Classification Plan

The Personnel Cabinet is required to prepare, maintain and revise the classification plan for the Executive Branch of state government. The classification plan is a tool for sorting and comparing jobs so that jobs with similar levels of responsibilities and assigned duties will have the same title; the same minimum requirements of education, training, and skills for applicants; and the same pay grade. The plan currently has more than 1360 classes. Each class has its own written specification that includes title; characteristic functions and responsibilities; examples of the kinds of duties generally performed by positions (jobs) in that class (not all job duties would be listed as examples); and minimum requirements listed as combinations of education, experience, licensure, certification or legal requirements a person must have to be considered for jobs in that class. All class specifications may be found at the Personnel Cabinet’s website.

Your official title, as listed in your personnel file, is based on the responsibilities and duties assigned to your position (job) by your employer as compared to class specifications in the classification plan. Your employer informs the Personnel Cabinet of the responsibilities and duties of your job by completing and submitting a position description (PD) form. Classification and Compensation Division’s staff compares the contents of the PD to the various class specifications and makes a final determination of the most appropriate classification for your job. The class specification for your official title should describe the responsibilities and duties assigned by your employer more closely than other class specifications.

A "desk audit" is a personal interview with an employee and their supervisor or manager to get more detailed information about the responsibilities assigned to a job. The Personnel Cabinet may conduct a "desk audit" before making a final classification decision, or on some occasions, the appointing authority or Personnel Board may ask the Personnel Cabinet to conduct a "desk audit." Employees wishing for a desk audit must first go through their appointing authority who may request a "desk audit."

Appointing authorities may request the Personnel Cabinet to review the classification of their employees from time to time and make recommendations regarding such classifications. Should an employee be assigned permanent and material changes in his or her job class, a different classification may be appropriate. The appointing authority may request a RECLASSIFICATION. Employees reclassified to a higher pay grade will receive an increase in salary. Employees reclassified to a lower pay grade may keep the same salary they were earning prior to the reclassification. Employees reclassified to the same pay grade will keep the same salary.

A RECLASSIFICATION is different from a REALLOCATION in that an employee may be reallocated if (1) it is determined that the employee’s job was not properly classified previously, or (2) if a new job specification is adopted by the Personnel Cabinet which better describes the job performed. Your new job classification after a reallocation may be to the same pay grade or to a higher or lower grade. Employees who are reallocated to a classification to which they do not agree may file a formal request to the (Secretary of the Personnel Cabinet) for a reconsideration of the action taken. Your agency will provide you with a copy of the reconsideration form if your position is reallocated.

You may have a working title in addition to your official job title. For example, you may be classified as an Office Support Assistant I but have a working title of "messenger." Working titles do not affect your official title and pay. Those titles may be used for purposes other than official payroll and personnel matters.

If you believe your classification does not accurately reflect your job, you may request your supervisor or agency personnel administrator to review your classification. The personnel administrator should work with agency management and the Personnel Cabinet to review your classification.

The Personnel Cabinet maintains the official copies of all class specifications. You may access class specifications at the Personnel Cabinet’s website under "Personnel Information and then clicking on Class Specifications."