Job Classification

Job classification is a qualitative form of non-analytical evaluation that compares jobs to predefined class descriptions for each job level. Considering different categories of tasks and responsibilities, jobs are placed in whichever classification best describes them. This approach is most common in compensation surveys and collective labor or shop agreements.

Job Matching to level descriptions

Non-analytical job matching is based on the level - or grade - descriptions of a predefined structure. To decide where to put each job, grade definitions are used that cover characteristics like skill, decision-making and responsibility - but only as a group. There is no separate analytical evaluation conducted or needed to classify a job. For the purpose of job evaluation, the whole-job description is compared to the grade definitions. Then it is determined which level the job most closely correlates with and is placed into the grade structure. Most compensation survey vendors use a combination of job classifications and comprehensive job family descriptions to determine a benchmark survey job match.

The problem with extensional definitions

These generalized grade definitions are not much help in making structured detailed comparisons between individual jobs. And it’s tricky to fit complex jobs into a grade without using over-complicated grade definitions. From a scientific point of view such extensional definitions are problematic as they can only contain what was known about and to be expected of jobs at the time of writing.

Job Classification and Internal Equity

In the UK and many other countries, only analytical methods of job evaluation should be used as a defence in an equal pay claim. While it’s important to distinguish between the different approaches, in practice it’s very difficult to do so.

Another challenge users of non-analytic methods face appears when there are very heterogeneous populations of jobs in an organisation. An analytic scheme provides the option to reach the same grade with different combinations of factor levels. A non-analytic levelling structure is more static and it can be very difficult to assign the correct level to a job that is “in between” two levels or combines requirements that stretch across several levels.

Compensation Survey Rosetta Stone

Our read-across compensation survey rosetta stone provides orientation for comparing gradar grades with job classification and levelling systems from several survey vendors as well as national labour agreements. This overview facilitates the participation in surveys and is the foundation for our compensation benchmarking features in gradar.

gradar gets job grading ready for the 21st century

gradar is an analytical, point-factor based job grading system developed for modern day requirements. Focusing on agility, transparency, fairness and ease of use, gradar comes with a future-proof set of factors and career paths.