HomeMy WebLinkAboutMorley 07-07-09
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IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION
BETWEEN:
GEORGIAN COLLEGE
("the College")
and
ONTARIO PUBLIC SERVICE EMPOYEES UNION
("the Union")
AND IN THE MATTER OF A CLASSIFICATION GRIEVANCE OF MARINA
MORLEY (#634908)
ARBITRATOR:
Ian Springate
APPEARANCES:
F or the College:
Cathy Brown, Director of Human Resources
F or the Union:
Jillian Peacock, President, Local 349
HEARINGS:
In Barrie on April 4 and May 2, 2007
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DECISION
INTRODUCTION
On April 3, 2006 the grievor submitted a grievance in which she claimed that
she was improperly classified as a Clerk General Atypical at payband 9. She asked
to be re-classified as a Support Services Officer ("SSO") C at payband 11. The
various level ratings advanced by the Union in these proceedings would actually
place the position at payband 12. In her grievance the grievor contended that the
appropriate position description form ("PDF") for her position was one that she and
her manager, Mr. Brain Muscat, General Manager of Housing Residence Life and
Conference Services, had agreed to in December 2005.
These proceedings were conducted pursuant to a job evaluation plan that was
in place when the grievance was submitted but which has since been replaced by a
different plan.
THE ISSUE OF THE APPLICABLE PDF
At the hearing neither the Union nor the College contended that the December
2005 PDF referred to in the grievance should be utilized in these proceedings. Ms.
Jillian Peacock, the Local Union President and the spokesperson for the Union,
contended that a PDF that was signed by the grievor and Mr. Muscat on February 14,
2006 and subsequently rated by a Classification Committee was the appropriate
document. Ms. Cathy Brown, the College's Director of Human Resources and
spokesperson for the College, contended that the applicable PDF was one dated July
13, 2006 that had also been evaluated by the Classification Committee. At the
hearing Ms. Peacock and Ms. Brown addressed the issue of the applicable PDF and
then agreed that I should reserve on the matter and address it in my decision.
In their submissions Ms. Peacock and Ms. Brown put forth their
understanding of the history respecting the various versions of the PDF. They
appeared to be in general agreement with respect to the key events, which are
discussed below.
A September 2005 restructuring at the College impacted on a number of
positions, including the one occupied by the grievor. In December 2005 the grievor
and Mr. Muscat agreed on the wording of a proposed new PDF for the grievor's
position. Certain entries in the document included language that was also found in
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the criteria for some of the factor ratings in the applicable job evaluation manual.
This proposed PDF was sent to the College's Human Resources Department which
expressed concerns about some of the entries in the document. This led the grievor
and Mr. Muscat to produce a somewhat revised PDF which retained most of the
language from their original proposal. Mr. Muscat and the grievor signed this
document on February 14, 2006. A note on the front page of the PDF form states
that an employee's signature indicates that they have read and understood the
document.
The Human Resources Department forwarded the February 2006 PDF to a
Classification Committee to be evaluated. Based on this PDF the Committee rated
the grievor's position that of a Clerk General Atypical at payband 9. This evaluation
appears to have been done on March 10, 2006.
The grievor submitted her grievance on April 3, 2006. In it she set out the
following desired settlement:
To have the position description that my Manager, Brian Muscat and I
had agreed upon and originally submitted to HR for classification on
December 5, 2005 be recognized as the true and accurate
representation of my position and be classified as a SSO C, payband
11 and that the College make me whole.
At a step one grievance meeting Ms. Brown asked the grievor if there was
agreement on the PDF. The grievor replied that there was not. The College's
written brief described what happened next as follows:
During the grievance process, the grievor did not agree with the job
description. HR worked with the grievor and her manager to re-write
the position description. It was evaluated and remained a Clerk General
Atypical at payband 9. The grievor rejected this position description as
well and wished to proceed to arbitration without agreement on the
position description.
Although the grievor and Mr. Muscat were given the opportunity to address
the terms of a proposed new position description it is clear that the document was
drafted by Human Resources and rejected by the grievor. This version involved a
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major re-writing of the document that had previously been evaluated by the
Classification Committee and addressed at the grievance meeting.
At the hearing Ms. Brown indicated that the College had come to recognize
that there were difficulties associated with having a PDF written by an employee and
his/her manager. She said that the approach was open to manipulation and also the
employee and their manager would not have an overview of the College and how
other positions had been evaluated. She gave the example of a manager and an
employee saying that the employee faces many deadlines but unlike Human
Resources they would not be able to compare the job with jobs in accounting.
At the hearing Ms. Brown indicated that at about the time the grievor
submitted her grievance several other employees had filed grievances which
challenged their classifications although they did not take issue with the PDFs for
their positions. I infer from her comments that the College did not prepare new
PDFs with respect to the other positions. Ms. Brown indicated that because the
grievor had disagreed with her PDF at the grievance meeting the College understood
that it was open for Human Resources to re-write the PDF.
The PDF prepared by Human Resources was assessed by the Classification
Committee on July 13, 2006. The Committee changed certain of the ratings it had
previously assigned to the position but the payband remained unchanged at payband
9.
At the hearing Ms. Brown contended that the PDF rated by the Committee on
July 13, 2006 should be the one used in these proceedings. Ms. Peacock contended
that the PDF signed by the grievor and Mr. Muscat on February 14, 2006 should be
the one used. The grievor said that she was willing to forfeit her claim that the
December 2005 document should be the one utilized.
THE WORDING OF THE JOB EVALUATION MANUAL AND THE
COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
The applicable job evaluation manual addressed the role of a PDF in the job
evaluation plan and who was responsible for its preparation as follows:
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The PDF is intended to reflect the assigned duties and responsibilities
of the position. It is not intended to represent a detailed working
procedure or a list of infrequent or miscellaneous duties occasionally
assigned to the position.
The College defines the position duties and responsibilities and
structures the position. The College:
-Identifies and defines the job to be performed
-Assigns the level of responsibility to the position ensuring that
no duplication in accountability results.
-Determines the qualifications and skill level required to do the
job.
Purpose of the Position Description Form
The Position Description Form provides the incumbent with a clear
statement of the duties assigned by the College.
It provides valuable source data for the following acitivities:
-classifying the position within the organizational structure of
positions;
-recruitment and selection processes;
-performance appraisal;
-other processes such as training, development and employee
relations.
The provisions of the collective agreement which touch on a PDF and the role
of a PDF in the grievance/arbitration process read as follows:
7.2.2 Position Description Form
Each employee will be provided with a copy of his/her current
Position Description Form (PDF) upon the date of hire and/or at the
employee's request.
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7.2.3 Classification information
Within ten (10) days of receipt of a written request by an employee,
the College will provide to the employee, the point rating by factor for
his/her position.
7.2.4 Reclassification
When the College reclassifies a bargaining unit position to another
payband, the College will notify the Local Union and provide the
position title, name of incumbent, the former payband, the new payband
and the effective date of the reclassification.
