The directors of the HSE job evaluation scheme met this week to discuss the re-opening of the process, which has not been active since the onset of the Covid-19 public health crisis.

The scheme, which covers clerical and admin grades III to VI, was re-established two years ago following pressure from Fórsa. It had been unilaterally abandoned by management during the last economic crisis.

Fórsa’s head of health Eamonn Donnelly said the union’s immediate priority was to have the results of evaluations issued to applicants who had already been assessed.

He said the union also wanted to see the re-scheduling of assessments that were cancelled as a result of coronavirus crisis.

The union accepts that the rebooting of the scheme will take place within the constraints of ongoing public health guidance.

Prior to the pandemic crisis, Fórsa had successfully lobbied for an increase in the number of evaluation teams – made up of union and employer representatives – because of the huge pent-up demand that built up while the scheme was in abeyance.

This was exacerbated by the fact that many workers had taken on substantial new responsibilities during the recruitment embargo.

The union is also calling for the scheme to be extended to higher management grades and health and social care professionals.

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