postadjustment

Post adjustment, also known as post-adjustment, is a cost-of-living adjustment applied to the salaries of international civil servants to reflect differences in purchasing power at various duty stations. It is used primarily within the United Nations system and other international organizations that follow the UN common system for staff remuneration.

Purpose and scope

The primary purpose of post adjustment is to maintain equivalent purchasing power for staff serving in locations with differing price levels and living costs. The adjustment is intended to account for price changes in goods and services, housing, and local market conditions, and it complements the base salary and other allowances. The rate typically depends on the duty station and the staff member’s family status (single, with dependents, etc.).

Calculation and administration

Post adjustment is computed by international bodies led by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC). Each duty station has an index that compares its cost of living to a reference city, often New York. The resulting post adjustment index is translated into a rate or multiplier that is applied to the staff member’s base salary to determine the post adjustment portion. Rates are updated periodically to reflect new price data and exchange-rate movements.

Impact and considerations

Post adjustment directly affects take-home pay and is an important factor in determining postings, housing decisions, and overall compensation. Critics note that not all cost differences are perfectly captured by the index, and some duty stations may have high living costs not fully reflected in adjustments.

See also: International Civil Service Commission, UN common system, cost-of-living allowance.