Factor

Justification for Inclusion

Job Knowledge

Occurs as a main factor in nearly all modern JE systems; measures the major `input' to the job; defined in the NJC JES in relation to the actual job knowledge requirements rather than qualifications and experience, which have proved discriminatory in the past

Mental Skills

Occurs in some other JE systems as Problem Solving or Analytical/ Creative/ Innovation Skills; defined to include developmental and creative skills in relation to people as well as to e.g. policies, for equality reasons

Communication Skills

A standard factor in modern JE systems; defined in the NJC JES specifically to include caring skills to ensure fair assessment of jobs such as home carer, nursery nurse

Physical Skills

Included to ensure that the skill of jobs involving driving and/or keyboard work are fairly measured, as there is evidence that these are undervalued when measured under a Job Knowledge heading

Initiative and Independence

A standard JE factor, sometimes labelled Freedom to Act or Discretion; included to ensure that scope for decision making and exercising responsibilities is taken into account

Physical Demands

Commonly found in JE schemes covering manual jobs, less commonly in schemes covering non-manual jobs; defined to include stamina as well as strength-related job features

Mental Demands

Defined to measure demands for concentration, alertness and attention demands of the work

Emotional Demands

Not always recognised in JE schemes; defined to measure the effort demands arising from dealing with clients or others whose behaviour or circumstances cause distress

Responsibility for People

Adopted as a factor from the earlier local government manual worker JE scheme to measure the responsibilities of front-line, direct service providing jobs

Responsibility for Supervision etc of Other Employees

A traditional JE factor; measures managerial and supervisory responsibilities; defined in terms of the nature and demands of the responsibility, rather than through numbers or types of employees supervised or managed, as the latter have proved indirectly discriminatory

Responsibility for Financial Resources

Commonly found in JE schemes, although sometimes measured through an Impact factor: included as a separate factor distinct from other physical resources to avoid under-valuation of finance jobs; defined to cover all forms of financial resources, including e.g. accounts processing and income generation jobs

Responsibility for Physical Resources

Commonly found in modern JE schemes, sometimes covering financial as well as other forms of physical resources; defined to include information resources, as well as responsibilities for stocks, supplies, security, design and development of physical assets

Working Conditions

Commonly included in JE schemes covering manual jobs, less commonly in schemes covering non-manual employees; measures unavoidable and inevitable unpleasant conditions in line with good JE practice; defined to include people-related working conditions (e.g. body odours, verbal aggression) as well as environmental conditions (e.g. dust, fumes, extremes of temperature)