Palkkakerroksia

Palkkakerroksia are levels within a Finnish pay scale used to determine the exact salary for a given job. They form part of a broader system that also includes palkkaryhmä, or pay groups, which categorize jobs by requirements, responsibilities and skill level. Each palkkaryhmä contains several palkkakerroksia, representing successive pay levels within that group.

The job assignment process typically starts with a job evaluation that assesses the tasks, required education and experience, and the decision which palkkaryhmä the position belongs to. Within a palkkaryhmä, employees are placed on a sequence of palkkakerroksia, and their pay is adjusted as they move to higher levels. Movement can be time-based, performance-based, or a combination, and the rules are usually defined in collective agreements or employer policies.

Palkkakerroksia are widely used in Finland, especially in the public sector, including state and municipal administration, health and social services, and education. They are also employed in sectors covered by collective agreements in the private sector. The system aims to provide transparency and predictability by linking pay to job requirements and progression possibilities.

An example of use would be a position that starts at a relatively lower palkkakerros within a palkkaryhmä and can advance to higher palkkakerroksia through experience or performance. While the structure offers clarity, critics note that fixed ladders can limit rapid advancement and may require periodic renegotiation through collective agreements.

See also: palkkaryhmä, palkkalaskenta, työehtosopimus, palkkaluokitus.