NEW COMPENSATION PLANS APPROVED FOR MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

The provincial government has approved new compensation plans for senior executives and other non-union management and professional employees in executive government.

"These changes are critical for recruitment and retention for the future," Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission Pat Atkinson said.

Currently, salaries for out-of-scope employees in the Saskatchewan public service lag the market for similar management employees in the public and private sectors in Saskatchewan and Western Canada. The gap ranges from up to 15 per cent for out-of-scope managers and professionals and from 15 to 40 per cent for senior executives, depending on the level of assignment.

"Most provincial and national forecasters are predicting national skill shortages in managerial and professional occupations over the next decade as baby boomers retire," Atkinson said. "It is essential that we ensure we have excellent leadership in executive government to sustain a strong public service, to provide the best services possible to the people of this province."

Up to 65 per cent of managerial employees in the Saskatchewan public service are expected to retire between 2007 and 2013, with those at higher levels likely to retire first.

The new compensation plans are based on survey analysis and recommendations from the Public Service Commission, with the assistance of Watson-Wyatt Worldwide, a consulting firm.

The new out-of-scope compensation plan has been under development for three years, and progress has been reported in the Public Service Commission's annual reports. This plan covers approximately 1,500 out-of-scope managers and professional staff, including engineers and geologists, as well as senior administrative support staff. The overall cost for the out-of-scope plan will be $5,972,000 (5.73 per cent) over three years.

The senior executive plan covers the 28 deputy ministers, associate deputy ministers and other senior staff, and will cost $724,000 (19.4 per cent).

These costs will be phased-in, beginning September 1st, 2005, and ending July 1st, 2008.

Over the past 10 years, salary increases received by out-of-scope employees have been 6.3 per cent behind increases received by unionized employees, resulting in many managers earning wages very similar to their employees' wages.

The new out-of-scope plan is the final stage in government's commitment to equal pay for work of equal value in the public service. An equal pay plan for employees who are members of the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union was implemented in 1998, at a cost of 6.2 per cent, and an equal pay plan for members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 600, came in 2002, at a cost of 8.6 per cent.

"This classification and compensation plan provides balance," Atkinson said. "We won't lead the market, but will be competitive to ensure we can recruit and retain the talent we need in the future."

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For More Information, Contact:

Colleen Hawkesford Public Service Commission Regina Phone: (306) 787-5581