Ms. Shivers is the manager of a computer division in the federal government. Among her various responsibilities is the central data entry office, with 10 GS– 4 data entry clerks and one GS– 5 supervisor.
The starting salary range for a GS– 4 data entry clerk with limited skills is comparable to the starting salary in private industry. However, after about six months of on- the- job experience, most data entry clerks can get a substantial pay increase by taking a job in private industry. It has become common knowledge in industry that Ms. Shivers has a very good training program for data entry clerks and that her division represents a good source of personnel. As a result of this reputation, Ms. Shivers has experienced a heavy turnover during the last several months. In fact, the problem has recently become severe enough to create a tremendous work backlog in her division. In short, she has had to oversee so many trainees that the division’s overall productivity has declined.
Within the data entry section are three notable exceptions who have worked for Ms. Shivers for several years. These three have recently been responsible for most of the work turned out in the division. The GS– 5 supervisor has been running the section for five years. Just recently, she informed
Ms. Shivers that she had been offered a job with another company with a small pay increase and no supervisory responsibilities. Ms. Shivers has always felt that the data entry clerks should be upgraded to the GS– 5 level and the supervisor’s job to GS– 6. In fact, on several occasions, Ms. Shivers has mentioned this idea to her boss, John Clayton. She believes not only that these jobs should be upgraded but also that this action would go a long way toward solving her turnover problem. Unfortunately, Clayton has never shown much interest in Ms. Shivers’ idea.
Question
1. What do you suggest Ms. Shivers do to further promote the idea of upgrading the data entry clerk and supervisory positions?
2. What can Ms. Shivers do from a job design standpoint to help with the turnover problem?