Keeping in line with Secretary Wos’ initial promise and desire to hear the comments and suggestions of all DHHS employees, a new web-based “suggestion box” is now live at http://suggestionbox.dhhs.state.nc.us/ .

Since the Secretary began taking suggestions in January, we have received nearly 100 comments and suggestions. We thank you for that! Many of the suggestions that DHHS employees submitted were both valid and innovative ideas for improving the department. This new web-based suggestion box will not only help us to review and respond to suggestions faster, but it will also allow all employees across the state to have a sense of an “open-door” policy!

Secretary Wos realizes that there is no one who knows what is and is not working better than our employees out in the field. We want to hear your voice! We want to know what we could do better, but we also want to know what is working. If you or your department are working in an efficient manner that you think should be implemented elsewhere, please let us know! As a department, we must continue to work as a family, where everyone has a voice and where everyone has the opportunity to affect change.

So, how will the site work? First and foremost, employees will be able to access webpage via any computer and the information will be used to hear your ideas. The information will be reviewed and assigned to a knowledgeable individual to respond to you. All submissions should average a response time of five business days. Depending on the complexity of the suggestion, the response will also explain any future actions it may require and updated periodically.

While the hand-written comments and suggestions method will still be available should employees wish to submit anonymously, the website will require “name” and “email address.” There are two reasons for asking for contact information: (1) to provide you a response and/or explanation to your submission; and (2) should a suggestion need to be looked into further, there is very little that can be done with anonymous submissions.

We do want to take this opportunity to remind employees that any information communicated in the department may still be subject to public records laws and you should be careful what information you choose to share; however, the site administrator will never share your name or email address when gathering information for a response to you.

We hope that you all will find this new feature user friendly and an effective tool to have your ideas heard!