Disclosure of job reclassifications

Frequently asked questions

1. Why is the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) disclosing information on job reclassifications?
2. Does this new initiative apply to separate employers?
3. If this does not apply to separate employers, why is the CRA posting the information?
4. What is a job?
5. What is a position?
6. What is a work description?
7. What is meant by job classification?
8. What is a reclassified job?
9. Why are jobs reclassified?
10. Why is position information not being posted, only job information?
11. What information will be reported?

1. Why is the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) disclosing information on job reclassifications?
The Treasury Board announced a freeze on reclassifications on December 16, 2003 as a measure to control costs and minimize disruption during the transition of government. On February 25, 2004, the Privy Council and Treasury Board lifted the freeze, and introduced a framework to promote greater transparency and accountability throughout the Government of Canada. The framework included the public posting of reclassifications. Although it is a separate employer, CRA has also decided to post its job reclassifications on its Web site.

2. Does this new initiative apply to separate employers?
This new initiative is aimed primarily at departments and agencies for which the Treasury Board is the employer.

3. If this does not apply to separate employers, why is the CRA posting the information?
The CRA is also committed to transparency and enhanced accountability. The Agency will review the ongoing need for this framework on a periodic basis.

4. What is a job?
A job represents the work assigned by management and performed by one or more employees.

5. What is a position?
A position is established for each employee performing the work of a job. Each position is assigned a unique position number and is affiliated to the job.

6. What is a work description?
A work description is an official document approved by management that describes the work of the job. It may cover one or more positions.

7. What is meant by job classification?
The job classification is the occupational group and level of the job.

• CRA jobs are allocated to an occupational group based on the work requirements described in the work description. Examples of occupational groups are Administrative Services (AS), Auditing (AU) and Programme Administration (PM).
  
  
• Each job has a level to indicate its rank or complexity within the occupational group or sub-group. The level of a job is established by the evaluation of its work description using the classification standard for its occupational group and, when applicable, its sub-group.
  
  
• The level of a job determines its relative value within the organizational hierarchy and its salary level.

8. What is a reclassified job?
The reclassification of a job occurs when the evaluation of its work description results in a change to either or both its occupational group and level due to a significant change in the duties or the complexity of the work assigned to it. A reclassification may be to a higher or a lower level.

9. Why are jobs reclassified?
Jobs may be reclassified for the following reasons:

• As a result of changes to the Agency or program mandate;
  
  
• Managers reorganize in response to external conditions that increase or decrease available resources;
  
  
• Managers reorganize to make more efficient and effective use of their financial and human resources, such as technology innovations, changes in employee competencies; or
  
  
• Managers reassign work among their existing human resources to increase productivity, such as in response to vacancies that require temporary or permanent reassignment of work;
  
  
• As a result of a formal classification review;
  
  
• As a result of an Agency monitoring exercise;
  
  
• As a result of a classification grievance.

10. Why is position information not being posted, only job information?
The CRA utilizes a job-based classification system. If the employee is deemed to be qualified at the higher level, the position is reclassified to the higher level. As such, staffing and position actions occur after the job reclassification action has been processed.

11. What information will be reported?
Because the CRA uses primarily a job-based classification system, information on the reclassification of an occupied job will be posted. "Occupied" refers to a job with a substantive incumbent who has been appointed on either a determinate or indeterminate basis.

For each job reclassified, the CRA will identify the branch, the job number, the job title, the previous job classification, the reclassified job classification, the potential number of position reclassifications, and the reason for the classification decision.