A lot of commotion for a policy that will have minimal effect on the vast majority of University of Idaho employees.
This, in its essence, sums up the rumbling around the university’s brand new and hotly debated classification and compensation system.
Introduced Aug. 2 through a staff-wide email from Interim President Don Burnett, the changes included position reclassifications and pay-grade shuffling. UI Human Resources also suggested modifications to the university hiring process, but those are not yet finalized.
With a goal to reduce salary compression, some staff members have seen a shift in classification. The number of classifications was reduced from 1,180 to 270. Pay grades have also been affected. UI cut six pay grades, transitioning from 18 to 12.
The general opinion of UI staff members is hard to ignore — the decisions were made by HR without appropriate input from university personnel, the very people they will affect. Without question, Human Resources did its homework — for many months, actually — before delivering the system. But without more public discussion — the kind any institution of higher education should always value — that process was deeply flawed.
But in the midst of the ongoing discussion, we can be sure of one thing: The classification and compensation system has no implication on the salaries of current UI staff. The grades and classifications have changed, but current university salaries remain unchanged as do their titles for all practical purposes.
Now here’s the real problem — the plan causes potentially serious issues when it comes to the university’s future. As employees cycle out they will be replaced by people being paid less, which means a less-qualified staff to support the university’s mission.
That’s a point that hasn’t been made enough through all the other complaints. Ultimately, it’s the only one that really matters and will truly affect the future of the university.
Upset as people might be in the here and now, it’s the future that’s at issue and it’s time we spent more energy worrying about that.
— TL