It’s a sign of the times when a once-juggernaut media company becomes desperate enough to start handing out lottery-winning sums for whatever ideas can get them out of this rut. Well, it’s better than just throwing what little money you have left into a giant bonfire at least.

Condé Nast, which took some tough hits in 2009 (along with most other magazine publishers), is now trying to raise employee morale — and trying to find its golden goose — by offering $10,000 every quarter to the staff member who comes up with the best idea for improving the company, The New York Observer reports. We’d suggest that $40K a year could pay for an outside consultant, but that’s so 2009.

The new Si Newhouse is all about being warm and accepting, as evidenced by last week’s Observer profile of the nicer, humbler, Chuck Townsend, Condé’s CEO. So get to work, Condé employees; there’s $10,000 up for grabs.

Read more: The $10K Contest at Conde Nast: Help the Company! –New York Observer

Previously: Condé Nast Hires Consulting Co. For “Realignment”, Conde Nast’s Positive Outlook