FLEXIBLE STAFFING ALTERNATE STAFFING Employee and Public Services Department Personnel Services Division 455 County Center Redwood City, CA 94063-1663 www.co.sanmateo.ca.us March, 2003 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS page Part I: PURPOSE, OVERVIEW AND DEFINITIONS................................................................3- 6 A. Purpose............................................................................................................................. 3 B. Overview.......................................................................................................................... 4 C. Definitions ....................................................................................................................... 5 1. Flexible Staffing .................................................................................................. 5 2. Alternate Staffing................................................................................................. 6 Part II: FLEXIBLE & ALTERNATE STAFFING PATTERN EXHIBITS.............................7- 32 A. Flexible Staffing .............................................................................................................. 7 B. Alternate Staffing........................................................................................................... 27 Part III: QUESTIONS & ANSWERS............................................................................................... 32 Part IV: SAMPLE FORM AND HOW TO USE IT........................................................................34 datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 2 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING Part I: A. REFERENCE MANUAL PURPOSE, OVERVIEW AND DEFINITIONS Purpose The purpose of this manual is to: • Provide policies and procedures for the administration of Flexible Staffing and Alternate Staffing • Clarify terminology • Serve as a reference for classification placement within patterns. This manual is designed to be used by managers, payroll clerks and Personnel Analysts. datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 3 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING B. REFERENCE MANUAL Overview Job classifications fall in two categories: 1) flexibly staffed or 2) not flexibly staffed (standalone classifications). We describe flexible staffing as a "pattern" of staffing. Flexible staffing refers to the relationship that exists between a group of related classifications in regard to skill level, e.g., Trainee vs. Journey Level. A flexibly staffed classification pattern allows qualifying individuals to promote upwards when the required level of knowledge, skills and abilities has been reached. It also enables departments to hire individuals at any level within the pattern based on their current skill set. The second "pattern" described in this document is alternate staffing. Alternate staffing refers specifically to issues of position control. Departments have the option of filling positions with a variety of classifications within an alternate pattern based on the department's needs. Classifications grouped within an alternate pattern may or may not be flexibly staffed. What follows is a more detailed explanation of staffing patterns and a complete listing of classes that fall within either flexible or alternate patterns, or both. When referring to the exhibits below: = standalone classifications = flexibly staffed classifications = alternately staffed patterns datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 4 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING C. Definitions 1. Flexible Staffing REFERENCE MANUAL Flexible staffing exists when a classification series has two or more levels and an employee can be initially appointed to any level in the series and can be promoted from one level in the series to another without further testing. When an employee promotes from one level to another, he/she may begin a new probationary period. If the employee fails this new probationary period, he/she may not return to the lower level. The most common flexible staffing pattern consists of a trainee and a journey level. Some series may have a trainee, a journey level and an advanced journey level classification. Major characteristics of flexible staffing are: • Ability to hire employees at any level in the classification series. • Ability to recognize performance and to promote staff based on demonstrated knowledge, skills and abilities. • Option to promote from one level to the next without further examination. • Inability of an employee within a flexibly staffed classification to return or demote to the lower trainee level position due to probationary rejection. Some Examples: Office Assistant Series Office Assistant II Office Assistant I Management Analyst Series Management Analyst III Management Analyst II Management Analyst I Social Worker Series Social Worker III Social Worker II Social Worker I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 5 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING 2. REFERENCE MANUAL Alternate Staffing Alternate staffing provides the ability to hire employees with different