Upon request by the Local Union, the College shall provide the Position
Description Form (PDF) for the reclassified position.
18.4.2 Grievance Process
18.4.2.1 Step I - Meeting and Information Provided
The College Official shall arrange a meeting within fourteen (14)
days after receiving the grievance to permit the employee and a Local
Union representative the opportunity of making representations in
support of the grievance.
The College Official shall ensure that the current Position Description
Form (PDF), as per Article 7.2.2, is provided at least five (5) days prior
to the meeting. At the meeting, the employee must first indicate in
writing whether he/she is in agreement with the PDF and if not what
specific disagreements he/she has with it. A discussion to resolve any
differences shall then take place. At this meeting, following discussion
on the PDF, both parties will exchange, in writing, the point rating by
factor for the position in dispute.
18.4.2.2 College Official's Decision
Within fourteen (14) days after the receipt of the point rating by factor
from the Union, the College Official shall give his/her decision in
writing. It is understood that the grievance cannot proceed further until
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the point rating by factor and the specific disagreements on the PDF, if
any, have been received by the College Official, in writing from the
Union.
18.4.2.3 Referral to Arbitration After Step I
Where the grievance has not been resolved at Step I but there is
agreement concerning the PDF, the matter may be referred directly to
Arbitration by notice in writing given to the College within fourteen (14)
days of the date the grievor should have received the College decision
under Step I. The matter will be referred to a single arbitrator as
provided in Article 18.4.3.
18.4.2.4 Step II
Where the grievance has not been resolved and where the grievor is not
in agreement with the PDF, then he/she shall refer the grievance in
writing to the President of the College within fourteen (14) days of the
date he/she received or should have received the decision.
The President or his/her designee shall convene a meeting concerning
the grievance within fourteen (14) days of the presentation, at which the
grievor shall have an opportunity to be present. The President or
his/her designee shall give his/her decision in writing, within fourteen
(14) days following the meeting.
18.4.2.5 Referral to Arbitration After Step II
Where the grievance has not been resolved at Step II the matter may be
referred to Arbitration by notice in writing given to the College within
fourteen (14) days of the date the grievor should have received the
College's decision under Step II. The matter will be referred to a single
arbitrator as provided in Article 18.4.3. On mutual written agreement
signed by the Local Union and the College, the matter shall be referred
to an Arbitration Board as provided under Article 18.4.4 .1.
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18.4.5.1 Restrictions
The single Arbitration or Arbitration Board is restricted to determining
whether the grievor's PDF accurately reflects his/her assigned job
content (where disagreement exists) and to determining whether the
grievor's job is properly evaluated pursuant to the CAAT Support Staff
Job Evaluation Manual.
THE FINDING WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICABLE PDF
The statements in the job evaluation manual about the College defining a
position's duties and structuring the position and about the College identifying and
defining the job to be performed indicate that responsibility for the preparation of a
PDF rests with the College. This is reinforced by the statement that a PDF provides
an incumbent with a clear statement of the duties assigned by the College. It is also
supported by Articles 7.2.2 and 7.2.4 of the collective agreement which refer to the
College providing a PDF to an employee or the Union on request.
Article 18.4.2.1 of the collective agreement indicates that during the grievance
procedure and prior to a step I grievance meeting a grievor is to be provided with a
copy of the current PDF and is entitled to challenge this PDF at the meeting. If there
is such a challenge there is to be a discussion aimed at resolving the differences.
The language of the agreement suggests that during or as a result of the grievance
meeting the College might decide to agree with a grievor's position respecting the
appropriate wording of the PDF, the grievor might come to acknowledge that the
PDF as written is accurate or there might be agreement on changed language that
satisfies both sides. If agreement is not reached on the PDF the grievance is not to
be referred directly to arbitration but rather to the College President prior to a step II
meeting. Logically at this meeting the parties will have another opportunity to try to
resolve issues relating to the accuracy of the PDF.
As discussed above, the College is responsible for producing a PDF. When
doing so responsible College officials can seek input from the employee and his/her
manager but the ultimate responsibility for producing the document rests with the
College. Given the nature of the process, logically any views expressed by an
employee's manager leading up to the finalization of a PDF or any agreement
between the employee and their manager about what should be in the document
cannot bind the College. Accordingly, there was nothing inappropriate about the
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Human Resources Department seeking changes to the proposed PDF that the grievor
and Mr. Muscat had agreed to in December 2005.
The involvement of Human Resources resulted in a PDF which the grievor
and Mr. Muscat signed on February 14, 2006. Human Resources forwarded this
document to the Classification Committee to be assessed. By doing so Human
Resources on behalf of the College effectively adopted the document as the PDF for
the grievor's position. The initial rating given the grievor's position was based on
this PDF. This was the PDF in place when the grievor submitted her grievance. It
was also the PDF that was discussed at the step I grievance meeting.
At the grievance meeting the grievor noted that she did not agree with the
February 2006 PDF. As touched on above, the collective agreement indicates that
during the grievance procedure the parties through discussions can seek to resolve a
dispute respecting the wording of the PDF. Failing agreement the accuracy of the
PDF is one of the matters to be placed before an arbitrator. The language of the
collective agreement does not contemplate that an employee's objection to the
accuracy of part of a PDF at a grievance meeting will enable the College to start the
process all over again and write an entirely new PDF. Indeed, such an approach
. runs directly counter to the grievance process outlined in the collective agreement.
In light of these considerations I am satisfied that the PDF to be used in these
proceedings is the one that was signed by the grievor and Mr. Muscat on February
14, 2006 and sent by Human Resources to the Classification Committee to be
evaluated.
THE FACTORS AND POINTS IN DISPUTE
The applicable job evaluation system called for 12 different job factors to be
rated and assigned points. The original rating of the grievor's position resulted in a
total of 582 points. As noted above, the second rating changed the points for certain
of the job factors. Attached to the College's written brief was an arbitration data
sheet dated March 20, 2007 listing management's current ratings for all 12 factors.
These ratings resulted in a total of 626 points. Both point totals come within the 571
to 630 range for payband 9.
The Union advanced different ratings than the College for most of the job
factors. The differences are addressed below. The Union's written brief also
addressed the factor of training/technical skills although at the hearing this factor
was no longer in dispute. The Union advanced higher ratings than did the College
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for the factors of motor skills and sensory demand but did not address them in its
written brief. It appears that when the brief was prepared the Union understood that
the College was in agreement with the Union's rating for motor skills. The ratings
advanced by the Union for the various job factors would result in a total of 789
points. This would place the grievor's position within the 751 to 810 point range for
payband 12.
One factor not addressed at the hearing was work environment. This factor
had originally been rated at level 1 worth 10 points by both the College and the
Union. The College subsequently raised its rating to level 2 worth 32 points, higher
than what was being claimed by the Union.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE GRIEVOR'S POSITION
The grievor works in Housing, Residence Life and Conference Services. She
reports to Mr Muscat the General Manager. There was at least one previous
incumbent in her position. The grievor oversees admissions to the College residence
and also oversees related accounts payable, accounts receivable, collections and
financial information management. In addition to Mr. Muscat and the grievor the
section employs a Residence Life Manger, an individual assigned to off-campus
housing and employees who oversee residence maintenance. In the summer the
residence operates as "Summer Suites", frequently in connection with conferences.
