This is a growing collection of topics aimed at developing a broader understanding of personal injury claims to assist professionals in the medico-legal industry. While these are generally accepted principles, there may be differing opinions.

The misuse of Paterson grading

The Paterson employment grading model is frequently used by IOPs in medico-legal reports. The use, and misuse thereof, has a significant impact on the final claim.

Actual Pay vs Paterson Job grade

The Paterson Model classified jobs into categories based on the nature of the job/ skills needed (such as task complexity, responsibilities, accountability), and the type of decision-making applicable to the job. The earnings are not considered when classifying a job. ( Cornél Schoombee, Ind. Psychologist, April 2020).

It is therefore incorrect to estimate the career ceiling Paterson level based on the claimant’s earnings.

The Lower and Upper quartiles do not represent the minimum and maximum salaries

Earnings Data is indicated by the lower quartile, median and upper quartile. The lower quartile represents the 25th percentile, meaning that 25% of the participants that are categorized in the relevant Paterson level earn less than the lower quartile. The upper quartile represents the 75th percentile, meaning that 25% of the participants that are categorized in the relevant Paterson level earn more than the upper quartile. 

 

PE Corporate and NQF levels

Versions of the following table appear frequently in industrial psychologist reports, with reference to “PE Corporate Services research.”

Qualification

Entry

Ultimate level

Gr 10 / NQF 2

Gr 11 / NQF 3

Gr 12 / NQG 4

Certificate / NQF 5

Diploma / NQF 6

Degree / NQF 7

A1

A2

A3

B2

B2/B3

B4/C1

B1

B3

B3/B4

C1/C2

C3/C4

D1+

 

In response to PE Corporate Services being referenced in expert reports, a general letter to practitioners were sent on 4 March 2020 (by M Trollip, CEO of PE Corporate Services) with the below excerpts:

"..Various NQF qualification levels are correlated with suggested Paterson job grade ‘entry’ and ‘ultimate’ levels and the correlation attributed to P E Corporate Services. In this regard we bring to your attention that we have never attempted to correlate NQF levels with Paterson grades and believe that the attempt to do so on a statistically valid basis is both difficult and potentially misleading.

Industrial psychologists who use PECS data without permission are infringing our copyright. Should we become aware of any such incidents we give notice that it is our intention to take whatever action we see fit to protect our rights...".

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