The application period for the new procedure for job reclassification of the ATP has started since November 1. From now until the end of December, if you wish and are eligible, you can submit an application file to request a job reclassification.
Below you will find a brief explanation of what has changed and how the current application procedure works. One very important element is that the external potential reports - which you used to have to be able to submit an application for job reclassification - are no longer necessary.
Quick reminder: what is the procedure for job reclassification?
All ATP members are classified in a specific job class (D, C, B, A, A+) upon recruitment. This is done on the basis of a weighting of the content of the position. It is often the case that the tasks and responsibilities associated with the position change over time.
If significant changes occur in the content of the job during your career, as a result of which you believe that your job has become more difficult and should be classified in a higher job level, you can submit an application for job reclassification. An assessment will then be made based on your application file. If the assessment is positive, you will be classified in the higher job level with the corresponding remuneration.
For the sake of completeness: there is also a collective job reclassification procedure that can be applied when it is determined that a larger group of members of administrative and technical staff with the same job content has been classified too low. However, the information below is specifically about the individual procedure, whereby you, as an individual member of administrative and technical staff, submit a request for reclassification yourself.
What has changed?
Since this year, the job reclassification procedure has been thoroughly changed. Below you will find the most important adjustments:
- You no longer need an external potential report to request a job reclassification.
- In the past, you first had to take tests at an external agency to obtain such a report. These tests often had little to do with the work you do every day in your position. For staff members who did not pass, this meant that they could not submit an application for job reclassification. Their file was therefore not even assessed, even though they may have performed - to everyone's satisfaction - a job that substantively belonged to a higher job level. For years, this caused a lot of unnecessary frustration among employees who did not see their work recognized and were not remunerated at the appropriate level. All this is now completely gone. External potential studies are no longer organised. Any ATP member who meets the conditions can submit an application.
- The conditions you must meet have changed. You can submit a file if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You have at least four years of seniority in your current job class
- You have not received an evaluation with a score of “substandard” or “insufficient” in the past four years
- You submit the application during the months of November and December
- You have not submitted another request for reclassification in the past three years
- Please note: in the event of a reorganization of the departement with a fundamental impact on the duties of your position, this condition does not apply and you can therefore still submit an application even if you submitted an application less than three years ago
- The course of the procedure has changed. In short, it means that from now on this will take fewer steps than in the past (see also below).
- The assessment criteria were changed compared to before: some criteria became more stringent. The current description of the criteria as well as the scores for the weighting of the functions can be found on the UGent website by following the links as mentioned.
- What has not changed is also important: you do not need permission to request such a job reclassification. Your manager will be asked for (non-binding) advice. But: even if the manager refuses to give this advice, you can continue the procedure. This right was obtained after strong insistence from the trade unions at Ghent University.
What is the application procedure?
- You must submit your application during the months of November and December, by email to loopbaanontwikkeling@ugent.be
- Your file contains a motivation letter and the completed job information form (available in Dutch only) signed by you
- You also ask your manager to complete and sign the section for the manager. Again: even if your manager refuses, you can submit the form. The advice requested from the manager in the form is also not binding.
- DPO makes a pre-selection by means of an initial personal assessment of the job content from the submitted form.
- If it is positive, your file will go to the job reclassification committee.
- If the preselection is negative, you can appeal against it. Your file will then be transferred to the committee for assessment.
- The job reclassification committee will assess your file.
- If you wish, you can indicate that you wish to be heard to explain your applicaiton file before the committee. You can get assistance with this, for example by a trade union representative or another person of trust.
- If the committee's decision is positive, you will be classified in the new job level starting on January 1 of the year following your application submission. If the assessment by the committee happens at a later time, this will be done retroactively.
- If the committee's decision is negative, you can appeal.
- Your request will then be examined by another committee, which is composed equally (as many representatives of the unions as representatives of management + 1 neutral chairman).
- If this committee assesses your file positively, you will still receive your reclassification.
- If the decision is negative here too, the procedure will stop and you can only submit a new application file after 3 years.
ACOD supports its members in submitting an application and going through the procedure
If you think that you can qualify for a higher job level based on changes in your job content, then you can certainly consider submitting an application file. More information about this procedure can be found above, as well as on the intranet of Ghent University.
It is important that your application file is drawn up properly and clearly. ACOD members can rely on the assistance of their trade union for this purpose, both in the preparation of the application file and during the hearing before the committee in first instance and, if necessary, also in appeal.
Are you considering submitting an application file and would you like to request assistance from ACOD? Please do not hesitate to contact us at ACOD@UGent.be
Don't wait too long! Because the external potential reports are no longer required, there may be many applications this year, all of which must be prepared and submitted by the end of December.
Do you have any questions? Contact us at ACOD@UGent.be