There is a Summer Suites Operations Supervisor and a Conference Services
Manager.
The College residence has 525 beds. The grievor testified that she takes out
of consideration rooms for staff members and students with disabilities as well as
allotments for international and aboriginal students. She indicated that she also
removes from immediate consideration three rooms with a total of six beds which
serve as a "cushion". She said that a lottery is held to determine who will be offered
the remaining beds during the large September intake. She noted that 50 of the beds
are assigned to returning students.
The grievor testified that offers of accommodation are made to more students
than the number of beds actually available since some offers will be declined. She
gave the example of her making offers to 385 students when there are 370 beds to
fill. The grievor indicated that based on the number of declined offers as well as
unused portions of the international and aboriginal student allotments additional
offers are sent out to students on a waiting list. In response to questions from Ms.
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Brown the grievor agreed that she over offers rooms by a percentage and should she
want to double that percentage she would discuss the matter with Mr. Muscat.
The grievor testified that a $150 deposit was formerly collected from all
applicants and this amount was either applied to their residence fees or returned to
them if they were not accepted. She said that the refundable aspect of the payment
created a lot of work and she proposed that an application fee replace the deposit.
She said that Mr. Muscat took the proposal forward and a non refundable $50
application fee was instituted.
The grievor testified that she is the one who ensures that student accounts are
in order. She said that she applies late payment charges to student accounts or has a
member of the front desk staff do so. She said that she keeps in touch with students
who are in arrears with their payments or who have run up large phone charges. She
noted that she can revoke a student's long distance and internet privileges. She said
that she can also ask the Registrar's office to put a hold on a student's academic
record to stop them from graduating or registering for a course while their residence
account remains outstanding. She indicated that she has threatened to refer an
account to a collection agency but requires Mr. Muscat's permission to actually do
so.
The grievor testified that she had introduced new cash handling processes for
the front desk staff which makes them individually responsible for money in their till,
entries made during the day, deposits at the end of their shift and whether or not they
balance.
The grievor testified that she can arrange payment plans for students who are
awaiting OSAP payments and in a September intake there might be five to seven
such arrangements. She said there is a formal process by which subsequent deferrals
of up to $1,500 in residence fees can be allowed although this is seldom done.
The grievor testified that when students move into residence they are charged
a $200 "community deposit" to cover potential damages. She said that she oversees
these deposits and the sums are either returned or retained depending on the amount
of damage to the residence. She said that when damage exceeds $200 she sends out
notices to students for additional amounts and does collections for the sums involved.
The grievor testified that two student employees do night audits, one of whom
serves as her assistant. She said that these individuals raise any discrepancies they
cannot resolve with her. She gave the example of a payment by Visa being posted
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as having been a Master Card payment or funds posted to the wrong account. She
said that she participates in the hiring of the night auditors and also trains them. The
grievor said that students who work at the front desk are trained by a Front Desk
Supervisor but recently due to the number of errors they were making she had the
front desk staff come in one evening and updated their training.
The grievor testified that her other duties include deciding whether or not to
approve refunds for students who leave residence early. She said that she also
receives accounts payable invoices, confirms that the work being billed for was done
and forwards the invoice to accounting.
THE FACTOR OF EXPERIENCE
The job evaluation manual described this factor as one that measured: "the
amount of practical experience in any related work necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the position". The College rated this factor at level 4 worth 45
points. The Union argues for a level 5 rating worth 57 points. The criteria for these
levels as well as illustrative classifications set out in the job evaluation manual read
as follows:
4. More than three years and up to five years of practical
expenence.
Clerk General D; Secretary B, C; Technician C; Technologist B
5. More than five years and up to eight years of practical
expenence.
Programmer/Analyst C, SSO D; Technologist C
The grievor testified that from 1989 to 1992 she had worked as a rental agent
for a property management company and from 1992 to 1995 she was with a small
business services company. The grievor started working in the College's Physical
Resources Department in 1998 as a part-time office clerk. She was hired on a full-
time basis in November 2001 as a Clerk General C reporting to the Manager of
Building Services. The grievor described her job function as tracking expenditures
for projects. The grievor started in her current position in or about August 2003.
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When glvmg evidence the grievor contended that more than five years
experience is required for someone in her position since the job requires a lot of
collection experience as well as experience in conflict resolution.
Mr. Muscat testified that if he were to hire someone for the grievor's position
he would look for a good three years of accounting experience so that the individual
would have had a variety of experiences, including in accounts receivable, accounts
payable, reconciliations and collections. He said that on the admissions side he
would look for a year or two of experience in a rental market, either at a residence
hall or working for a landlord. Mr. Muscat subsequently said if he had carte blanche
he would like a minimum of five years experience but he could do with less. He
also said that some people could do the job with less than five years experience but
some people might need more than this.
The PDF contains the following entries with respect to the required minimum
amount of practical experience:
A minimum of five years work related experience with a focus on
accounting duties, budgeting knowledge and experience
reviewing/writing policies and procedures related to finance and
admissions.
Five years or more experience in conflict resolution and negotiations as
this position meets with and negotiates with students, parents,
department staff and Summer Suites clients regularly.
A minimum of five years experience performing multifaceted positions
simultaneously is required as this position manages all residence
admissions processes and all fmancial requirements for two operations.
It is apparent from Mr. Muscat's evidence that while he would prefer that
anyone newly hired into the position have more than five years of relevant
experience he feels that some individuals with less experience could perform the job.
The PDF, however, states that what is required is "a minimum of five years work
related experience" with a focus on accounting and related experience, as well as
"five years or more experience" in conflict resolution and negotiation. This
language is reasonably read as requiring more than five years experience and not
more than three and up to five years of experience. Given the wording of the PDF I
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conclude that the grievor's position should have been rated at level 5 for the factor
of experience.
COMPLEXITY
The job evaluation manual said that this factor measured the amount and
nature of analysis, problem solving and reasoning required to perform job-related
duties. It measured the conceptual demands of a job as characterized by the analysis
and interpretation required for problem and solution definition, as well as creativity,
mental challenge, degree of job structure, planning activities and the variety and
difficulty of tasks.
The College rated the grievor's position at level 4 worth 58 points. The Union
argues for a level 6 rating, the highest possible, worth 90 points. The criteria and
illustrative classifications for these ratings as well as the intermediate level 5 rating
wql1h 74 points were as follows:
4. Job duties require the performance of varied, non -
routine, complex tasks involving different and unrelated
processes and/or methods.
Clerk General D; Library Technician B; Programmer A, B
5. Job duties require the performance of complex and
relatively unusual tasks involving specialized processes
and/or methods.
