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Compensation and Classification Redesign Project

your work, your pay, your career

Compensation and Classification Redesign Project
Job Information Pilot
(May 15 - June 29, 2009)

The Your Work, Your Pay, Your Career project continues to move forward in planning the future design of a new job compensation and classification system for all non-organized Professional and Scientific (P&S) staff. The next step of the project is to gather information on individual jobs using a new Job Information Form (JIF).  The information provided will help us to better understand jobs within the University and initially place individual jobs in a function, job family and job family progression.  Before implementing the JIF with all non-organized P&S staff, we have elected to first conduct a pilot with approximately 150 staff members selected randomly across the twenty job functions.

If you have other questions, please forward them to:  comp-class-redesign-project@uiowa.edu

What is the Job Information Form (JIF)?

We need a consistent method to collect job information for all non-organized Professional & Scientific (P&S) employees.  The Job Information Form (JIF) was created for this purpose.
The initial purpose of the newly created JIF is to understand your job so that a preliminary assignment can be made in the new classification structure.  This will also serve to validate the work of the expert panel process to ensure an accurate correlation and understanding of all jobs within the University.  Eventually the information collected in the JIF along with the work from the Expert Panels will be used in the process of valuing jobs in the new compensation structure.

What is the process and why is it a pilot?

At some point in the redesign project every non-organized P&S employee will be required to complete a JIF.  Before implementing the newly created form for all the non-organized P&S employees (approximately 5,000), we want to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of the JIF. We have opted to do this by randomly selecting a small number of non-organized P&S employees (~150) to complete the pilot process.

What specifically are individuals in the JIF pilot being asked to do?

1. Complete the Job Information Form to the best of your ability.  This is a Microsoft Word 2003 “fillable” form consisting of approximately 11 questions.  Questions were created utilizing a combination of multiple choice (check the box and drop down menus) and open-ended (unlimited text box) questions.  For many questions, we ask you to provide examples.

2. Consult with your immediate supervisor, manager or Unit Human Resources Representative if you have questions or need assistance in completing the form.

3. When finished completing the form, log into the Employee Self Service page and submit in workflow to your immediate supervisor for review and approval. (We will notify you when this application is available.)

4. Your supervisor will review, approve and forward it in workflow to the next departmental/organizational level for approval.

5. Your organization/division will submit it to Compensation and Classification for review. 

In order to complete the pilot process in a reasonable amount of time, the deadline for completing all five steps by June 29, 2009.

How long will it take to complete the JIF?

Completion time for the JIF will vary based on the individual completing the form.  Some may complete it in as little as 1-2 hours; others may opt to take more time.  Locating and referencing your individual job description may be helpful to you in completing the JIF.

How were individuals chosen for the JIF pilot?

From a list of the approximately 5,000 non-organized P&S staff, each individual was assigned one of the 20 job functions based on their current classification description (e.g., the Accountant classification (PB16) was grouped into the Business and Finance function).  From each of the 20 lists, random numbers were generated using an online number generator and the individual in the list associated with that number was identified to participate in the pilot.  This process allowed us to select a proportionate number of individuals from each of the 20 functions.  It’s important to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of the JIF for all types of positions and functions.

Why would I want to participate?

By participating you will play an important part in helping us to evaluate the effectiveness, and usability of the JIF. This will also be an opportunity to describe your work, clearly state the important aspects of your job and to participate in this important project.  Also, by participating now, you will not be required to complete the JIF again when it is rolled out to the rest of the non-organized P&S staff.

Do I need to be concerned if the responses I provide in the Job Information Form are significantly different or appear to be inconsistent with my current job classification and grade level?

No.  We recognize there are a number of staff members who have University classification descriptions that do not accurately reflect their current duties and responsibilities.  The current classifications will be replaced with new, more specific classifications, reflecting skill, effort and responsibility.  It’s for this reason we encourage you to complete the Job Information Form as accurately as possible to the best of your ability.

What happens after Compensation and Classification receives my completed JIF?

Each JIF will be reviewed individually and your position will be preliminarily placed in a job function, job family and job family progression, if appropriate, based on the work of the twenty expert panels.  One very important outcome of the pilot process will be to identify if any job functions, job families or job family progressions are missing.

Will I be notified of the preliminary placement of my position?

Yes, but not until a later date when we have finalized the job families and job family progressions.  The information gathered from the JIF pilot may influence the job families and job family progressions.  Individuals who disagree with the evaluation and job classification of their individual job will have access to an appeal process.

Will the JIF replace the current Position Description Questionnaire (PDQ)?

Yes, for the purpose of gathering current job information on individual positions, however, we have not yet decided what form, tool or process will be used for reclassifications and the establishment of new positions in the new compensation and classification system.

E-mail us your questions and/or comments to comp-class@uiowa.edu

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