Using Off or Above Scale (O/A Scale)
Sometimes departments pay an employee extra money that is outside of the pay range for the job code. On academic appointments, this is usually done for recruitment or retention purposes. For staff positions, this may happen because the market rate for the position is higher than UC Berkeley’s salary range for the position.
When this happens, you can use an O/A Scale (Off or Above Scale) value on the Compensation tab, to add a component of pay outside the range. Each O/A Scale value has different programming that allows you to go outside the set range for the job code. Each one can only be used with certain job codes. The employee usually receives this extra pay until a merit or equity increase places the employee at the next step in the range.
For backup and in case of audit, always retain any documentation
that authorizes you to enter pay that is outside the range for the
job code.
For more information, see the Off or Above Scale codes job aid.