An employee's job has changed substantially over time. Due to changes such as new office technology, a shrinking staff, or changes in office mission, the position has gradually evolved to the point where the duties and responsibilities are different or more difficult. The incumbent is doing a good job. How can the job be reclassified so that the position accurately reflects the changed performance requirements?

Employees have a right to have their positions classified on the basis of current duties and responsibilities. Employees or supervisors who believe that a position is misclassified can request that the servicing Human Resources Office (SHRO) conduct a desk audit of the position.

Follow the same basic steps outlined in section "How Do I Establish a New Position?" In effect, you are abolishing the position that has gradually disappeared over time and replacing it with the position that has evolved into the new position.

Submit a Request for Personnel Action (SF-52) to establish the new position. If the position has changed but you do not believe a grade level change is warranted, the SF-52 should also request that the incumbent be reassigned to the new position. If the new position warrants a higher grade, the SF-52 should request that the incumbent be promoted based on an accretion of duties. (Refer to Section "How Do I Promote Employees?")

Be judicious in assigning new duties to an employee that might eventually result in a higher grade.

Funding available

Position description drafted

Memorandum explaining gradual change in position

SF-52 requesting establishment of new position and reassignment or

promotion of incumbent

New position established/promotion

The basic steps for reclassifying or "upgrading" a position to SES are the same as for establishing a new SES position. (See "A Note on SES" under Section "Do I Establish a New Position?")

However, there is no special provision for noncompetitively "promoting" an employee when a GS-15 job has gradually changed to become classifiable at the SES level. Placement of a current incumbent in the "upgraded" SES position is subject to the same procedures as any other SES appointment. (See "A Note on SES" under Section "How Do I Fill a Vacancy?")