NEW COMPENSATION FRAMEWORK

The four new compensation bands for the positions affected are set out in the table below. With few exceptions, affected employees will be initially compensated at the new rate for their existing step level. Two additional step levels have been added and will be available within each salary band to recognize exceptional performance and acknowledged higher levels of responsibility.

The new Band A compensation schedule for ministerial assistants and some senior political staff positions has a maximum achievable salary equal to 90 per cent of the new Strategic Leadership Role band, with a salary range of $66,150 to $94,500. Most employees within that range will receive an increase of 13.02 -19.91 per cent over current salary levels. A few exceptional employees currently at Step 4 will be initially compensated at the new Step 5 level, which is $89,775, or an increase of 25.97 per cent. No ministerial assistants will be initially eligible for the maximum salary level.

The new Band B compensation schedule for executive assistants has a maximum achievable salary of 90 per cent of the new Applied Leadership Role band. Band B has a salary range of $51,300 to $68,400, which represents an increase of 6.13 -10.55 per cent for all employees.

The Band C compensation schedule for the chief of staff has a maximum achievable salary equal to 80 per cent of the new maximum achievable salary for the deputy minister to the Premier. The salary for the current chief of staff will be set at Step 5 of the new maximum, or $185,390. This represents an increase of 24.82 per cent over current salary. By contrast, the maximum comparable salary for this position is $206,000 in Alberta and $199,000 in Ontario. The chief of staff is the only political staff person who has not had any salary increase since June 2001 and, as a deputy minister equivalent, was not eligible for the recent one-time bonus.

The Band D compensation schedule for two deputy chiefs of staff has a maximum achievable salary equal to 90 per cent of the new maximum achievable salary for assistant deputy ministers. The salary for the deputy chief of staff, policy coordination and issues management will be set at Step 3 of the new maximum, which is $122,400, or an increase of 17.75 per cent. The salary for deputy chief of staff and executive assistant to the Premier will be set at Step 4, which is $129,600, or an increase of 20.42 per cent over current salary. By comparison, the maximum salary for the comparable position in Alberta is $166,632, and in Ontario is $170,800.

These changes will place compensation for British Columbia’s executive level political staff at third highest among all provinces. (Comparisons for Quebec and the federal government are not known.)

TABLE 1 - New Compensation Framework

BAND A Ministerial Assistant Senior Political Staff	Salary	% of New Max
Step 1	$66,150	70%
Step 2	$70,875	75%
Step 3	$80,325	85%
Step 4	$85,050	90%
Step 5	$89,775	95%
Step 6	$94,500	100%
[Step 6 = 90% of max. $105,000 for Strategic Leadership Role band]
BAND B Executive Assistant
Step 1	$51,300	75%
Step 2	$54,720	80%
Step 3	$58,140	85%
Step 4	$61,560	90%
Step 5	$64,980	95%
Step 6	$68,400	100%
[Step 6 = 90% of $76,000 for Applied Leadership Role band]

BAND C Chief of Staff	Salary	% of New Max
Step 1	$146,361	75%
Step 2	$156,118	80%
Step 3	$165,875	85%
Step 4	$175,633	90%
Step 5	$185,390	95%
[Step 6 = 80% of max.$243,936 for deputy minister to the Premier]	$195,148	100%
BAND D Deputy Chief of Staff
Step 1	$108,000	75%
Step 2	$115,200	80%
Step 3	$122,400	85%
Step 4	$129,600	90%
Step 5	$136,800	95%
[Step 6 = 90% of max. $160,000 for assistant deputy ministers]	$144,000	100%


Media contact:	Mike Morton Press Secretary Office of the Premier 250 213-8218

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