By C1 Staff
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In order to attract more candidates, the Tennessee Department of Corrections is now offering a new signing bonus and employee referral program.
WGNS Radio reports that, beginning Monday, August 17, all new correctional officers and nurses will receive a $600 signing bonus.
Any employee who refers a new officer or nurse to the agency will receive a $100 bonus.
“Our new recruits frequently tell us that they heard about the great opportunities at TDOC from one of our current employees,” Commissioner Derrick Schofield said. “The signing bonus and referral programs help us compete with other industries for the best and the brightest applicants and rewards the staff that helps us recruit them.
The DOC is the state’s largest law enforcement agency. Reports recently stated that the DOC had lost more than 300 correctional officers after new overtime rules were implemented, which were said to create a more dangerous work environment.
After complaints were heard, the new overtime rules were relaxed, but the state is still catching up on prison staffing.