• Shuffle
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Alphabetize
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Front First
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Both Sides
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Read
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
Reading...
Front

Card Range To Study

through

image

Play button

image

Play button

image

Progress

1/98

Click to flip

Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;

Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;

H to show hint;

A reads text to speech;

98 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
What is Positions Classification?
Position Classification is the process of identifying a position's duties and responsibilities so that the position's title and grade and be determined
What agency establishes position classification standards?
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
What are the six terms essential to understand for classification?
1. Occupational Group
2. Series
3. Grade
4. Position
5. Classification Standard
6. Job Grading Standard
What two types of positions are broken down into occupational groups?
1. White Collare Positions (GS)
2. Trades, Crafts, and Labor (WGS - Wage Grade)
What does a positions grade signify?
A position grade identifies the range of difficulty, responsibility, and level of qualification requirements. Ranges from 01 through 15 for GS positions.
What is listed on the position description?
Job duties and responsibilities. Major duties are broken down by percentage of time spent on that function
What is the classification standard for wage grade positions?
The Job Grading Standard
How is the Job Grading Standard defined?
By Skills and abilities, responsibilities, physical effort, and working conditions.
Classification Standard
Provides a basis for assigning positions the appropriate title/series/grade.
Grade
ARequirements and level of difficulty
Series
The number identifying the occupational group and position
Occupational Group
A Group of jobs requiring similar skills and qualifications
Position
Certain job duties and responsibilities required for an employee to perform
Job Grading Standard
The Classification Standard for Wage Grades
Paramount Requirement
Knowledge, Skills, and Abiliities which are required and needed to perform the main duties of the position

Example: A veteran's service representative's primary duty would be to serve as the primary contact for the veteran
Major and Minor Duties
Major Duties are the fundamental responsibilities that define the position

Minor Duties are additional position responsibilities that may influence the series and grade level and should be considered when classifying a position
Regular and Recurring Duties
Duties performed in a continuous, uninterrupted manner or at recurring intervals
One time only and temporary duties
Become part of the job but do not affect position or series grade level.
Projected Duties
Those expected to occur in an existing or new position. May be used to classify a new position for recruitment.
Why is it important to make sure that a PD is up to date
An employee may be receiving an unfair wage
What are the four steps to the PD review process?
1. Review the existing PD
2. Research similar PDs from the job series
3. Compare and contrast the existing PD with those found in research
4. Decide to conduct a PD review meeting with the employee to discuss the existing PD
Where are existing PDs located?
1. FASCLASS website
2. US Office of Personnel (USAJOBS)
Where do classifcation requests come from?
Some can come from service chiefs
Who reviews PDs when a higher classifification is revised to show eligiblity for a higher wage grade?
The Position Managemnt Committee at the facility
What three steps should be taken when researching a position?
1. Identify regulations and policies
2. Review classification and job rating standards
3. Gather information about duties and responsibilities
What is the position description standards format for General Schedule positions?
The Factor Evaluation System (FES)
What are the Five categories of work in the GS system?
1. Professional
2. Administrative
3. Technical
4. Clerical
5. Other
What is the position description standards format for FWS (Federal Wage System) positions?
Job Grading System
What are the three wage rate schedules under the job grading system?
1. Wage Grade (WG) - Non supervising employees
2. Wage Leader (WL) - Leader Employees
3. Wage Supervisor (WS) - Supervisory Employees
What is the Position Description standards format for GS Supervisory positions?
GSSG - General Schedule Supervisory Guide
What do position descriptions written in the FES format consist of?
1. A listing of major duties
2. A description of the duties using nine evaluation factors
What are the nine evaluation factors used when writing PDs using the FES format?
1. Knowledge required by the position
2. Supervisory Controls
3. Guidelines
4. Complexity
5. Scope and Effect
6. Personal Contacts
7. Purpose of Contacts
8. Physical Demands
9. Work Environment
At what grade level should PDs be written?
No higher than an eighth grade level.
How often does the VA require that PDs be reviewed and certifified by the supervisor?
Every two years
What can an employee do if they are not satisfied with a classification after it has been reviewed?
They may file and appeal with the agency or to the OPM to request a change in the position's grade, occupational series, job title, or pay plan. They cannot appeal other things within the PD.
What rights does an employee have when his or her classification concerns are not resolved?
1. File a formal appeal
2. Request a representative to assist in preparing and presenting the appeal
3. Receive a reasonable amount of time to prepare the appeal
Where are classification appeals filed?
Agency: VA Central Office, Washington DC

