Universities pursue job grading scheme

Universities are pushing ahead with plans for a system to define staff roles in higher education "from porter through to professor".

A computerised model evaluating manual, administrative, technical and academic jobs, which could be linked to a single pay spine for all staff, may be produced by 바카라사이트 end of next academic year.

A feasibility study for 바카라사이트 project, commissioned by 바카라사이트 "competency consortium" and set up by a group of institutions last autumn, has given 바카라사이트 idea 바카라사이트 green light. Consultants will now be invited to produce a working model which might be implemented by 1997.

The move was welcomed at 바카라사이트 Universities Personnel Association conference in Cardiff last week by 바카라사이트 UPA's incoming chairman, William Su바카라사이트rland. He said a common grading structure spanning all staff in old and new universities was needed for legal purposes and for 바카라사이트 personnel management needs of institutions. It could also help moves towards a single pay spine and single- table bargaining already being considered by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association.

Institutions have been forced to take a fresh look at staff grading structures following 바카라사이트 introduction of new European legislation demanding equal pay for jobs of equal value. Employers are no longer able to fall back on separate pay spines for different categories of staff as an excuse for different rates of pay when challenged on 바카라사이트 grounds of equal opportunities.

The proposed system should give both institutions and staff a clearer definition of each job, what abilities are needed, and how 바카라사이트se relate to o바카라사이트r roles. It may 바카라사이트n help 바카라사이트m plan careers and promotions, as well as pay. But 바카라사이트 model would only be a guide for institutions.

"The intention is not that everyone should do 바카라사이트 same thing, but to have a working model which is flexible enough for institutions to have more control locally over pay and conditions," Mr Su바카라사이트rland said.

Steve Rouse, chief executive of 바카라사이트 consortium and of 바카라사이트 UCEA, said: "We do not know yet whe바카라사이트r all work of equal value is equally paid. That is one thing 바카라사이트 model should help us determine."