Programmer/Analyst A; SSG B, C; Technologist C
6. Job duties require the investigation and resolution of a
variety of unusual conditions involving the adaptation
and/or development of specialized processes and
methods.
Programmer/Analyst B,C; SSG D; Technical Support Specialist
All three ratings related to job duties that are complex and non-routine and
which require unrelated processes or methods. At issue is whether the grievor's
tasks are unusual and also whether they involve specialized processes and/or
methods or perhaps the adaptation and/or development of specialized processes and
methods.
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The grievor said that an example of an unusual task was her fmding a large
revenue shortfall for Summer Suites. She said that the College had actually received
the money but she had to find out where it had been posted to. She also referred to
her dealing with an international student who did not understand written documents
or reminder letters and when she met with them she became aware that they did not
know how to cook. She said that she raised the student's situation with the
Residence Life Manager. The grievor also gave the example of someone on the
front desk staff advising her that they had "messed up" in handling a student's
payment.
The grievor contended that she employs specialized processes, including
fmancial systems that are specialized to a residence and the use of a lottery process.
She said that she had developed specialized processes and methods by developing
different methods for recording information.
When addressing this factor Mr. Muscat said that the residence was the fITst
one at the College and "we" had developed in-house processes. He said that with
financial procedures "we" might need to do things differently and so adaptations are
made. He added that when problems arise "we" look at the problems and make
changes. Mr. Muscat agreed with a statement by the grievor that she cannot make
major changes on her own but is able to make adaptations within her position. He
added that the grievor makes adaptations all the time and gave the example of her
deciding where the male and female rooms would be when the numbers changed.
The PDF contains the following entries which describe the grievor's tasks as
unusual and suggest that her duties involve unique adaptations and customized
solutions.
It is recognized that this position has a high degree of diverse
multifaceted responsibilities of a complex nature pertaining to the split
of managing the residence admissions area and finance area for two
operations. A variety of unusual tasks that involve investigation,
problem solving, reasoning, analytical thinking along with the ability to
review, create and implement policies are core to this position.
Unusual problems arise frequently and can be unique in content E.g.
front desk staff will approach the incumbent when a request is made for
a unique adaptation, sometimes by a resident with a medical condition,
a learning disability or just the need for a customized solution. The
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incumbent must investigate the situation and provide a customized
solution such as a payment plan, authorize a refund or any adaptation
that must be made when not adhering to the contract or current policies
and procedures.
Works with I.T. on the lottery selection process and room assignment,
problems arise during this process that requires the incumbent to
investigate and resolve before this process can be completed. Because
there is always unique problems this process can take several days to
complete and up to 4 hours to initialize once information is verified and
ready to be implemented.
In its written brief the Union contended that the grievor is responsible for
reviewing, creating and implementing new policies and procedures, managing
admissions processes and analyzing fmancial and occupancy reports. In its brief the
College contended that the grievor's tasks are varied, non-routine and complex but
there is a fair amount of repetition. It also said that the same outcomes must be
sought and situations vary in only minor ways. The brief argued that the grievor's
tasks are not unusual and do not involve specialized processes and methods. It
contended that her tasks are to admit students to residence, collect information and
fees correctly, record collections accurately and provide information to management
as required.
The PDF's references to "a variety of unusual tasks" and "unusual problems
arise frequently" establish that the grievor engages in relatively unusual tasks. The
PDF's reference to the grievor providing customized solutions suggests that
specialized processes and/or methods are involved. Given these considerations the
grievor's duties meet the criteria for a level 5 rating.
The criteria for a level 6 rating require the investigation and resolution of a
variety of "unusual conditions". The use of the term "conditions" suggests
something broader than unusual fact situations or tasks. This is reinforced by the
fact a SSO D is an illustrative classification for a level 6 rating. The fITst two typical
duties of someone in this position set out in the manual are "identifies requirements
of outside groups for College services and develops programs to meet these
requirements" and "markets College capabilities to outside groups". There is
nothing in the evidence or PDF that suggests the grievor addresses such broad
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general issues or adapts specialized processes to meet unusual conditions. The.claim
for a level 6 rating had not been made out.
I fmd a level 5 rating to be appropriate.
JUDGEMENT
This factor measured the independent judgement and problem solving
required on the job. It assessed the difficulty in identifying various alternate choices
of action in exercising judgement to select the most appropriate action. It also
considered metal processes such as analysis, reasoning or evaluation.
The College rated the grievor's position at level 5 worth 84 points. The Union
argues for a level 6 rating worth 102 points. The applicable level defmitions and
illustrative classifications were as follows:
5. Job duties require a significant degree of judgement. Problem-
solving involves interpreting complex data or refming work
methods or techniques to be used.
Programmer B; Stationary Engineer C; Technologist B
6. Job duties require a high degree of judgement. Problem-solving
involves adapting analytical techniques and development of
new information on various situations and problems.
Programmer/Analyst A, B; SSG C; Technologist C
As discussed below, the wording of the PDF with respect to this factor is
ambiguous. It points to both a level 5 and a level 6 rating. The full discussion of
this factor in the PDF reads as follows:
The position demands a significant degree of independent judgement and
problem solving skills as the incumbent solely controls all admissions to
Residence in addition to managing the receipt of more than $3,000,000 in
College revenue for the Residence and Summer Suites operations. The
incumbent must take the initiative when dealing with situations that are
the exceptions to standard practice, and require the creative thinking and
the ability to make sound decisions quickly in order to provide the best
possible customer service while not threatening College image or
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student/staff relations, all decisions must be fair even when deviating
from standard practice.
In order for the incumbent to negotiate, correctly identify and accurately
resolve problems, anomalies and/or discrepancies, he/she must
thoroughly understand the functionality of other areas such as that of the
following departments: International, Aboriginal, the Centre for Access,
Student Life, Accounting, as well as researching and probing to learn the
needs of individual parents/students, clients, etc.
This position requires a high degree of independence. Problem solving
requires assessing, interpreting and analyzing data and/or situations, and
determining the necessary steps required to implement a solution. The
incumbent must adapt analytical techniques and develop new information
on various situations and problems, which includes the development of
new techniques, policies and procedures.
The incumbent is often required to make independent assessments of
problems as they arise and provide accurate and timely responses to the
situation while maintaining a positive working relationship with those
involved. Examples of the diversity of problem solving encountered
include:
The incumbent is authorized to act in a disciplinary manner when
enforcing the Residence contact and therefore must act with diplomacy,
tact and be able to display sound judgement when making decisions. The
incumbent must possess full knowledge of Residence processes and
policies and when necessary, must be able to make a judgement call to
customize a solution based on each extenuating circumstances, with the
confidence to override such standards if or when necessary. It is at the
incumbent's discretion to determine what would be an effective measure
of discipline and when to initiate measures such as but not limited to:
disengaging of services, initiation of an eviction procedure, have a "hold"
placed on student's College records thus affecting their potential to
graduate. It is also the incumbent's sole discretion to involve an external
collections agency, this results in a negative mark against an individual's
personal credit rating.
