The province is creating an award recognizing long-serving health-care workers and encouraging them to donate the $100 value of award back to the health-care system.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority called for proposals Wednesday for long-service awards and a website where the honourees can choose from 20 high-quality awards valued at $100.

"NSHA would like to provide the employee an option to forgo their award and donate the value of their award to patient care at Nova Scotia Health Authority," the tender says.

Donation a tool for website

Those eligible are doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals, management and non-unionized staff with 25 or more years of service as of March 31, 2016 — more than 1,900 people.

"NSHA is offering awards as a way to say thank you for the essential service they provide to Nova Scotians," the tender states.

The health authority says the $100 donation is not mandatory.

"We do not anticipate that most employees will choose this option; however some will appreciate and use this option and therefore a tool to be included on the website for this optional choice," the tender tells potential vendors.