Chapter 6: The Values and workplace relations
Broadbanding
In relation to broadbanding, 49% of respondents (APS 1–6 and ELs only) indicated that they worked in an agency that used a broadbanded classification system. While about another third of respondents said they did not work in such an agency a substantial proportion of respondents (20%) were not sure. There was a fairly evenly divided view on the impact of broadbanding on opportunities for advancement. Twenty-eight per cent of those respondents who identified themselves as working in a broad-banded system said that it had made advancement opportunities better, 27% said the situation was worse and 33% said there had been no change.
Opinions about broadbanding varied according to level and whether or not employees were located inside or outside the ACT. More EL staff (35%) considered that it had made advancement opportunities better than those at the APS 1–6 levels (26%). A greater proportion of staff in the ACT (31%) also considered that it had improved opportunities than those not in the ACT (26%).
However, only small proportions of employees gave broadbanding as the most important reason for seeking a promotion within their own agency (rather than another APS agency) or indicated that it had made transferring between agencies more difficult.
The APS Commission has commenced a project in a small number of agencies to explore why and how broadbanding has been used and to examine its impact on different classifications. The Commission is particularly interested to investigate:
- the interaction between broadbanding and the application of the merit Value
- agencies’ experience of problematic aspects of broadbanding, such as excessive upward movement through the classification levels, and strategies to mitigate their effects
- the benefits and flexibilities that broadbanding may offer agencies, such as the provision of a more streamlined approach to learning and development and career planning.
The project will use existing information on broadbanding contained in CAs and also undertake an information-gathering exercise involving questionnaires and follow-up visits to selected agencies. The aim is to identify any policy development issues and to indicate areas the APS Commission may need to address—for example, further guidance for agencies, possible agency forums and training programs.