LES: CY 2006 COMPENSATION QUESTIONNAIRE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 GENEVA 002374

SIPDIS

FOR HR/OE/CMD - S. LUMSDEN AND IO/EX - M. ALDERETE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AFSN APER ABUD AMGT KICA
SUBJECT: LES: CY 2006 COMPENSATION QUESTIONNAIRE

REF: STATE 162676

COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION POSITION


1. FOR POSTS WHERE THE VENDOR'S COMPENSATION DATA IS
MARKET POSITION BASED, SUCH AS WATSON WYATT, WHAT IS POST
MANAGEMENT'S OVERALL AVERAGE DESIRED MARKET POSITION
PERCENTILE FOR THE REGULAR SALARY SCHEDULE? (50TH
PERCENTILE IS CONSIDERED MODERATELY COMPETITIVE; 75TH IS
HIGHLY COMPETITIVE; AND 90TH IS AGGRESSIVELY
COMPETITIVE).


H. OTHER - 75TH


2. FOR ALL POSTS: TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PAY
ADJUSTMENT, IF ANY, THAT POST IMPLEMENTED OR EXPECTS TO
IMPLEMENT IN 2005, SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:


D. OTHER - WE ANTICIPATE A MODERATE INCREASE IN AVERAGE
WAGES/BENEFITS SIMILAR TO THE APPROXIMATE 2% INCREASE
INDICATED IN RECENT WATSON WYATT SURVEYS. WE WILL
REQUEST A 2% INCREASE IN OUR FY 06 BUDGET SUBMISSISON.
PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR BUDGETARY REASONS POST COULD ONLY
GIVE HALF OF THE AUTHORIZED SALARY INCREASE FOR 2005.



3. DOES THE RESPONSE TO QUESTION 2 REFLECT (SELECT ONE):


B. AN ICASS COUNCIL CONSENSUS

EXCEPTION RATE RANGES (ERR'S)


4. DOES POST HAVE ANY EXCEPTION RATE RANGES?


E. NO


5. WHAT IS POST MANAGEMENT'S DESIRED MARKET POSITION FOR
EACH EXISTING ERR THAT IS BASED ON MARKET POSITION DATA?
NOT APPLICABLE - POST HAS NO ERR'S


6. ARE ANY EXISTING ERR'S NO LONGER NEEDED?


C. NOT APPLICABLE - POST HAS NO ERR'S


7. ARE ANY NEW ERR'S NEEDED?


B. NO

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION NEEDS


8. DID POST RECEIVE APPLICATIONS FROM QUALIFIED
APPLICANTS TO FILL EACH VACANCY IN CY 2004?


A. YES, BUT FEW APPLICANTS WERE HOST COUNTRY NATIONALS.
U.S. MISSION IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON NON-SWISS LES
EMPLOYEES.


9. WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON REASONS FOR REFUSING OFFERS
OF EMPLOYMENT (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)


A. SALARY OFFER TOO LOW FOR SWISS CANDIDATE (OFFERED TO
SECOND CHOICE AND POSITION WAS ACCEPTED BY NON HOST
COUNTRY NATIONAL)


10. IS THE SALARY RANGE LISTED ON EACH VACANCY
ANNOUNCEMENT?


B. NO - ONLY GRADE IS MENTIONED


11. WHAT IS THE TYPICAL NUMBER OF REQUIRED
QUALIFICATIONS LISTED ON A VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT?


C. FIVE


12. HOW LONG DOES IT TYPICALLY TAKE TO FILL A VACANCY?


E. NINE WEEKS TO LESS THAN TWELVE WEEKS


13. DOES POST MANAGEMENT BELIEVE THAT QUALIFIED
APPLICANTS ARE MOST PLENTIFUL FOR POSITIONS AT (SELECT
ONE):


D. NOT APPLICABLE - THERE ARE SUFFICIENT QUALIFIED
APPLICANTS AT MOST/ALL GRADES, BUT MOST (TWO-THIRDS) ARE
NON-HOST COUNTRY NATIONALS. MANY SWISS NATIONALS WILL
NOT ACCEPT U.S. MISSION SALARY/BENEFIT RATES.