professional backgrounds and a variety of skills to meet the needs of the department. The group of classifications are treated as interchangeable for position control purposes. The decision to fill one classification or another is made by the department based on the skills mix necessary to provide the program services. Often the background and skill requirements do not support employees moving between classifications. An Example: PATIENT CARE SUPPORT GROUP Pharmacy Aide Pharmacy Technician Dental Assistant Crisis Team Technician Operating Room Technician Orthopedic Technician Note: Classes within an alternate staffing pattern may also be flexibly staffed. One pattern is not exclusive of the other. See Engineer Group, page 26. datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 6 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING Part II: REFERENCE MANUAL FLEXIBLE & ALTERNATE STAFFING PATTERN EXHIBITS A. Flexible Staffing Listed below are the flexibly staffed classification series used in the County. Depending on the department and the assignment these series may exist in classified status, unclassified status or confidential status. Accountant Series Accountant II Accountant I Airport Operations Specialist Series Airport Operations Specialist II Airport Operations Specialist I Appraiser Series Appraiser II Appraiser I Real Property Appraisal Technician Auditor-Appraiser Series Auditor-Appraiser II Auditor-Appraiser I Automotive Mechanic Series Automotive Mechanic Automotive Mechanic Trainee datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 7 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Automotive Service Worker Series Automotive Service Worker II Automotive Service Worker I Benefits Analyst Series Benefits Analyst II Benefits Analyst I Biologist/Standard Specialist Series Biologist/Standard Specialist IV Biologist/Standard Specialist III Biologist/Standard Specialist II Biologist/Standard Specialist I Building Inspector Series Building Inspector II Building Inspector I Building Permit Technician Series Building Permit Technician II Building Permit Technician I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 8 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Buyer Series Buyer II Buyer I Purchasing Technician Child Support Attorney Series Child Support Attorney IV Child Support Attorney III Child Support Attorney II Child Support Attorney I Child Support Officer Series Child Support Officer II Child Support Officer I Code Compliance Officer Series Code Compliance Officer II Code Compliance Officer I Communications Dispatcher Series Communications Dispatcher II Communications Dispatcher I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 9 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Community Program Specialist Series Community Program Specialist III Community Program Specialist II Community Program Specialist I Community Worker Series Community Worker II Community Worker I Computer Operator Series Computer Operator II Computer Operator I Construction Inspector Series Construction Inspector II Construction Inspector I Cook Series Cook II Cook I Courtroom Clerk Series Courtroom Clerk II Courtroom Clerk I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 10 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Criminalist Series Criminalist II Criminalist I Cytology Technologist Series Cytology Technologist II Cytology Technologist I Data Entry Operator Series Data Entry Operator II Data Entry Operator I Deputy Court Clerk Series Deputy Court Clerk II Deputy Court Clerk I Deputy County Counsel Series Deputy County Counsel IV Deputy County Counsel III Deputy County Counsel II Deputy County Counsel I Deputy District Attorney Series datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 11 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Deputy District Attorney IV Deputy District Attorney III Deputy District Attorney II Deputy District Attorney I Law Clerk Deputy Probation Officer Series Deputy Probation Officer III Deputy Probation Officer II Deputy Probation Officer I Deputy Public Administrator Series Deputy Public Administrator II Deputy Public Administrator I Deputy Public Guardian Conservator Series Deputy Public Guardian Conservator III Deputy Public Guardian Conservator II Deputy Public Guardian Conservator I Deputy Sheriff Series Deputy Sheriff Deputy Sheriff Trainee Drafting Technician Series Drafting Technician II datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 12 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Drafting Technician Series Drafting Technician II Drafting Technician I Elections Specialist Series Elections Specialist II Elections Specialist I Electrograph Technician Series Electrograph Technician II Electrograph Technician I Employment Services Specialist Series Employment Services Specialist II Employment Services Specialist I Engineer Series Associate Civil Engineer Associate Engineer Assistant Engineer Environmental Health Specialist Series Environmental Health Specialist III Environmental Health Specialist II Environmental Health Specialist I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 13 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Environmental