OPM
What is position management?
Position Management is the assurance that work is organized and assigned in a manner that serves the organizations needs efficently and economically providing the greatest total value to the VA
What are the key tasks of position management?
1. Identify the mission of the organization
2. Evaluate the duties and tasks needed
3. Assemble the duties into individual parts
What is position management?
Position Management is the assurance that work is organized and assigned in a manner that serves the organizations needs efficently and economically providing the greatest total value to the VA
What are the key tasks of position management?
1. Identify the mission of the organization
2. Evaluate the duties and tasks needed
3. Assemble the duties into individual parts
What are some benefits of effective position management?
1. Reduced employee turnover
2. Reduced recruitment problems
3. Reduced Error Rates
4. Reduced Backlogs
5. Reduced Grievance and Complaints
6. Reduced Excessive Layering
How are positions whose duties fall in more than one occupational group classified?
Usually by using the grade controlling duties (highest level of work).
What position title should be used on official documents relating to a position?
The title in the classification standards.
What is the purpose of a position title?
To communicate an immediate understanding and identification of the job.
When is the use of a parenthetical title appropriate?
When it is decided that it would add materially to the understanding and identification of the position.
When a parenthetical title is used, what must be included in the position description?
The position description must reflect the duties which support the parenthetical designation.
What should a classifer do if there are no specific grade level criteria for the work being classified?
The classifer should use an appropriate general classification guide or criteria in a sandard or standards for related kinds of work.
What duties usually controll the grade assigned?
The duties which contorl the qualifications of hte job and constitute the primary reason for establishing the position are usually grade controlling.
What is used most often to classify supervisory positions?
OPM's Supervisory Guidance
What is included in OPM's supervisory guidance?
Definitions of managerial and supervisory work and criteria for titling and grading supervisory positions.
What steps should classifers take to classify any management position?
1. Apply criteria for measuring program management work as provided in the standard for the series to shich the position is classified or in related standards of guieds which measure program management duties and responsibilities.

2. Apply the supervisory classification guide to positions whose supervisory duties and responsibilities meet minimum requirements for coverage by the guide.
How is the proper grade of mixed grade positions determined?
By evaluation of the regularly assigned work which is paramount in the position. This is usually the highest level work assigned and performed by the employee for the majoirty of time.
Name the other three determinants of the grade in a mixed grade position.
1. Is the work assigned on a regular and continuing basis?
2. Is the work a significant an substantial part of the overall position?
3. If the position became vacant, would a higher level of knowledge and skills be needed to perform the work?
How can a person impact the classification of a position?
While it is the position which is classified, the relationship of the employee to the position can be recognized when the performance of the incumbent broadens the nature or scope and effect of the work being performed
What should happen when a position classified differently as the result of the impact of an individual is vacated?
When a position which has been affected by the impact of an individual is vacated, it should normally revert to its original classification.
What are the two categories into which interdisciplinary positions can generally fall?
1. Positions which involve a specific combination of knowledges characteristic of two or more professional series.

2. Positions which involve knowledge which is characteristic of either of two or more professional series
How is the final classification of an interdisciplinary professional position identified?
The final classification of the position is determined by the qualifications of the person selected to fill it.
What is a "Paramount" requirement?
The "Paramount Requirement" of a position refers to the essential, prerequisite knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the primary duty or responsibility for which the position has been established.
What positions are classified under the Federal Wage System?
Positions that clearly require trde, craft, or labor experience and knowledge as a requirement for performance of their primary duty, and that requirement is paramount, are classified under the FWS regardless of the jobs organizational location or the nature of the activity in which it exists.
When is a position exempt from the General Schedule?
A position is exempt from the General Schedule if its primary duty involves the performance of physical work which requires knowledge or experience of a trade, craft, or manual-labor nature.
When is a position subject to the general schedule?
A position is subject to the General Schedule, even if it requires physical work, if its primary duty requires knowledge or experience of an administrative, clerical, scientific, artistic, or technical nature not related to trade, craft, or manual-labor work.
What factors should be taken into consideration when a positions classification system cannot easily be determined?
(a) the nature of work products or services of the organization, (b) working relationships with other positions in the organization
(c) normal lines of career progression
(d) equitable pay relationships with other positions in the immediate organization
(e) management's intent or purpose in creating the position.
What supervisory positions are exempt from the general schedule?
Any position in which the primary responsibility is supervision over trades, crafts, or manual labor work is exempted from the General Schedule
What supervisory positions are not exempt from the general schedule?
Positions which involve primarily managerial responsibility for trades, crafts, or manual labor functions are not exempt from the General Schedule
Name supervisory roles are indicators of a position's proper classification under the general schedule?
Planning and revising organizational structure.
⎯
Planning, revising, and coordinating programs.
⎯
Planning general work flow and methods.
⎯
Deciding overall goals and standards.
⎯
Budgeting and exercising fiscal control.
⎯
Determining needs for space, personnel, equipment, etc.
When are inpections positions covered by the Federal Wage System?
An inspection position is covered by the Federal Wage System when it primarily requires trades, crafts, or manual labor knowledge and experience and has as its primary purpose
When is an inspection position covered under the General Schdule?
An inspection position is subject to the General Schedule when it primarily requires knowledge and experience in administrative, professional, technical, or managerial work and has as its primary purpose
What factors determine if work under a field of science or art is classfied under the FWS?
⎯
The manual work is not fundamentally dependent on any professional or technical knowledge in the science or art, except that the names of things directly related to the manual tasks performed or the materials handled are associated with the science or art; and
⎯
The manual work is auxiliary or collateral to the science or art rather than an integral part; and
⎯
The manual work is not a part of training for work which is an integral part of the science or art.
What factors determine if work under a field of science or art is classfied under the GS?
⎯
The manual work requires professional or technical knowledge in the science or art; or
⎯
The manual work is an integral, although subordinate, part of the science or art; or
⎯
The manual work is a part of training for work which is an integral part of the science or art.
The manual skills are specialized to the field in which the work is done; and
⎯
The specialized skills are not normally acquired through experience in a trades, crafts, or manual labor occupation; and
⎯
The position primarily requires knowledge and experience in the application of specialized skills of the field in which the work is done.
What is functional classification?
The functional classification for scientists and engineers is a system for describing the kinds of work activities of employees who are scientists or engineers
What does functional classificatoin consist of?
functional categories plus a miscellaneous “Other-Not Elsewhere Classified” category

