been organized into a number of clustered groups to enable each area to customize and implement an Infinite Mile Awards program that reflects the work, values and/or behaviors specific to that area. DLCs include EHS performance as one of the criteria for determining these awards.

MIT also has an Institute-wide Rewards and Recognition Program (MIT Excellence Awards) to recognize excellent contributions to the values and goals of MIT's mission statement.An appointed Selection Committee chooses these awards annually with award categories such as "Making a Difference...in the Workplace. " EHS contributions qualify for this award as well. MIT is also considering whether to establish a specific Institute-wide EHS award.

2.4.3 Consequences for Poor Performance

MIT has established an organizational structure with designated staff such as DLC EHS Coordinators and EHS Office Lead Contact to support DLCs in complying with EHS regulations and good EHS practices.

Members of the MIT community, including faculty members, researchers, staff, and students, are responsible for complying with MIT's high EHS standards as well as federal, state, and local EHS regulations and good EHS practices. In the event any member of the MIT community fails to fulfill his or her responsibility, appropriate consequences, as described in the Corrective Actions and Consequences Framework / Guideline (PDF) document, apply. Consequences in all departments, labs or centers will be applied in a way that is consistent with MIT’s human resources or academic disciplinary procedures.