WORK OUTSIDE OF CLASSIFICATION 16.1 Work out of class is a management tool, the purpose of which is to complete essential public services whenever an employee is assigned by proper authority to perform the normal, ongoing duties of and accept responsibility of a position. When the duties of a higher-paid position are clearly outside the scope of an employee’s regular classification for a period of three (3) hours or longer in any one (1) work week, he/she shall be paid at the out-of-class rate while performing such duties and accepting such responsibility. The out-of-class rate shall be determined in the same manner as for promotion and shall be paid for only actual hours worked. “Proper authority” shall be a supervisor who has been designated the authority by a manager or director directly above the position that is being filled out of class and who has budget management authority of the work unit. The City has the sole authority to direct its supervisors as to when to assign employees to a higher class. Employees must meet the minimum qualifications of the higher class and must have demonstrated or be able to demonstrate their ability to perform the duties of the class. The City may work employees out of class across bargaining unit jurisdictions for a period not to exceed six (6) continuous months for any one position. The six (6) month period may be exceeded under the following circumstances: (1) when a hiring freeze exists and vacancies cannot be filled; (2) extended industrial or off-the-job injury or disability; (3) when a position is scheduled for abrogation; or (4) a position is encumbered (an assignment in lieu of a layoff; e.g., with the renovation of the Seattle Center Coliseum). When such circumstances require that an out-of-class assignment be extended beyond six (6) months for any one position, the City shall notify the Union or Unions that represent the employee who is so assigned and/or the body of work that is being performed on an out-of-class basis. After nine (9) months, the Union that represents the body of work being worked out of class must concur with any additional extension of the assignment. The Union that represents the body of work will consider all requests on a good-faith basis.