When new initiatives are brought forward, problems or unusual
circumstances are identified the incumbent will investigate, analyze, and
19
discuss the issues with the various affected staff members, parents,
residents/students, and other departments such as Accounting,
International Center, Department of Career and Student Success, and
staff to coordinate the parties involved, the incumbent will then make a
decision on how best to proceed.
The incumbent must be able to assist in the transition of students in
residence who have never been away from home, or had to be
responsible for his or her own fmancial dealings. The incumbent will
meet with students and assess their financial and accommodation
situations. At times the incumbent may decide to communicate a
problem with, or make a referral to others such as the Residence Life
Manager, the International Centre, Student Success, the student's
international agent, or other staff to research the problem further in order
to give recommendations and to determine the best approach to improve
the resident's transition. For instance, through discussions with a
resident the incumbent may be their only person that is informed that the
student is not happy, is not eating, is homesick, etc. It is at the discretion
of the incumbent to determine the proper way to handle his situation as
well as to source out assistance for the student.
When dealing with a resident's move out and refund request or appeal
situations, the incumbent must investigate the matter, the incumbent will
meet with the resident to explain proper procedures and may decide to
request supporting documentation from a resident from time to time. The
incumbent has full discretion based on each situation to override policy
and refund monies when necessary.
The grievor testified that she does not make major changes to processes but is
involved in the discussions that lead to such changes. She noted that she represents
the residence on different committees and gave the example of a committee that had
developed a new purchasing policy and procedure. She said that she sets policies
and procedures and referred to her decision that the residence would not accept
credit card payments over the phone. Mr. Muscat said that the grievor must see that
all information "jives" but he could not think of any new information that she would
develop.
At the time it prepared its written brief the Union understood that the College
was maintaining an earlier claim for a level 4 rating for this factor. Much of its brief
20
repeated the language in the PDF. In its brief the College contended that the grievor
might change processes to ensure accuracy on the part of staff at the front desk but
major changes are determined by the General Manger or the Controller. It argued
that the grievor does not develop new information or adapt analytical techniques.
As indicated above, I view the wording of the PDF as generally being
determinative. The difficulty respecting this factor is that the PDF contradicts itself.
It starts with the statement that the position demands "a significant degree of
independent judgement". The criterion for a level 5 rating summarizes the
applicable degree of required judgement as being "a significant degree of
judgement". The PDF, however, also states that the grievor must "adapt analytical
techniques and develop new information on various situations and problems", words
that parallel language in the criteria for a level 6 rating.
Assistance can be gained from the remainder of the PDF entries with respect
to judgement. These indicate that the grievor must address a range of different
issues and adjust her approach to the different facts involved, which can be viewed
as refining work methods and techniques. The PDF suggests that the grievor
acquires information about unhappy, homesick students. It also indicates, however,
that she is not involved in actually addressing these problems but rather refers them
to others, including the Residence Life Manager. The examples of tl\e judgement
exercised in the PDF do not suggest that the grievor is actually involved in the
development of new information as part of a problem-solving process. Neither did
the oral evidence.
In light of the full entry in the PDF and the oral evidence I affrrm the level 5
rating assigned by the College.
MOTOR SKILLS
This factor measured the fine motor movements necessary to fulfill the
requirements of a position. It considered dexterity, complexity, co-ordination and
speed.
The College rated this factor at level C-3 worth 25 points. The Union rated it
at level D-4, the highest rating possible, worth 40 points. A level 3 rating reflected a
prevalence of 31 % to 60% of the time. A level 4 rating applied when the prevalence
was more than 60% of the time. The level C and D definitions as well as the
illustrative classifications for C-3 and D-4 ratings read as follows:
21
C Complex fine motor movement involving considerable
dexterity, co-ordination and precision is required. Speed
is a secondary consideration
C-3 - Clerk General C; Programmer A, B; SSO A
D Complex fine motor movement, involving significant
dexterity, co-ordination and precision, is required.
Speed is a major consideration.
Typist/Stenographer B, C; Microcomputer Operator A, B; Data
Entry Operator A, B
A possible alternative rating was level C-4 which represented a level C type of
complex fine motor movement for over 60% of the time. This rating was worth 28
points. The illustrative classifications for this rating were Switchboard Operator and
Programmer C.
The full entry in the PDF with respecting to this factor reads as follows:
Precise keyboarding skills are necessary when prepanng
correspondence, reports, fmancial documents, contracts, appeal
decisions, eviction documentations, and collection letters.
Manual dexterity and coordination is needed when comparing data
from several fine print documents while reconciling account details
and book report detailed transactions monthly.
Precise calculator operation is imperative for all cost analysis and
accounting calculations, spreadsheet details, invoicing, determining
payment schedules, interest accumulation calculations, budget and
expense reconciliations and when verifying night audit information
and all financial transactions.
TasklEquipment
Analysis of documents, account reconciliations
Keyboarding
Calculations
%of Time
50%
75%
40%
22
The grievor testified that she goes back and forth between computer screens
when doing reconciliations and she also examines fine print data but she does not do
a lot of actual keyboarding. She noted that other staff input charges. She said that
for her accuracy is more important than speed. The grievor contended that preparing
a report can involve fine motor movement when she cross-references lines with a
ruler as does reconciling accounts when she goes back and forth with a pen.
Mr. Muscat described the grievor as always being on the computer. He
subsequently agreed with Ms. Brown that the grievor's time on the computer does
not only involve data entry but also includes her looking at material. He said that
the grievor must always be accurate although at crunch times speed is of the essence.
In its brief the College contended that "the position is using a computer or a
calculator 60% of the time". It argued that accuracy is generally more important
than speed although a few times per year speed will be as equally important as
accuracy.
The chart in the PDF refers to the grievor keyboarding 75% of the time. The
wording of the remainder of the PDF entry, including the fact that all of the listed
time adds up to 165%, suggests that the 75% figure refers to all of the time the
grievor is on the computer during which she will do some keyboarding. Presumably
some of her time on the computer involves using a mouse which also requires fme
motor movements.
The analysing of documents and performing account reconciliations largely
involve sensory demand and not fine motor movements. Here, however, the PDF
accepts that some manual dexterity and coordination is required when performing
these tasks. Performing calculations on a calculator requires fine motor movements.
When all of the times when the grievor uses fine motor movements are taken iritcf
account I conclude that the total likely amounts to over 60% of her time. ll11is
justifies a level 4 rating for prevalence.
The PDF refers to a need for "precise keyboarding skills" and "precise
calculator operation". This wording stresses accuracy and not speed. The oral
evidence indicates that with certain limited exceptions accuracy is more important
than speed. Given these considerations I find a level C rating to be appropriate for
the type of motor skills required.
Having regard to these considerations I fmd a level C-4 rating worth 28 points
to be appropriate.
23
SENSORY DEMAND
This factor measured demand on mental energy while performing tasks. It
considered the level or degree of concentration and the frequency of the need for
careful attention to detail and accuracy.
