General Schedule Position Classification Standard		Classification Programs Division
Draft Job Family Standard for Administrative Work in the Investigation, Enforcement, Inspection, and Compliance Group, GS-1800
Release Date:  December 2001 - DRAFT		Section Seventeen of Thirty-One

Contents

FACTOR 6 - PERSONAL CONTACTS and FACTOR 7 - PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

These factors include face-to-face and remote dialogue - e.g., telephone, email, and videoconferences - with persons not in the supervisory chain. (Note:  Personal contacts with supervisors are under Factor 2 Supervisory Controls.) .) Levels described under these factors consider/take into account what is required to make the initial contact, the difficulty of communicating with those contacted, the setting in which the contact takes place, and the nature of the discourse. The setting describes how well the employee and those contacted recognize their relative roles and authorities. The nature of the discourse defines the reason for the communication and the context or environment in which the communication takes place. For example, the reason for a communication may be to exchange factual information or to negotiate. The communication may take place in an environment of significant controversy and/or with people of differing viewpoints, goals, and objectives.

Above the lowest levels, credit points under Factors 6 and 7 only for contacts that are essential for successful performance of the work and that have a demonstrable impact on the difficulty and responsibility of the work performed. Factors 6 and 7 are interdependent. Accordingly, use the same personal contacts for selection of both the Factor 6 and the Factor 7 levels.

Determine the appropriate level for Personal Contacts and the corresponding level for Purpose of Contacts. Obtain the point value for these factors from the intersection of the two levels as shown on the Point Assignment Chart at the end of this section.

PERSONAL CONTACTS

Level 1

Agency employees in the same office and members of the public in very highly structured situations. The purpose of the contact and the reason as to why the employee is dealing with them is relatively clear.

Level 2

Agency employees and members of the general public, as individuals or groups, in a moderately structured setting. Contacts are usually at the employee's work place and the employee must establish the exact purpose of the contact and explain the authority under law.

Level 3

Individuals or groups from outside the agency in moderately unstructured settings and are not on a routine basis. The purpose and extent of each contact is different. Typical contacts at this level are with attorneys, contractors, or representatives of professional organization, the media, or public action groups.

Level 4

High-ranking officials outside the agency at national or international levels in highly unstructured settings; e.g., officials may be relatively inaccessible, arrangements have to be made for accompanying staff members, or each contact may be conducted under different ground rules. Typical contacts at this level are Members of Congress, leading representatives of foreign governments, presidents of large national or international firms and organizations, State governors, or mayors of large cities.

PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

Level A

To obtain, clarify, or give facts or information regardless of the nature of those facts ranging from easily understood to highly technical.

Level B

To plan, coordinate, or advise on work efforts or to resolve operating problems by influencing or persuading individuals or groups who are working toward mutual goals and who have basically cooperative attitudes.

Level C

To influence, persuade, interrogate, or control people or groups. The people contacted may be fearful, skeptical, uncooperative, or dangerous. Therefore, the employee must be skillful in approaching the individual or group in order to obtain the desired effect, such as gaining compliance with established policies and regulations by persuasion or negotiation, or gaining information by establishing rapport with a suspicious informant.

Level D

To justify, defend, negotiate, or settle matters involving significant or controversial issues. The work usually involves active participation in conferences, meetings, hearings, or presentations.

POINT ASSIGNMENT CHART

*THIS COMBINATION IS UNLIKELY