Evolution of an Employee:

Classification with Class

Evolution of an Employee:Classification with Class

Classification is the systematic process of

determining the skills, duties, & knowledge

required for performing jobs in an

organization.

Classification

Classification determines

compensation level and

required qualifications.

For instance, an unlikely

requirement for a plumber

would be a PhD.

Classification

It’s about the position

not the person.

K S As

Classification Systems

MU is Required to Use

The Commonwealth

More than 2,800 class titles, specifications and pay ranges developed and maintained by the Office of Administration.

Most MU positions are classified using these specifications

PASSHE

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Classifications

Commonwealth Classifications

• Clerk Typist 1, 2 and 3

• Equipment Operator A and B

• Applications Developer 2

• Locksmith

• Electrician, High Voltage Electrician, Electrician Foreman

• Management Technician

• Data Analyst 1

• Statistical Assistant

• Administrative Assistant

• Library Assistant, Library Technician

• Custodial Worker 1, 2 and Custodial Work Supervisor

• Cook 1, 2, Baker 1, 2, Food Service Worker 1, 2

• Artist Illustrator

• Building Construction Inspector

PASSHE Classifications

Oversees & approves the classifications

used for positions unique to the 14 state

universities

PASSHE Classifications

• State University Administrators

• Grant Funded Program Coordinators

• Managers

• Faculty

• Coaches

PASSHE Classifications

State University Administrators (SUAs)

and Grant-Funded Program

Coordinators (GFPCs)

• The Allocation Guidelines identify five levels -

Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

• The Guidelines include 11 benchmark positions

Benchmark

– Benchmark is a position commonly found in

organizations across various industries and

schools.

– Describes the function of the position

according to a standard so comparison of

similarities and differences is possible.

PASSHE Classifications

Managers

12 levels of managers

49 benchmark positions for managers

PASSHE Classifications

Coaches

Head Athletic Coach

Assistant Athletic Coach

Faculty

Instructor

Assistant Professor

Associate Professor

Full Professor

Occasionally, in the life of a division,

department or unit….

the nature, duties and responsibilities

of a position change significantly.

Typical times for change include:

• A new position is created

• A position is vacated

• Requirements and expectations have

significantly changed

• A position is changed as part of restructuring.

A review of a position’s classification

can be requested by:

• The Employee

• Her/his supervisor

• Human Resources

How is a position’s

classification reviewed?

Very carefully…

The Classification Review

Documents needed– Letter from supervisor agreeing to be interviewed as

part of the review

– An organizational chart of your department

– Your prior job description with discontinued duties

and responsibilities crossed out

– Your new job description with continuing and new

duties and responsibilities

– Your prior Essential Functions Identification Form, if

available

– Your new Essential Functions Identification Form for

the job as it is now configured

Properly described duties and

responsibilities are critical for an

accurate position classification.

The classification manager reviews:

• Nature, variety, scope of work

• Knowledge, skills and ability needed

• Complexity of work

• Supervision or guidance received

• Availability of procedures & guidelines to follow

• Originality

• Consequences of errors

• Degree of public contact & information shared

• Nature and finality of decisions

• Supervision or guidance exercised over others

Management classification involves

measuring the know-how, problem-solving

skills and accountability that any person in

the position would need to succeed.

SUMMARY

Classification is like identifying a bird.

Some identifications are easy.

Is this a barn swallow

or a woodpecker?

There are also very difficult

birds –

and positions –

to identify.

Factors that Don’t Count in

Classification

Quality of performance

Financial Need

Loyalty

Personal qualifications and experience

Dependability

Classification is not the volume of work

Writing 100 letters a day

instead of 10 letters a

day does not make me

a novelist; it just makes

me an overworked or

very fast letter writer.

Classification is not

about how nice someone is.

Classification is not an evaluation

of a person's performance.

A student is a student regardless

of whether he earns As or Ds.

A carpenter is a carpenter

regardless of the quality of

his/her work.

A pitcher is a pitcher

regardless of her

Earned Run Average.

Classification is about the

nature of the duties and

responsibilities permanently

assigned to a position.

Classification

It’s about the position

not the person.

K S As