The College rated this factor at level 4 worth 39 points. The Union seeks a
level 5 rating, the highest rating possible, worth 50 points. The criteria for these two
ratings and the illustrative classifications read as follows:
4. Job duties require considerable visual, auditory, or sensory
demand on mental energy and frequent careful attention to
detail and accuracy.
OR
Job duties require extensive visual, auditory, or sensory demand
on mental energy and occasional careful attention to detail and
accuracy.
Bus Driver; Clerk General D; Switchboard Operator
5. Job duties require extensive visual, auditory, or sensory demand
on mental energy and frequent careful attention to detail and
accuracy.
Systems Analyst; Technical Support Specialist
Among the entries in the PDF with respect to this factor are "considerable
mental concentration and close attention to detail (100% accuracy) is required for
tasks" and "incumbent experiences a high demand on mental energies when
completing complex tasks requiring concentration" . This language is not
determinative of which level rating is appropriate. The evidence indicates that there
are periods when the grievor spends time dealing with detailed information but
nothing close to the extent that a Systems Analyst or Technical Support Specialist
would. These are the illustrative classifications for a level 5 rating. It is noteworthy
that a SSO A, B, C, and D are all illustrative classifications for a level 3 rating.
I confirm that level 4 rating given by the College.
24
STRAIN FROM WORK PRESSURE/DEMANDS/DEADLINES
This factor measured the strain associated with, or caused by, frequency and
predictability of deadlines, interruptions, distractions and/or workloads, multiple
and/or conflicting demands and/or dealings with people in difficult situations.
The College rated this factor at level 4 worth 39 points. The Union argues in
favour of a level 5 rating, the highest possible, worth 50 points. The relevant level
defmitions and illustrative classifications for a level 4 rating (no illustrative
classifications were provided for a level 5 rating) read as follows:
4. Job duties involve conflicting work pressures and frequent
interruptions in workflow. Work situations may be
unpredictable with shifts in priorities and occasional critical
deadlines.
Secretary c; SSO C, D; Tech Support Specialist
5. Job duties involve continuous work pressures and unpredictable
interruptions in workflow. Numerous conflicting demands and
tight deadlines occur frequently
The PDF indicates that at times the grievor faces heavy workloads. It states
that for 60% of the time she is dealing with non-predictable situations involving
"dealing with problems and new demands that result in the shifting of priorities or
ability to fmd a new resolve" as well as 45% of the time with non-predictable
"demands made for an immediate response or solution pertaining to the creation of
new procedures or a deviation of current practice". The PDF also contains the
following statement:
The incumbent is frequently involved in several projects simultaneously,
all of which have tight deadlines such as the closing of the returning
students application process at the same time as the opening of the
summer application process while updating the summer contact and the
September contract. Problems with processes or system errors, delays
etc. will conflict with established priorities. The incumbent must
always plan with a contingency to allow for the shifting of priorities,
mishaps and/or fmd a resolve or a different method to accomplish tasks
by deadlines.
25
The grievor testified that she is subject to unpredictable interruptions such as
the Life Residence Manager wanting a room change right away and her having to
ensure that a room is clean and ready to be moved into, doing a key exchange, going
into the computer system to make the change and ensuring that the phone is working.
She said that she was currently facing conflicting demands associated with the fiscal
year end, summer start up, training night audit staff, the front desk accepting
applications, students who had been given offers asking for adaptations and requests
for information. The grievor said that she faces. deadlines relating to student
applications which are predictable and requests for information from Mr. Muscat
and others which are not. She. testified that she is frequently interrupted and gave
the example of a student asking her about their account. She said that a crisis such
as the phone system not working would need to be dealt with right away. The
grievor also said that she faces tight deadlines in terms of students applying for
residence accommodations.
Mr. Muscat testified that there are numerous deadlines associated with
different groups or categories applying for accommodation and there are always
conflicting deadlines due to different operations. He described these deadlines as
scheduled deadlines which follow the admissions process. He added that there can
be some less frequent sudden deadlines such as the controller asking for certain
information by a set date. Mr. Muscat said that the grievor is interrupted less
frequently than he is but her interruptions are less predictable both in terms of timing
and content.
The Union brief contended that the grievor works with multiple overlapping
admissions deadlines and her workflow can be interrupted frequently and often
unpredictably. The College brief contended that most strains faced by the grievor
are predictable, including multitasking and being interrupted by students. It argued
that having deadlines impacted by unexpected issues should be predictable, process
changes should be anticipated and it should be expected that processes will need to
be streamlined to correct errors or make processes flow more smoothly.
It is apparent that the grievor faces conflicting work pressures, frequent
interruptions in workflow, and unpredictable work situations with shifts in priorities.
These situations are covered by the criteria for a level 4 rating. The criteria for a
level 5 rating require that interruptions in workflow be unpredictable and that there
be numerous conflicting demands and frequent tight deadlines. Were it not for the
wording of the PDF there would be an issue as to whether the interruptions faced by
the grievor are appropriately viewed as unpredictable and whether the deadlines she
faces are in fact tight. Given the statements in the PDF, however, which indicate
26
that the grievor deals regularly with unpredictable demands and is frequently
involved in several projects simultaneously "all of which have tight deadlines" I am
lead to conclude that the criteria for a level 5 rating have been met.
INDEPENDENT ACTION
This factor measured the independence of action and decisions required by a
job. The job evaluation manual noted that controls could be in the form of
supervision, policies, procedures or established practices. The College assigned a
level 4 rating worth 46 points. The Union contends that a level 5 rating worth 60
points, the highest rating possible, should have been awarded. The relevant level
definitions and illustrative classifications were as follows:
4. Job duties are performed in accordance with procedures
and past practices which may be adapted and modified to
meet particular situations and/or problems. There is
considerable freedom to act independently with
Supervisor input or verification when requested.
Library Technician B; Secretary C; SSG A, B; Technician C;
Technologist B
5. Job duties are performed in accordance with general
instructions and policies involving changing conditions
and problems. There is significant freedom to act
independently.
SSG C, D; Systems Analyst; Technologist C
The PDF refers to the grievor as being self-directed, working independently
and having "significant freedom to act independently". Specific examples provided
in the PDF to describe the grievor's independent actions use the terms "independent
discretion", "independent judgement" and "independent actions".
The wording of the PDF establishes that the grievor has "significant freedom
to act independently", language taken directly from the criteria for a level 5 rating.
A key requirement of this level, however, is that the ability to act independently
27
applies where there are "changing conditions and problems". The examples given in
the PDF do not suggest changing conditions and problems so much as similar issues
but with differing details.
At the hearing the grievor was asked about changing situations or problems.
She noted that every year she works with new staff and a new clientele and that Mr.
Muscat will ask her for special reports. At another point in her evidence she said
that while she cannot make major changes on her own she can make changes to
processes and procedures. She said that out of courtesy she will advise Mr. Muscat
of these changes so that if he is asked about a change he will know about it.
