Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

What is the Job Evaluation System (JES) project?

• The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador intends to introduce a new job evaluation system and classification framework for unionized positions within government departments, the education sector, the healthcare sector, and selected government agencies.
  
• A job evaluation system is a method for measuring the value of jobs in a systematic, consistent fashion.
  
• The proposed new Job Evaluation System is a point factor system, that is, it is a system that will assess a job based on nine factors covering the four broad criteria of skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions.

What is job evaluation?

·         Job evaluation is a means of determining the relative value of jobs within an organization.

• Job evaluation focuses on the scope and duties of the job.
  
• Job evaluation focuses on job content (“what is done”) and not individual performance or seniority (“how well it is done”).

What is the status of the JES Project?

• Government has engaged Deloitte Inc. to assist with the development of a new job evaluation system.  A Project Steering Committee has been created to review and advise on project activities. The Steering Committee is comprised of eight members (four management and four labour representatives - Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE), Association of Allied Health Professionals (AAHP), Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union (NLNU), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Newfoundland and Labrador Health Board Association, Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards via Nova School Board, and the Public Service Secretariat (PSS).
  
• The next step is to continue with a Pilot Project. The Pilot Project will evaluate approximately 135 job classes. Approximately 600 employees will be requested to complete a Position Description Questionnaire (PDQ) from June 2009 to October 2009.

Why has Government begun this project?

• Government has determined that it is appropriate and timely to develop and implement a new job evaluation system for the purpose of establishing a classification framework that ensures internal equity, is free of gender bias, and meets the needs of a modern public service.
  
• The overall objective is a new Job Evaluation System that is flexible, user-friendly, efficient, transparent, consistent in evaluation, and understood by users.  

How many employees will be affected?

• Approximately 25,000 unionized employees, allocated over approximately 1,200 job classes, will be covered by the scope of this project.

How have job classes been selected for the pilot project?

• Job classes have been selected by the Union and the Employer.
  
• These 135 job classes represent a cross-section of the approximately 1,200 job classes across the broader public sector. Pilot job classes are well-distributed over all employers, unions, departments, and geography.

How have employees been selected to participate in the pilot project?

• A percentage of employees from each job class have been selected to participate based on a representative sampling strategy. The employees were selected based on consultations among the union representatives, Government’s Project Manager and the employers, and are well-distributed among all employers, unions, departments, and geography.

How does this impact salary? Will employee’s salary change? Could employee’s salary be lower?

• The purpose at this aspect of the project is to determine whether positions are rated properly in relation to each other.

Will an employee’s position description change?

• During the Pilot Project selected employees will be asked to complete a Position Description Questionnaire (PDQ) to accurately reflect current duties and responsibilities. An employee’s current Position Description may serve as a guide in completing the PDQ.

How can an employee become involved?

• While employees are selected by the unions, project manager and employers to participate in the Pilot Project, if an employee has an interest in participating, he or she can forward a request to the project e-mail address, JES@gov.nl.ca and /or call the Classification and Compensation Division, PSS, at 729-3383.

Is employee participation mandatory?

• Employee participation is critical to the success of the project, but is voluntary. If an employee is selected and chooses to decline, he or she must advise the PSS either through email at jes@gov.nl.ca or by phoning 729-3383 so an alternate can be selected.   

Will employees receive support to participate in the pilot project?

• Once an employee has been selected for and agrees to participate in the pilot project, support will be provided. This will include paid time off for training and completion of the PDQ, and human resources support as required.
  
• If employees have specific questions when completing the PDQ, they may contact the Deloitte Job Evaluation Analyst at 1-888-758-5246 or by e-mail at gnljes@deloitte.ca.

Who can I contact for further information?

• Newsletters will be developed and FAQs will be updated as the project progresses. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please direct them to JES@gov.nl.ca  and /or Classification and Compensation Division, PSS, at 729-3383.