14. HOW MANY EMPLOYEES SEPARATED FROM POST EMPLOYMENT
DURING CY 2004? PROVIDE ONE TOTAL NUMBER THAT INCLUDES
ALL AGENCIES AND ALL CONSTITUENT POSTS.

ZERO


15. HOW MANY EMPLOYEES SEPARATED FOR EACH OF THE
FOLLOWING REASONS? DO NOT COUNT EMPLOYEES WHO MOVED FROM
ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER, EVEN IF TO ANOTHER AGENCY. THE
TOTAL FOR A THROUGH K BELOW SHOULD EQUAL THE ANSWER
PROVIDED TO QUESTION 14.


K. OTHER - NOT APPLICABLE

CURRENT STAFFING


16. HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE AT EACH GRADE LEVEL? PROVIDE
ONLY ONE TOTAL NUMBER FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL THAT COVERS
ALL WORKWEEK SCHEDULES (PART TIME, FULL TIME, REGULAR
SCHEDULE, AND ERR'S) AND THAT INCLUDES EMPLOYEES OF ALL
AGENCIES AND EMPLOYEES AT CONSTITUENT POSTS.

FSN-13 0
FSN-12 0
FSN-11 1
FSN-10 3
FSN-9 8
FSN-8 9
FSN-7 11
FSN-6 10
FSN-5 15
FSN-4 18
FSN-3 34
FSN-2 3
FSN-1 0

TOTAL 112


17. WHAT IS THE AVERAGE STEP RATE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, BY
GRADE LEVEL? ROUND TO THE NEAREST WHOLE NUMBER. LIST
SEPARATELY THE AVERAGE STEP RATE FOR EMPLOYEES PAID FROM
EACH ERR.

FSN-13 N/A
FSN-12 N/A
FSN-11 10
FSN-10 8
FSN-9 10
FSN-8 8
FSN-7 11
FSN-6 9
FSN-5 12
FSN-4 9
FSN-3 9
FSN-2 13
FSN-1 N/A

ERR COST FACTORS - NOT APPLICABLE


18. HR/OE SEEKS TO ASSESS WHETHER ERR COSTS ARE
INCREASING OVER TIME. WHILE THE APPROACH BELOW WILL NOT
YIELD AN EXACT COST, IT WILL GIVE A SENSE OF DIRECTION
WITHOUT IMPOSING A LARGE BURDEN ON POSTS WITH MANY
EMPLOYEES PAID UNDER ERR'S.

FIRST, DETERMINE TOTAL CASH COMPENSATION (BASE PAY,
ALLOWANCES, AND BONUSES) FOR STEP 5 OF EACH ERR AND FOR
STEP 5 OF THE SAME GRADE ON THE REGULAR SCHEDULE. DIVIDE
THE FIRST NUMBER BY THE SECOND NUMBER, AND SUBTRACT ONE.
CONVERT TO A PERCENTAGE BY MOVING THE DECIMAL POINT TWO
PLACES TO THE RIGHT. THE RESULT WILL BE A POSITIVE IN
THE CASE OF AN UPWARD ERR OR A NEGATIVE IN THE CASE OF A
DOWNWARD ERR. (EXAMPLE: 55,010 / 40,200 MINUS 1 EQUALS
0.37 OR 37%.) IF POST HAS MORE THAN ONE ERR, CALCULATE
THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE FOR EACH ERR, AND THEN
AVERAGE THE AVERAGES.


A. NO ERR'S AT POST

HOST COUNTRY UNEMPLOYMENT


19. HOST COUNTRY UNEMPLOYMENT IS:


A. VERY LOW (4% OR LESS) SWITZERLAND UNEMPLOYMENT IS
3.9% FOR CY 2004.

C. MODERATE (6.1% TO 10%) GENEVA UNEMPLOYMENT IS 7.1%
FOR CY 2004.


20. HOST COUNTRY UNEMPLOYMENT IS HIGH FOR WHAT TYPES OF
POSITIONS THAT LE STAFF ENCUMBER? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.


