JOB EVALUATION PROJECT

Update; December 8^th, 2009

This past summer was phase one of the pilot study, which involved mostly NAPE general service workers.  There were 147 employees invited to participate in the project which included a three hour training session and completion of the Job Description Questionnaire (PDQ); these 147 represented 55 different classes.  Only 63 people (43 %) attended training sessions, and by mid-September there had been 40 PDQ’s returned (of the 63).  Obviously the response was quite low!

Phase two of the pilot started in October, and this included “health care” among others.  We had identified our 29 AAHP participants earlier the Summer with the expectation that those people would receive letters by late August.  On September 9^th and it was realized that the Health Care Boards had not yet sent out those letters to invite participation in the pilot project.  Training sessions were scheduled for various locations throughout the province from September 28^th to October 16^th, and there was an expectation that PDQ’s be completed by early November.  Also, managers/supervisors/PPC’s were to participate in the training sessions.  Most AAHP members received their letter to participate in time for the training sessions.  In late September it was realized that unfortunately our members in Central were not notified of their participation by HR, and there was some last minute “scrambling” to get them included.   There were many delays by all union members in returning completed PDQ’s, and 12 of 29 AAHP were particularly late; however, it was ascertained that seven of those were delayed at the manager stage.  The final, overall return numbers of completed PDQ’s for the pilot study have not yet been given by Deloitte, but should be known by a mid-December meeting.  (It should  also be mentioned that because of the low turnout from phase one, there were “alternates” selected from that summer group of classes so that they could participate in the Fall training sessions along with phase two people).

The next significant part of this JE process is for the steering committee to function as a “sore-thumbing” committee for the pilot study evaluations/ratings (which are being done by Deloitte personnel).  There are three days in December (15^th to 17^th), three days in January (26^th to 28^th), and one day in February (11^th), for meetings to participate in this “sore-thumbing” exercise. 

By mid-Winter the pilot should be finished, and then it’s to the main, overall JE.  There’s already been a meeting of the JE steering committee in late October to have a preliminary discussion regarding the “employee selection strategy” for the main phase of the JE project.  A number of variables were considered necessary in order to obtain a good representation of employees in all classifications, (i.e. rural – urban; acute – rehabilitation – long term; male – female; etc.).  Finalization of the selection process for the overall main phase of JE will happen this Winter.

There’s been discussion at the steering committee regarding a “benchmark” committee at that main stage; the MOU says two-thirds management and one-third union representation.  We will have to give consideration to whom from AAHP participates in the “benchmark” process.

I expect that by early February, following the bench marking process, I will be providing a further update for our members.

Edgar Gaulton
AAHP Representative - Job Evaluation Committe