In its brief the Union relied on the statement in the PDF that the grievor has
significant freedom to act independently. The College in its brief contended that the
grievor consults Mr. Muscat in a variety of circumstances and he provides regular
input into decisions.
As already noted, the wording of the PDF establishes that the grievor has
significant freedom to act independently. I am not, however, satisfied that she does
so in the context of changing conditions and problems. The details of the issues she
addresses change as do the identities of student employees and residents. There do
not, however, appear to be changes in the nature of the problems she faces or on-
going changes to the conditions in which she carries out her duties and
responsibilities. In the circumstances I confmn the level 4 rating given by the
College.
COMMUNICATIONS/CONTACTS
This factor measured the requirement for effective communication for the
purpose of providing advice, explanation, influencing others, and/or reaching
agreement. The job evaluation manual noted that many college jobs deal with some
information that is confidential. It went on to say that the focus in this factor was on
the manner, purpose and responsibilities involved in communicating and not the
content of the information being communicated.
The College rated this factor at level 3 worth 88 points. The Union argues for
a level 4 rating worth 124 points. The defmitions for these levels and the related
illustrative classifications were as follows:
28
3. Job duties require communication for the purpose of providing
guidance or technical advice of a detailed or specialized nature,
or for the purpose of explaining various matters by interpreting
procedures, policy or theory. There may be a need to promote
participation and understanding and to secure co-operation in
order to respond to problems or situations of a sensitive nature.
Regular involvement with confidential information which has
moderate disclosure implications.
Clerk General D; Library Technician A; Secretary C; SSG A, B;
Technician B, C
4. Job duties require communication for the purpose of providing
basic instruction or for the resolution of complex problem
situations. There may be a need for sophisticated influential or
persuasive techniques in order to address the problem of those
with special needs. Regular involvement with confidential and
sensitive information where disclosure implications are
significant.
ECE Worker; Library Technician B; Nurse; SSG C: Technologist C
The grievor testified that she instructs the International and Aboriginal
Centres on the process for offering residence rooms and she trains student auditing
and front desk staff. Mr. Muscat testified that three times a year the grievor trains
front desk staff, front desk supervisors and night auditors and she also provides in-
service training. Mr. Muscat described this as providing instruction. He
differentiated it from the grievor providing advice to individuals subsequent to her
having instructed them. He also differentiated it from the grievor giving advice on
policies and procedures to others at the College.
The grievor testified that she communicates for the purpose of resolving
complex problems such as when the controller asks her to figure out budget issues or
summer accounts. She also referred to her communicating with the Registrar's
office, the Controller or a student to resolve a problem. In response to a question
respecting a statement in the College's brief that there are "no complex problem
situations" Mr. Muscat said that he did not agree with the statement.
The grievor testified that she addresses the situation of students with special
needs when the Centre for Access asks her to accommodate individuals in residence.
29
She said that at times she tries to persuade students to stay in residence and she also
persuades people to pay their fees and incidentals such as phone bills. Mr. Muscat
said that at the beginning of the year the grievor tries to influence the International
Centre with respect to students who arrive prior to the opening of the residence. He
said that she explains that the students should not immediately be allowed into the
residence because they would not have a positive experience due to the isolation
they would feel. He also said that in April the grievor deals with international
students who have later flights in order to make exceptions to the date when they
would otherwise have to be out of residence.
The grievor testified that she keeps all student residence records in her office
and these include personal information, OHIP numbers, medical information and
credit card payment information. She said that when she meets with students
concerning financial issues she has access to their OSAP and First Nations
paperwork. She also said that at times social workers want to be privy to
information and she will obtain release forms from the students. The grievor
testified that sometimes when meeting with students about financial issues they
provide her with personal and family information and she might refer them to the
Residence Life Manager or the Counselling Department. Mr. Muscat testified that
the grievor shares information with him and the Residence Life Manager as well as
with counsellors.
The PDF contains a lengthy description of the grievor's contacts with others.
Most relate to situations where she communicates written or oral information or
explains policies and procedures. The PDF also states, however, that the grievor has
written and verbal communications with the Manager of Residence Life: "For the
purpose of negotiation pertaining to specialized requests for accommodation. For
the exchange of confidential and sensitive information sometimes relating to legal .
matters and most often relating to disciplinary action". The PDF goes on to say that
the grievor deals with co-workers respecting: "Daily involvement with confidential
information and at times the exchange of residents' personal information". Still later
the PDF states that the grievor communicates with the Registrar's office "to
exchange confidential information". In the PDF there is a statement that the grievor
deals with students and parents: "To reach an agreement when negotiating payment
plans, resident's special accommodation requests etc." The document also states
that the grievor trains staff on the residence application process and the offer of
accommodation process.
The College's brief acknowledged that the grievor provides explanations
respecting procedures and policies to students and their parents and that her
30
collection activities require that she secure cooperation from individuals. It said that
she does not provide formal instruction or address complex problem situations. It
contended that the grievor is not required to communicate confidential information
to others except to individuals who already have access to students' personal
information, such as those in the Registrar's office.
The evidence of the grievor and Mr. Muscat as well as the PDF indicate that
the grievor provides formal training, which can reasonably be viewed as the
provision of basic instruction. Mr. Muscat referred to the grievor trying to influence
the International Centre and the PDF refers to the grievor negotiating special
accommodation requests. These suggest that the grievor uses persuasive techniques
for the purpose of addressing the situation of those with special needs. Mr. Muscat
referred to the grievor providing him with confidential information. His evidence
indicated that she also provides confidential information to the Residence Life
Manager and to counsellors. It is not apparent that the inappropriate disclosure of
information respecting a single individual during these exchanges would have a
significant impact on the College unless it involved a very unusual situation.
Notwithstanding this, given that the other criteria for a level 4 rating have been met I
conclude that level 4 is the more appropriate rating.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR DECISIONS AND ACTIONS
This factor measured the impact on internal and public relations, the
responsibility for information management, equipment, assets and records, and the
consequences of decisions and/or actions.
. The College rated this factor at level 3 worth 44 points. The Union argues for
a level 5 rating, the highest rating possible, worth 80 points. The criteria and
illustrative classifications for these ratings as well as the intervening level 4 rating
worth 62 points were as follows:
3. Decisions and/or actions have a moderate impact on the
organization. Errors are usually detected by verification
and review and may result in disruption of the workflow,
duplication of effort, and/or limited waste of resources.
Clerk General C, D; General Maintenance Worker; Reproduction
Equipment Operator B, C; Secretary B,C
31
4. Decisions and/or actions have considerable impact on the
organization. Errors are detected after the fact and may
result in considerable interruption and delay in work
output and waste of resources.
ECE Worker; Stationary Engineer C; SSO B, C; Technologist B,C
5. Decisions and/or actions have significant impact on the
organization. Errors are difficult to detect and result in a
significant waste of resources and continuing influence
on operational effectiveness.
