United States
Office of Personnel Management




Office of Merit Systems Oversight and Effectiveness
Digest of Significant Classification Decisions and Opinions
December 2001
Article No. 27-02


Standard:	Mail and File, GS-305 (May 1977)
Factor:	N/A
Issue:	Series determination

Identification of the Classification Issue

The appellants’ position was classified as Processor, GS-1101-4.  The appellants 
distributed incoming mail and used automated systems to find addresses for 
outgoing mail.  The agency considered classifying the positions to the Mail and 
File series, GS-305, but selected the General Business and Industry series, GS-
1101, with the rationale that the work required subject-matter knowledge of the 
organization’s programs.  Their underlying reasons were to maintain 
organizational homogeneity in classification within the organization and to 
provide nominal qualifying experience for employees in the mail unit to allow 
them to compete for other positions at the field activity.  The appellants believed 
that their position should be classified at a higher level.

Resolution

During its review, OPM found that the appellants spent a considerable amount of 
their time searching for correct addresses for outgoing mail.  These efforts were 
often intensive and required understanding and using a proprietary computer 
system and sometimes tasking other offices, including bureau field offices, in the 
identified geographic area.  The work required knowledge of the missions, 
functions, and operations of bureau offices and personnel.  However, OPM 
concluded that the mission of the appellant's unit, as specified in its mission 
statement, was to process mail.  Regardless of the tools utilized to accomplish this 
goal, processing mail was the reason for the existence of the organization.  
Although the position required knowledge of the organization’s structure and 
functions, OPM found that the primary purpose of the work was expressly 
included in the coverage of the GS-305 series.  OPM changed the series of the 
appellants’ position from GS-1101 to GS-305. 

“Back to the Basics”
  
The Classifier’s Handbook states that a position should be classified to the 
occupation that best represents the main purpose for the existence of the position, 
usually reflected as the paramount knowledge or experience required to do the 
work.  This is often manifested in the mission of the organization in which the 
position is located.  When a position is clearly identifiable with one occupational 
series, it should be classified to that series.  Although the normal line of 
progression for the position in either the immediate or broader organization may 
be considered, series selection should not be used to artificially provide qualifying 
experience for essentially dissimilar work. 


Link to C-0305-04-01



Digest of Significant Classification Decisions and Opinions, No. 27, December 2001