Some countries’ legislations require the evaluation of working conditions when applying a job grading system. A specialized gradar module allows the implementation of a custom model to this end.
From biological agents to adverse ergonomic conditions, there is a wide array of occupational hazards and stresses which may present risks to the health and safety of people at work. gradar can be used to analyze and evaluate working conditions, as well as psychological and physical stressors.
To evaluate the working conditions of a job, a procedure was implemented which supplements existing grades and factor descriptions with an additional, customizable module. This provides the data basis for fair and transparent allowance payment practices.
With this, the results of the job evaluation process remain organization-wide and internationally comparable, even if the working conditions in certain countries must be considering due to legal requirements.
It means gradar can be used in compliance with different equal pay acts and equal opportunity acts as some of these legislations require the analysis and evaluation of working conditions when creating remuneration management systems.
Experts, "Gurus"
Professionals
Skilled Labor
Un-skilled / Semi-skilled Labor
The Grade is a result of the project's dimensions: Timeframe, budget, leadership span, complexity, ...
General Management
Top Management
Middle Management
Supervisory
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Management
The evaluation of working conditions with gradar
The results of the evaluation of working conditions can be codified in letters and can be individually adapted for each organization.
In our example, for the sake of simplicity, letters are used to illustrate the use with four fictitious jobs:
- Job 1 - Warehouse worker: Unskilled worker in a warehouse without special responsibility and carrying only light goods.
- Job 2 - Cold storage worker: Unskilled worker in a warehouse with additional burden due to a cold environment, particularly heavy objects and the necessity to wear protective clothing.
- Job 3 - Administrative support role: Semi-skilled job without special responsibilities.
- Job 4 - Administrative professional role: Skilled job with responsibilities within the framework of guidelines.
With an analytical job evaluation the following grades were determined...
| Grade | Warehouse | Administration |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | ||
| 4 | Professional in Administration | |
| 3 | ||
| 2 | Warehouse Worker Cold Storage Worker |
Support in Administration |
| 1 |
In addition to the job-grading result, the working conditions are evaluated in a separate module. The evaluation includes the type, duration or frequency of stress and external influences.
| Grade | Warehouse | Working Conditions | Administrative | Working Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | ||||
| 4 | Professional in Administration | A | ||
| 3 | ||||
| 2 | Warehouse Worker | B | Support in Administration | A |
| Cold Storage Worker | C | |||
| 1 |
From an organizational theoretical perspective, the modular approach offers further advantages:
- The grade based structure of the positions is retained.
- The working conditions are adequately taken into account.
- Career steps remain justified in terms of content and requirements.
- The workforce perception of the job grading system is not negatively affected.
The gradar approach helps take working conditions into account when determining salaries in a fair and transparent manner to comply with local legislation.
Through a consistent evaluation of working conditions, the same standards can be applied across all places in the population of the organization. Different types of burden and stress can also be considered, making the allocation of allowances fair and comprehensible.
The aim of this table is to show that the assessment of working conditions in a separate location simplifies the process, makes it more transparent and minimizes the possible negative effects on career structure and salary administration.
It also makes it possible to reduce the workload, with homogeneous working conditions for the entire workforce. Anything that is not relevant for the differentiation of job evaluation could either be omitted or simplified by an organization-wide standard description.
The gradar standard algorithm for the evaluation of working conditions
The standard algorithm for the evaluation of working conditions contains the following factors:
- Psychological stress
- Static physical efforts
- Dynamic physical efforts
- Unilateral physical efforts / forced posture
- Skill requirements
- Mechanical and physical external influences
- Nuclear, biological and chemical external influences
In the gradar algorithm for the evaluation of working conditions, a stress level is selected for each factor and provided with a time portion of the stress.
These factors should be used as the basis of a customized model, with internal equivalency relations of the different categories determined by the company.
Duration of the burden / exposure
- No relevant duration of exposure
- Up to 10% of the working time
- Up to 25% of the working time
- Up to 50% of the working time
- Up to 75% of the working time
- Extended throughout the entire working time
Psychological stress
This factor evaluates the psychological stress associated with the execution of core tasks for each position. These can include confrontative situations, the risk of psychological trauma and high demands on attention disorders caused by external interruptions of the workflow.
- No significant burden
- Low stress due to conflict, interruption of concentration or demand on attention
- Average stress due to conflict, interruption of concentration or demand on attention
- High stress due to conflict, interruption of concentration or demand on attention
- Significant burden of conflict, interruption of concentration or demand on attention
Static physical efforts
This factor is used to evaluate the stress caused by static loads. A ‘static load’ is primarily understood to mean static posture or holding work in which one or more muscles have to be tensed for a certain period of time, without any other movement, in order to transfer forces to tools, operating elements or other workpieces.
- No significant effort
- Low static stress on muscles
- Average static stress on muscles
- High static stress on muscles
- Considerable static load on the musculature
Dynamic physical efforts
This factor is used to evaluate the stress that occurs as a result of dynamic loads. This is a load that requires the simultaneous use of several muscle groups or body parts such as lifting or carrying, handling tools or workpieces and lifting and transferring patients.
- No significant effort
- Low dynamic stress on muscles
- Average dynamic stress on muscles
- High dynamic stress on muscles
- Considerable dynamic strain on the muscles
One-sided physical strain / forced posture
This factor evaluates stresses primarily caused by one-sided physical strain, usually accompanied by forced postures. This means unfavorable or unnatural postures which are necessary for - and could cause complaints during - the execution of the work. It’s impossible to vary posture during performance of these work tasks.
- No significant strain
- Low stress due to forced postures
- Average stress due to forced postures
- High stress due to forced postures
- Considerable burden due to forced postures
Skill requirements
This factor evaluates skill requirements and includes the coordination of senses and motor skills. These skills are used to carry out precise movements for adjustment or production work with small tolerances. The effort required and the movement deflections are low. This factor also evaluates the demands on the agility of the entire musculoskeletal system in order to carry out work in places that are difficult to access.
- No significant requirement
- Low demands on fine motor skills or body dexterity
- Average requirements for fine motor skills or body dexterity
- High demands on fine motor skills or body dexterity
- Highest demands on fine motor skills or body dexterity
Mechanical and physical external influences
This factor evaluates the stress caused by external conditions that primarily have a mechanical or physical effect on the entire body, such as heat, dirt, dust and cold. The need to use protective equipment or clothing serves as an additional indicator of the gradations.
- No significant burden
- Low burden, no protective clothing or special equipment required
- Medium burden, some protective clothing required
- High burden, full protective clothing or special equipment is required
- Extreme burden, massive full protection is necessary for life support
Nuclear, biological and chemical external influences
This factor evaluates the exposure to external conditions that primarily have a nuclear, biological or chemical effect on the body down to below the cellular level. The need to use protective equipment or clothing serves as an additional indicator of the gradations.
- No significant burden
- Low burden, no protective clothing or special equipment required
- Medium burden, some protective clothing required
- High burden, full protective clothing or special equipment is required
- Extreme burden, massive full protection is necessary for life support
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