Health Technician Series Environmental Health Technician II Environmental Health Technician I Equipment Mechanic Series Equipment Mechanic II Equipment Mechanic I Equipment Services Worker Series Equipment Services Worker II Equipment Services Worker I Fiscal Office Assistant Series Fiscal Office Assistant II Fiscal Office Assistant I Food Service Worker Series Food Service Worker II Food Service Worker I Forensic Specialist Series Forensic Specialist II Forensic Specialist I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 14 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Fraud Investigator Series Fraud Investigator II Fraud Investigator I Hazardous Materials Specialist Series Hazardous Materials Specialist III Hazardous Materials Specialist II Hazardous Materials Specialist I Housing and Community Development Specialist Series Housing and Community Development Specialist III Housing and Community Development Specialist II Housing and Community Development Specialist I Human Services Analyst Series Human Services Analyst II Human Services Analyst I Internal Auditor Series Internal Auditor II Internal Auditor I Investment Services Specialist Series Investment Services Specialist II Investment Services Specialist I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 15 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Job Development Specialist Series Job Development Specialist II Job Development Specialist I Legal Office Assistant Series Legal Office Assistant II Legal Office Assistant I Legal Process Technician Series Legal Process Technician II Legal Process Technician I Legal Secretary Series Legal Secretary II Legal Secretary I Librarian Series Librarian II Librarian I Library Assistant Series Library Assistant II Library Assistant I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 16 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Library Technician Series Library Technician II Library Technician I Locksmith Series Locksmith Locksmith Trainee Management Analyst Series Management Analyst III Management Analyst II Management Analyst I Marriage and Family Therapist Series Marriage and Family Therapist II Marriage and Family Therapist I Medical Office Assistant Series Medical Office Assistant II Medical Office Assistant I Medical Records Technician Series Medical Records Technician II Medical Records Technician I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 17 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Medical Technologist Series Medical Technologist II Medical Technologist I Mental Health Counselor Series Mental Health Counselor II Mental Health Counselor I Microfilm Technician Series Microfilm Technician II Microfilm Technician I Nurse Practitioner Series Nurse Practitioner Nurse Practitioner Trainee Occupational Therapist Series Occupational Therapist II Occupational Therapist I Occupational Therapist, PHC Series Occupational Therapist, PHC II Occupational Therapist, PHC I Office Assistant Series datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 18 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Office Assistant II Office Assistant I Park Ranger Series Park Ranger II Park Ranger I Patient Services Assistant Series Patient Services Assistant II Patient Services Assistant I Physical Therapist Series Physical Therapist II Physical Therapist I Physical Therapist, PHC Series Physical Therapist, PHC II Physical Therapist, PHC I Planner Series Planner III Planner II Planner I Planner Technician datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 19 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Production Technician Series Production Technician II Production Technician I Psychiatric Social Worker Series Psychiatric Social Worker II Psychiatric Social Worker I Psychologist Series Psychologist II Psychologist I Public Health Laboratory Technician Series Public Health Laboratory Technician II Public Health Laboratory Technician I Public Health Microbiologist Series Public Health Microbiologist II Public Health Microbiologist I Public Works Technician Series Public Works Technician II Public Works Technician I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 20 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Radiologic Technologist Series Radiologic Technologist III Radiologic Technologist II Radiologic Technologist I Real Property Agent Series Real Property Agent III Real Property Agent II Real Property Agent I Recordable Documents Examiner/Indexer Series Recordable Documents Examiner/Indexer II Recordable Documents Examiner/Indexer I Records Center Assistant Series Records Center Assistant II Records Center Assistant I Rehabilitation Production Supervisor Series Rehabilitation Production Supervisor II Rehabilitation Production Supervisor I Residential Counselor Series Residential Counselor II Residential Counselor I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 21 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Resource Conservation Series Resource Conservation Specialist II Resource Conservation Specialist I Respiratory Therapist Series Respiratory Therapist II Respiratory Therapist I Retirement Analyst Series Retirement Analyst II Retirement