G. NOT APPLICABLE

SALARY ADVANCE PLAN


21. DOES POST'S LOCAL COMPENSATION PLAN INCLUDE A SALARY
ADVANCE PLAN (AKA SALARY PREPAYMENT PLAN)?


B. NO

LOCAL LEAVE PLAN


22. DOES POST'S LOCAL COMPENSATION PLAN INCLUDE A LOCAL
LEAVE PLAN?

A. YES

REDUCTION IN FORCE PLAN


23. DOES POST HAVE A REDUCTION IN FORCE PLAN?


A. YES

24. WHAT IS THE EFFECTIVE DATE YEAR OF THE RIF PLAN?

G. EARLIER THAN 2000 - 1996 (HANDBOOK)

LE STAFF HANDBOOK

25. IN WHAT YEAR WAS THE LE STAFF HANDBOOK (OR FSN
HANDBOOK) MOST RECENTLY REVISED AND ISSUED TO COVERED
PERSONNEL?


G. EARLIER THAN 2000 - 1996 (IN THE PROCESS OF BEING
UPDATED)

PAY CAP ON ANNUAL BASIC SALARY


26. HOW MANY LE STAFF HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IN THE LAST
YEAR BY THE 3 FAM 7332 PAY CAP ON ANNUAL BASIC SALARY?
SEVEN

LOWEST WAGE


27. WHAT IS THE GRADE OF THE INDIVIDUAL ENCUMBERING THE
POSITION WITH THE LOWEST GRADE ON THE FULL TIME WORKWEEK
SALARY SCHEDULE?


B. FSN-2


28. WHAT IS ANNUAL TOTAL COMPENSATION FOR STEP 1 OF THE
LOWEST GRADE SPECIFIED IN THE ANSWER TO QUESTION 27?
INCLUDE BASIC SALARY, ALL ALLOWANCES, ALL BONUSES, AND
THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF USG IN KIND BENEFITS (E.G., MEAL
TICKETS) OR REIMBURSEMENTS (E.G., COMMUTING OR EDUCATION
COSTS). IF BENEFITS VARY BY LENGTH OF SERVICE, USE
AMOUNT FOR A NEWLY HIRED EMPLOYEE. IF BENEFITS VARY BY
FAMILY SIZE, USE AMOUNT PAID TO A MARRIED EMPLOYEE WITH
TWO CHILDREN. LIST THE TOTAL AMOUNT AND THE CURRENCY
NAME (NOT ACRONYM). SWISS FRANCS: 71,421

MEDICAL BENEFITS


29. HOW ARE MEDICAL BENEFITS PROVIDED TO LE STAFF?
SELECT ALL THAT APPLY, REGARDLESS OF THE LEVEL OF
BENEFITS.


C. POST HAS A PRIVATE MEDICAL PLAN THAT DIRECTLY
REIMBURSES EMPLOYEES FOR COVERED EXPENSES (SEE ITEM G
BELOW)

G. OTHER - POST REIMBURSES EMPLOYEES 50% OF PREMIUM
COSTS FOR PRIVATE INSURANCE POLICY FOR EMPLOYEE AND THEIR
DEPENDENTS.


30. IF POST SELECTED "D" OR "E" IN QUESTION 29 ABOVE:


D. NOT APPLICABLE


31. WHAT TYPES OF MEDICAL PLANS PROVIDE MEDICAL COVERAGE
TO LE STAFF AFTER RETIREMENT? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY,
REGARDLESS OF THE LEVEL OF BENEFITS.


E. NONE OF THE ABOVE

F. OTHER - UPON RETIREMENT EMPLOYEES HAVE TO PAY 100% OF
MEDICAL PREMIUM COST, WHICH IS EXTEMELY EXPENSIVE.
EMPLOYEES HAVE TO BE COVERED FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES AND
HOSPITALIZATION (SEMI-PRIVATE HOSPITALIZATION IS WHAT
EMPLOYEES HAVE DURING EMPLOYEMENT, BUT THIS IS THE VERY
EXPENSIVE AFTER THE AGE OF 60).


