Employee Referral

Employees who introduce their friends or family members to career opportunities at Pinellas County may earn a day off.

• Referral Bonus video (script)

Who is eligible?

Any permanent classified County employee is eligible to receive a day off with pay if he or she refers a candidate who is hired by the County for a permanent position. The candidate hired may be classified or exempt status, but may not be a temporary employee.

How will my referral be noted?

The candidate must indicate the name of the employee who referred them on the supplemental questionnaire portion of their employment application.

What if the referral is for a different department?

The employee is eligible for the day off regardless of where the referred candidate is hired. For example, if a Board of County Commissioners (BCC) employee refers a candidate who is hired in the Property Appraiser's Office, the BCC employee is eligible for the day off with pay.

Is the day off 8 or 10 hours?

An employee earns one standard day off for a referral. The number of hours granted for the day off is 8 to 10 hours according to the particular employee’s standard work day.

How may the day off be used?

The day off must be taken at one time, scheduled in advance and used within six months of being awarded.

Whose referrals would not be eligible?

The following employees are NOT eligible to receive the referral bonus of a day off with pay:

• Exempt employee
• Employee who refers someone hired as a temporary worker
• Human Resources Department employee
• Supervisor who refers someone to work under their direct supervision
• Supervisor who supervised a volunteer who is hired as a permanent employee (even if it is in another department)

May I refer more than one person?

Yes. There is no limit to the number of days an employee can qualify for if s/he refers more than one person who is hired. However, only one employee will be awarded the day off per candidate hired.

How is the day off awarded?

Human Resources will send a certificate redeemable for one day off to the referring employee. When the employee uses the time off, s/he will give the certificate to their supervisor and designate the hours on their timecard in OPUS as LWP Other.