Questions and Answers about the AFSCME Clerical Classification Study

What if a position has duties that fall into one or more of the three series: Administrative/Office, Financial Support/Accounting and Operations/Student Services?

There will be some positions that have duties in more than one series or classification. Employees will initially be placed in classifications based on their current classification as described in the realignment document. If an employee or manager believes this slotting process placed their position into the wrong series but believes the level of work (i.e. principal vs. executive) to be correct then a position description questionnaire/document will be reviewed by a compensation analyst to determine the appropriate series. The compensation analyst will look at the entire position and consider which series represents the majority of the work and/or the main focus of the position.

What if the position is slotted in the right series but the wrong level?

The levels in each series are differentiated by knowledge, skills and abilities as well as the work. If an employee or manager believes this slotting process placed their position into the wrong level then a job evaluation questionnaire (JEQ) will need to be completed and reviewed by a compensation analyst to determine the appropriate level. The JEQ score will be the primary driver in determining the appropriate level for a position. The skills and knowledge required are key factors in the JEQ.

What type of positions would fall in the Program/Project Specialist?

The concept of this job is very unique. The main focus of positions that belong in this classification is to handle all administrative aspects for a program/project. The work must include high-level decision making and be performed very independently. Job duties should include evaluating and determining the best processes and procedures from an administrative standpoint. It is not necessarily a progression from the executive level.

What classes will go into the Program/Project Specialist classification?

We will not place any positions into this class initially. Individuals will be placed in this position through job analysis. The initial analysis we conducted which led to the determination of these eight classifications did show that we do currently have some individuals performing this type of work in the clerical unit.

What will be the process to review all the positions currently falling into the General Services Assistant classification?

The compensation unit will send out a JEQ form to the employee and ask the employee and the supervisor to complete it. Some employees will choose to complete the JEQ and others will not. We are not going to force employees to complete a JEQ.

What will the impact be on clerical/office supervisory or confidential classifications in Civil Service?

Over the years, the class titles and pay ranges have been different for clerical and civil service employee groups. The work in Civil Service will not be immediately reviewed. For now ranges will remain unchanged and there will be no immediate impact.

Will any of these classifications require typing tests?

Not all positions within the broad classifications will require a typing test. However, units will continue to have the ability to specify particular requirements (including a typing test) for the unique work that exists in their unit.

How will seniority work?

Employees will bring whatever seniority they have in the existing classifications into the new classifications. For example, if an employee has two years as an Office Specialist, two years as a Data Entry Coordinator, and two years as an Accounts Specialist. They would now have four years as a Principal Office/Administrative Specialist and two years as a Principal Accounts Specialist. Looking at the application of seniority today, both classification and university seniority affect personnel decisions such as bumping and layoff. At this point, we have not been looking to change that.

What is the timing of this change?

We are expecting this change to happen some time this fiscal year (prior to June 2006). We are hoping the transition may occur sometime between January and March of 2006 but we are not sure at this point.

Will the levels with the same JEQ point ranges have the same pay ranges?

Yes, at this point that is what we are recommending.

Are we committed to ensuring that the proposed changes to classifications would not result in lowering the salaries of employees moving into the new classifications?

Yes, this is part of the memorandum of understanding that we agreed to in previous negotiations.