Analyst I Revenue Collector Series Revenue Collector II Revenue Collector I Road Equipment Operator Series Road Equipment Operator II Road Equipment Operator I Shelter Care Counselor Series Shelter Care Counselor II Shelter Care Counselor I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 22 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Sheriff's Criminal Records Technician Series Sheriff's Criminal Records Technician II Sheriff's Criminal Records Technician I Sheriff's Property Officer Series Sheriff's Property Officer II Sheriff's Property Officer I Social Worker Series Social Worker III Social Worker II Social Worker I Staff Nurse Series Staff Nurse Staff Nurse Trainee Stationary Engineer Series Stationary Engineer II Stationary Engineer I Storekeeper Series Storekeeper II Storekeeper I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 23 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Utility Worker Series Utility Worker II Utility Worker I Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Series Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor III Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor I Word Processing Operator Series Word Processing Operator II Word Processing Operator I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 24 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL The Systems Engineer Series is flexibly staffed according to the working title within work unit. Programmer-Systems Analyst Series Systems Engineer (Applications Programmer or Systems Analyst) Associate Systems Engineer (Associate Programmer Analyst) Assistant Systems Engineer (Assistant Programmer Analyst) Systems Programmer Series Advisory Systems Engineer (Systems Programmer II) Systems Engineer (Systems Programmer I) Data Base Series Advisory Systems Engineer (Data Base Analyst II) Systems Engineer (Data Base Analyst I) Operations/Help Desk Analyst Series Associate Systems Engineer (Operations Analyst II or Help Desk Analyst II) Assistant Systems Engineer (Operations Analyst I or Help Desk Analyst I) Desktop Support Series Systems Engineer (Senior Desktop Support Technician) Associate Systems Engineer (Desktop Support Technician) datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 25 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL Network Support Series Systems Engineer (Senior Network Services Technician) Associate Systems Engineer (Network Services Technician) Voice Systems Support Series Systems Engineer (Senior Voice Communications Technician) Associate Systems Engineer (Voice Communications Technician) Radio Systems Support Series Systems Engineer (Senior Radio Communications Technician) Associate Systems Engineer (Radio Communications Technician) datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 26 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING B. REFERENCE MANUAL Alternate Staffing ENGINEER GROUP Construction Inspector Series Construction Inspector II Construction Inspector I Engineer Series Senior Civil Engineer Senior Engineer Associate Civil Engineer Associate Engineer Assistant Engineer LEGISLATIVE AIDE/EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT GROUP Legislative Aide Executive Assistant datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 27 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL MENTAL HEALTH CASE WORKER GROUP Psychiatric Social Worker Series Psychiatric Social Worker II Psychiatric Social Worker I Marriage and Family Therapist Series Marriage and Family Therapist II Marriage and Family Therapist I Mental Health Counselor Series Mental Health Counselor II Mental Health Counselor I MENTAL HEALTH SUPERVISOR GROUP Supervising Mental Health Clinician Supervising Mental Health Psychologist Supervising Psychologist datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 28 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL PATIENT CARE GROUP Medical Services Assistant II Medical Services Assistant I Licensed Vocational Nurse Staff Nurse Series Staff Nurse Staff Nurse Trainee Nurse Practitioner Series Nurse Practitioner Nurse Practitioner Trainee Licensed Psychiatric Technician Clinical Nurse Physicians Assistant PATIENT CARE SUPPORT GROUP Pharmacy Aide Pharmacy Technician Dental Assistant Crisis Team Technician Operating Room Technician Orthopedic Technician datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 29 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL PHYSICIAN GROUP Child Psychiatrist Staff Physician PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION GROUP Health Education Associate Public Health Educator RADIOLOGY/IMAGING GROUP Lead Imaging Specialist Imaging Specialist Lead Radiologic Technologist Radiology Series Radiologic Technologist III Radiologic Technologist II Radiologic Technologist I datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 30 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL ROAD WORKER GROUP Road Maintenance Worker Series Road Maintenance Worker II Road Maintenance Worker I Road Equipment Operator Series Road Equipment Operator II Road Equipment Operator I Equipment Services Worker Series Equipment Services Worker II Equipment Services Worker I Equipment Mechanic Series Equipment Mechanic II Equipment Mechanic I SUPERVISING PHYSICIAN GROUP Supervising Child Psychiatrist Supervising Physician datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 31 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL SYSTEMS ENGINEER GROUP Project Manager Senior Systems Engineer Advisory Systems Engineer Systems Engineer Information Technology Analyst Associate Systems Engineer Assistant Systems Engineer datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 32 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING Part III: 1. REFERENCE MANUAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS When do you promote within flexibly staffed classifications? Departments may set internal policies to promote in one of two ways: 2. 