§ 532.233 Preparation for full-scale wage surveys

5 CFR 532.233(a)(a) The local wage survey committee, prior to each full-scale survey:

5 CFR 532.233(a)(1)(1) Shall hold a public hearing to receive recommendations from interested parties concerning the area, industries, establishments and jobs to be covered in the wage survey.

5 CFR 532.233(a)(2)(2) Shall prepare a summary of the hearings and submit it to the lead agency together with the committees' recommendations concerning the survey specifications prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section.

5 CFR 532.233(a)(3)(3) May make any other recommendations concerning the local wage survey which it considers appropriate.

5 CFR 532.233(b)(b) The lead agency shall consider the local wage survey committee's report if:

5 CFR 532.233(b)(1)(1) The lead agency proposes not to accept the recommendations of the local wage survey committee concerning the specifications of the local wage survey; or

5 CFR 532.233(b)(2)(2) The local wage survey committee's report is accompanied by a minority report.

5 CFR 532.233(c)(c) The lead agency shall develop survey specifications after taking into consideration the reports and recommendations received from the local wage survey committee and, if applicable, the agency wage committee. The survey specifications shall include:

5 CFR 532.233(c)(1)(1) The counties to be surveyed;

5 CFR 532.233(c)(2)(2) The industries to be surveyed;

5 CFR 532.233(c)(3)(3) The standard minimum size of establishments to be surveyed;

5 CFR 532.233(c)(4)(4) Establishments to be surveyed with certainty; and

5 CFR 532.233(c)(5)(5) The survey jobs.

5 CFR 532.233(d)(d) A list of establishments to be surveyed shall be prepared through use of statistical sampling techniques in accordance with the specifications developed by the lead agency. A copy of this list shall be forwarded to the local wage survey committee.

5 CFR 532.233(e)(e) Selection and appointment of data collectors.

5 CFR 532.233(e)(1)(1) The local wage survey committee, after consultation with the lead agency, shall determine the number of regular and alternate data collectors needed for the survey based upon the estimated number and location of establishments to be surveyed.

5 CFR 532.233(e)(2)(2) Wage data for appropriated fund surveys shall be collected by teams consisting of one local Federal Wage System employee recommended by the committee member representing the qualifying labor organization and one Federal employee recommended by Federal agencies. The data collectors shall be selected and appointed by their employing agency.

5 CFR 532.233(e)(3)(3) Wage data for nonappropriated fund surveys shall be collected by teams, each consisting of one local nonappropriated fund employee recommended by the committee member representing the qualifying labor organization and one nonappropriated fund employee recommended by nonappropriated fund activities. The data collectors shall be selected and appointed by their employing agency.

5 CFR 532.233(e)(4)(4) The local wage survey committee shall provide employers with the names of employees recommended by labor organizations and by Federal agencies to serve as data collectors and shall indicate the number of regular and alternate data collectors to be selected and appointed by the employers.

5 CFR 532.233(e)(5)(5) In selecting and appointing employees recommended by labor organizations and by Federal agencies to serve as data collectors, consideration shall be given to the requirement in the prevailing rate law for labor and agency representatives to participate in the wage survey process, the qualifications of the recommended employees, the need of the employees' work units for their presence on the job, and the prudent management of available financial and human resources. Employing agencies and activities shall cooperate and appoint the recommended employees unless exceptional circumstances prohibit their consideration. When the required number of employees cannot be appointed to serve as data collectors from among those recommended, the local wage survey committee shall obtain additional recommendations expeditiously to avoid any delay in the survey process.

5 CFR 532.233(e)(6)(6) Employers shall cooperate and release appointed employees to serve as data collectors throughout the duration of the data collection period unless the employers can demonstrate that exceptional circumstances directly related to the accomplishment of the work units' missions require their presence on their regular jobs. Employees serving as data collectors are considered to be on official assignment to an interagency function, rather than on leave.

5 CFR 532.233(f)(1)(f)(1) Each member of a local wage survey committee, each data collector, and any other person having access to data collected must retain this information in confidence, and is subject to disciplinary action by the employing agency or activity if the employee violates the confidence of data secured from private employers.

5 CFR 532.233(f)(2)(2) Any violation of the above provision by a Federal employee must be reported to the employing agency and, in the case of a participant designated by a labor organization, to the recognized labor organization and its headquarters, and shall be cause for the lead agency immediately to remove the offending person from participation in the wage survey function.