SSO D; Systems Analyst; Technical Support Specialist
The PDF contains several lengthy entries with respect to this factor. Some of
them read as follows:
The decisions and/or judgement made by the incumbent have a
significant impact on the entire residence admissions process. If the
incumbent makes inappropriate decisions, it will result in a negative
financial impact on College revenue. If the incumbent were to poorly
coordinate the admissions process by miscalculating occupancy or not
tracking offers, wait lists, payments and reservations, this could result in
not having enough rooms to accommodate an excess of students, thus
negatively impacting College revenue and public relations. The College
would be responsible for obtaining alternative housing or for refunding
monies for housing and possibly tuition as many residents attend
Georgian based on their acceptance for housing. This will result in a
significant waste of College resources and negative operational
effectiveness and great upset and embarrassment for all parties.
The incumbent prepares all invoices for external conference groups. The
services provided to these conference groups are also revenue sources for
various College departments such as Athletics, Chartwells, and the GDR.
If the incumbent is not accurate in billing and reconciling the billing
received from other areas with Summer Suites billing, the result could be
a loss in revenue for the College and poor operational effectiveness in
addition, the errors could result in negative public relations and negative
internal relations.
32
Financial records are critical to the department's operation and could
create significant problems if the incumbent were to not review student
accounts, conference accounts and night audit information daily. The
incumbent is responsible for locating errors, sourcing out the cause of
such errors, correcting them; and implementing changes to processes, if
continually making the same errors. This includes but is not limited to
daily deposits, transactions recorded to the GL and all posted transactions
to student accounts and to revenue lines. Errors are difficult to detect
until detailed fmancial audits are being conducted by the College's
Financial Controller. Post detection of errors results in a lot of work to
rectify the situation and costs the College in time and operational
effectiveness.
The grievor testified that she is responsible for correcting mistakes made by
others and accordingly if she were to make an error it would be difficult to detect.
She said that her predecessor had made several errors with respect to the general
ledger which took her months to correct. She said that when she was hired into her
position errors from the previous summer had resulted in what she described as a
$63,000 shortage and a $18,000 shortage. She indicated that there had not been an
actual loss of revenue but rather some cheques were still in peoples' drawers rather
than having been sent to accounting and some payments had not been posted. The
grievor contended that there could be an impact on revenue if she were to make an
error in setting up codes or when transferring revenue between accounts.
The grievor testified that if she were to make errors in tracking residence offers
and acceptances it could result in too many students on moving day and not enough
rooms or males and females living together. She also said that if she missed
something when checking the work of other employees it could result in a student
not participating in the lottery or special and roommate requests not being looked at.
Mr. Muscat said that any major error on the part of the grievor, such as her not
charging a $40,000 fee to a conference group, would be caught by others as would
any accumulation of errors. He acknowledged that a single error such as the grievor
not charging a student for damage might go unnoticed but noted that this would not
have an ongoing impact on the College's operation. He said that if too many
students were admitted to residence, which had not happened, the College would be
required to fmd alternative accommodation for them which would give rise to public
relations concerns.
33
In its brief the Union contended that decisions made by the grievor have a
significant impact on the entire residence admission process. It also contended that
not having sufficient rooms would result "in a significant waste of College resources
and negative operational effectiveness". The College's brief contended that errors
could result in extra time being required to identify and correct them or some lost
revenue. It noted that some errors would be detected by the audit process or by
accounting staff. It argued that any errors made by the grievor would have a
moderate impact on the organization.
This factor is logically meant to reflect the impact of a single error rather than
an incumbent making a series of errors. It appears that most individual billing errors,
or a failure to catch such an error by someone else, would not have a major impact
on the College. Large errors or an accumulation of errors on the part of the grievor
would be caught by others. There would, however, be a need to track down the
source of the errors which could be time consuming. Over-offers in terms of
residence space would create administrative difficulties and potential public
relations issues depending on the nature and location of alternative accommodation.
It could also result in lost revenue if the outside accommodation cost the College
more than what it received in residence fees. It is not, however, apparent that there
would be a significant impact on the College or a continuing influence on
operational effectiveness. The PDF does say that the grievor's decisions and
judgement have "a significant impact on the entire residence admission process".
This is not, however, the same as a significant impact "on the organization" which is
what is required for a levelS rating. The College's claim that the grievor's decisions
and actions would only have a moderate impact, however, understates the impact of
potential errors on her part. Given these considerations I find a level 4 rating to be
appropriate.
CONCLUSION
As indicated above, this decision is based in large measure on the wording used
in the applicable PDF.
The College's ratings for all twelve facts resulted in a total of 626 points. My
findings raise it to 722 points. This is within the range of 691 to 750 points for
payband 11. (The total would be 700 points, still within payband 11, if a level 1
rating were applied for the factor of work environment.) Having regard to these
considerations, I conclude that under the previous job classification system the
grievor's position should have been rated at payband 11.
34
f
I retain jurisdiction to address any issues that arise directly out of this decision
which the parties are unable to resolve.
Dated this 9th day of July 2007.
L;A'WI
~tor.
Arbitration Data Sheet. SUDDOrt Staff Classification
~ Gealgian CoIege
h:umIIenI: Mamalbley.
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Present CIasslfication: Clerk GenemI AIvPicaI
PNsent PavBand: 9
Job FamiIv and Pavband ,,",n sled by Grflwor:: SuppodSenices OfficerC. Pay8and 11
1. COllcernillg the AlIached Position Oescriplion Form:
c:J The parties agreed on tlleoonlenls;
[XJ The Union disagrees IIilh tile confenIs and the specific detaIs are aIIached
2. The AIIa:hed WIiIIen SuIlmission is from:
c:J The Union
t:::KJ The College
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1. Tlilini9'TedIil:aI SHIs 6 110 b lit) b' 110
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3. ~~... r 1. .. 58 6 q() ~ 17 II-
4.~ 5 84 6 t01 .? <;(f
5.1bJr SkiIs 3C 25 '-Ii) u..f") lfC :lC"
6.. PhJSi:aI' Ilema1d 2 16 J- Ih :t 16
7. SensuIy Ilema1d .. 39 -r '5'"1J 4 39
8..SlIainmnWolt~ .. 39 5"" S-O ,~ s-o
9.1IIdepe.d..4Adion .( 46 5 60 tJ. '1-6
10. ComnuIicaIionsI 3 88 't I J... LJ. tl- t "-If
1,. ~~)' iJr DecisionsIAdions 3 44 S- '60 /.f 602
12. Work Environment 2 32 I iO ,) 3.:l
T 0IaI Points 626-Payband9 7f19 - ~ISIJ. 1;l:l
For the Union
For the College
Grievor
Dale
~ 6--- ;L,.~~ 2c1o 7
(College Representafive) Date
~~
For Arbitrator's Use:
Resulting Classification: p/J 1/91<< D I J
Date: J'W/-y ~ 2.a77
/
4.~
IIPI?JL Lj ~fYl#Y.2 2t-'t7 -r;.,/...\/?; :)()U7
(Date of Hearing) , ) (Date of Award)