The Development and Implementation of an Acceptable Step-in-Grade Salary Plan

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

Due to inconsistencies and inequities in the pay system of Hardin County, Kentucky, a step-in-grade pay plan was developed to rectify the situation. The new pay plan gave structure and uniformity to the county’s pay system, allowing for the hiring and retaining of the County’s quality staff. This payment plan comes in addition to the traditional cost of living salary increase that employees receive annually. The project to redevelop the County’s payment plan began in April of 2009, and implementation began in January 2010. Today the step-in-grade plan is fully operational and functioning well. Employees have been hired, other promoted, and the credit for prior experience has been effectively used in some cases of new hires. The plan is especially popular among the entire county staff, and overall morale seems to have improved in its wake.