3. • Promotions may be made after a set period of time in the lower classification (e.g., one year) with a satisfactory performance appraisal. • Promotion determinations may be made on an individual basis when employees meet the minimum qualifications for the positions and meet pre-determined performance objectives. Under this option, one employee might be promoted after 3 months at the lower classification while a second employee might be promoted after 14 months at the lower classification. How do you promote within flexibly staffed classifications? • In departments where promotions are made after a set period of time, the department should automatically process the promotion in conjunction with issuance of a satisfactory performance evaluation. • In departments where promotions are based on meeting pre-determined performance objectives, the supervisor should initiate the promotion action when it has been determined that the individual has met the objectives. When and how do you promote within classifications that are not flexibly staffed? For classes that are not flexibly staffed, promotions are made only when a vacancy exists. When a vacancy occurs, and it is determined that there is sufficient workload at the higher level, the department submits a requisition to announce the position. Interested employees apply for the position and go through a competitive process. 4. What happens if you pass your initial probationary period but are not promoted? In many flexibly staffed classifications, the probationary period for the entry level position is six or nine months but the typical experience period for promotion to the journey level is 12 months. If the employee satisfactorily completes the six or nine month probationary period and is later found to be performing at an unsatisfactory level, he/she should not be promoted since he/she would not receive a satisfactory 12 month performance evaluation. In this case, an unsatisfactory evaluation should be issued and corrective action initiated. If the employee fails to improve to a satisfactory level, action should be initiated to dismiss the employee. datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 33 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING 5. REFERENCE MANUAL Can you return/demote to the lower classification if you fail probation in the higher classification? If the position is flexibly staffed as trainee to advanced trainee or journey, the employee does not have the right to return or demote to the trainee level classification. datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 34 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING Part IV: REFERENCE MANUAL SAMPLE FORM AND HOW TO USE IT datawpc\pol-proc Flexible Staffing Policies and Procedures (030103) 35 FLEXIBLE AND ALTERNATE STAFFING REFERENCE MANUAL PROMOTION WITHIN FLEXIBLY STAFFED CLASSIFICATIONS Promotion from a lower classification to a position at a higher level in a series is made at the option of the department head with the approval of the Employee and Public Services Director when the following criteria are met: 1 The two classes must be flexibly staffed. 2 The employee meets the qualifications for the higher level class. 3 The department head certifies that the employee is qualified for advancement. 4 A recent performance report is submitted to Employee and Public Services. WHEN AND HOW TO PROCESS THIS FORM: When the above criteria have been met, the department head signs and submits this form to Employee and Public Services. Employee and Public Services contacts the department only in the case of disapproval. The personnel/payroll clerk processes the promotion following the procedures consistent with the HR/Payroll Reference Manual. EMPLOYEE'S NAME Current Classification Recommended Classification I understand that when promoted from the trainee or the advanced trainee level to the journey level class I may begin a new probationary period. If I begin a new probation period I understand that I do NOT have the right to return to my previous classification if I am rejected during my probationary period. Employee Signature DEPARTMENT HEAD SIGNATURE DATE evaluation is attached from within An application form is attached for the recommended class Atheperformance previous 3 months For Employee and Public Services Department Use Only Reviewed by Approved \pol-proc (02212002) ppctFLEX-1ks.doc Not Approved Dept Notified 36
© Copyright 2026 Paperzz