A civil engineer that is primarily responsible for DESIGN is a 0810 (21).
Describe the primary standard.
The Primary Standard serves as a “standard-for-standards” for the Factor Evaluation System (FES). Factor level descriptions for position classification standards are point rated against the Primary Standard. Thus, it serves as a basic tool for maintaining alignment across occupations.
What are the nine factors used for grading FES positions?
1. Knowledge required by the position
2. Supervisory Controls
3. Guidelines
4. Complexity
5. Scope and Effect
6. Personal Contacts
7. Purpose of Contacts
8. Physical Demands
9. Work Environment
How are standards written before 1977 fomatted?
Standards written before 1977 are usually written in a narrative format.
What is the method most often used to assign grades to nonsupervisory positions under the general schedule.
The Factor Evaluation System
What do the factor level descriptions in individual standars and guides show?
In essence, they show the application of the Primary Standard to a specific occupation or group of related occupations.
What are benchmarks?
Benchmarks describe work situations that represent significant numbers of positions in the particular occupation. They state the duties performed and reflect each of the nine factors as they relate to those duties. These benchmarks have been point rated using the factor level descriptions in the standard.
What is the first step that a classifier must follow when evaluating a position under FES?
prepare a position description in FES format
The ________ standard establishes factor levels in broad, conceptual terms.
The Primary Standard
When can the primary standard be used?
The primary standard may only be used to point rate an individual position factor when that factor fails to meet the lowest, or exceeds the highest, factor level in the applicable FES standard.
What action should be taken if the point value on as FES evaluation using a standard falls on the borderline between two grade levels?
Carefully review the evaluation of each factor level to be sure the interpretation is correct.
How are trainee and developmental positions classified?
By either using the Primary Standard, other FES standards, or both.
Name the four guidelines used to determine the correct series for a position.
1. Paramount Knowledge Required.
2. Reason for the position's existence
3. Organizationl mission and/or function
4. Recruitement Source
How are the terms "supervisory" and "lead" used in classification?
They are titles intended to supplment the basic title after the agency has classified the position.
Can agencies develop organizational titles?
Yes. These do not replace, but rather complement official position titles.
When are parenthetical titles used?
Parenthetical titles are used to denote a specialty within a series. They must use the specialties as defined in the standard. However, if none have been developed agencies may use custom specialties as long as no more than two are used.
How was the basic scale developed for grading jobs in the Federal Wage System?
Using a framework of key ranking jobs to serve as the basic pegpoints of the grade structure.
What are the four factors that are used to grade a FWS position?
1. Skill and Knowledge
2. Responsibility
3. Physical Effort
4. Working Conditions
What is the purpose of job grading standards?
To insure interagency equity in job grading and wage rates.
What do job grading standards provide to classifiers?
The criteria for grading, titling, and coding jobs.
Name some examples of broad job grading standards that are common to a number of jobs in various occupations.
1. Helper
2. Inspector
3. Supervisor
4. Leader
What is typicall found in a non-supervisory job grading standard?
1. Summary of the kind of work covered by thee standard
2. Titles of the jobs covered by the standard
3. Details of the work covered
4. How to apply the standard
5. Information for distiguishing trades and labor work from GS work
6. Grade levels defined by the factos of skill and knowledge, responsibility, physical effort, and working conditions
What are the three steps by which a job is graded using a federal wage standard?
1. Study the job, including its purpose and relationship to other jobs.
2. Analyze the work done and its requirements
3. Determine the correct grad by comparison with grade definitions an appropriate job grading standard.
When comparing a job with the factor information on a job grading standard, how should a grade determination be made?
The appropriate grade is the grade value, overall, of the total job rather than a mechanical addition of individual factor judgements.
How is compensation for employees that work in conditions of an unusual nature determined?
Related skills and knowledge necessary to work in unusually difficult conditions should be taken into account in the classificaiton of the job if the conditions are recurring. They may also be compensated by the use of enviornmental pay differentials rather than job grading.
When comparing a job to job grading standard, must the job comform to a grade evaluated in the standard?
No. The grad given may be one that is not described in the standard. "The particular grades defined in the standard provide a basis for comparing and assigning the proper grades to jobs."
What are the two rules tha must be applied when assigning a grade to a mixed job using the job grading standards?
1. A mixed job should be graded in keeping with the duties that (1) involve the highest skill and qualification requirements of the job and (2)