32. IN POST'S MANAGEMENT'S OPINION, AND TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT CULTURAL NORMS IN THE LOCALITY OF EMPLOYMENT (NOT
IN THE UNITED STATES),ARE THE MEDICAL BENEFITS PROVIDED
TO LE STAFF FROM ALL SOURCES COMBINED:


A. INADEQUATE


33. IF THE ANSWER TO QUESTION 32 IS "INADEQUATE," WHAT
IS THE REASON? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.


A. POST IS NOT KEEPING UP WITH PREVAILING PRACTICE AND
NEEDS TO CONDUCT A MEDICAL BENEFITS SURVEY TO UPDATE
POST'S PLAN. (RETIRED MISSION EMPLOYEES OFTEN CANNOT
AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS IN SWITZERLAND. A
SURVEY OF BENEFITS NEEDS TO BE CONDUCTED SOON. THE LAST
SUCH SURVEY WAS DONE IN 1995).
CAJE IMPLEMENTATION COSTS

34. DID THE COSTS OF UPGRADES AS A RESULT OF CAJE
IMPLEMENTATION SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR
INCREASES TO THE LOCAL COMPENSATION PLAN?


A. NO, POST AND BUREAU BUDGETED APPROPRIATELY FOR
ANTICIPATED UPGRADE COSTS AND RECEIVED MOST OR ALL OF THE
NECESSARY FUNDING.
FSN WORLDWIDE CONFERENCES

35. HAVE ANY LE STAFF FROM YOUR POST PARTICIPATED IN THE
FSN WORLDWIDE CONFERENCES?


A. YES, ONE YEAR


36. DID THE PARTICIPANT(S) SHARE INFORMATION WITH POST
MANAGEMENT AND COLLEAGUES UPON RETURN TO POST?


A. YES


37. HOW WAS INFORMATION SHARED? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)


E. OTHER - REPORTS AND MATERIALS RECEIVED AT END OF
CONFERENCE WERE SHARED WITH ALL LE STAFF VIA E-MAIL.


38. WHAT CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE AS A RESULT OF
ATTENDANCE AT THE FSN WORLDWIDE CONFERENCES? (SELECT ALL
THAT APPLY)


D. MORE TRAINING FOR LE STAFF HAS BEEN APPROVED

E. LE STAFF COMMITTEE/ASSOCIATION MORE ACTIVE

VIEWPOINTS AND OPINIONS


39. DO LE STAFF FREQUENTLY APPROACH MISSION MANAGEMENT
OR AGENCY HEADS TO EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT THE LCP?


A. YES
MOLEY


40. IF THE ANSWER TO QUESTION 39 IS YES, WHAT IS THE
MOST COMMONLY EXPRESSED CONCERN? SELECT ONE.


D. RETIREMENT BENEFITS INADEQUATE


41. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY CONCERNS LE STAFF MAY OR MAY NOT
EXPRESS OR HOW THEY EXPRESS THEM, IS POST MANAGEMENT OF
THE OPINION THAT MOST LE STAFF BELIEVE THEIR PAY PACKAGE
IS FUNDAMENTALLY APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WORK
THEY PERFORM?


A. YES

CERTIFICATION FROM MANAGEMENT OFFICER


42. I CERTIFY THAT BOTH THE ICASS COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON
AND I HAVE PERSONALLY REVIEWED THE RESPONSES TO THIS
QUESTIONNAIRE AND ATTEST THAT, TO THE BEST OF OUR
KNOWLEDGE, THE RESPONSES ARE ACCURATE AND COMPLETE.


A. I SO CERTIFY


43. NAME AND TITLE OF MANAGEMENT OFFICER OR COUNSELOR,
OR PERSON ACTING IN THAT CAPACITY

NAME: STANTON R. BIGELOW
TITLE:MANAGEMENT COUNSELOR


44. NAME AND TITLE OF ICASS COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON
NAME: PIPER CAMPBELL
TITLE: REFUGEE AND MIGRATION COUNSELOR
MOLEY