The state of the state...of California

By their own admission, it's a mess. Bureaucracy, decades out of date;

The state's classification plan contains too many classifications, is inflexible, and is too cumbersome for today's human resources needs. As a consequence, classification specifications are out of date, titles are not descriptive or understandable to applicants, and there is virtually no distinction among many similar classifications which results in redundant testing.

Which has been known for awhile;

The Little Hoover Commission noted in January 1999; "Classifications are used in structuring organizational work flows and in establishing budgets. They shape examination, selection, compensation and promotional decisions. As a result, many of the maladies plaguing state human resources are either caused by-or can be detected in-the classification system."

But, even earlier;

Since 1979, the Little Hoover Commission has recommended streamlining California's personnel management system to "untie the hands of managers and delegate to departments the authority to hire, promote, reward employees for excellence in performance based on principles of merit and a representative workforce." 

There are 4,462 classifications in the state's civil service. [4] Of this number:

• Thirty-seven percent of these classifications have five or fewer incumbents;
• Nearly one-fifth are one- or two-person classifications; and
• As of April 23, 2004, there are 1,062 classifications with no incumbents.

 Since this has been known now for 36 years, Jon Ortiz of the SacBee can report;

For example, the state still has “teletypewriter operator” on the books. The reviewers said the classification needs to go: “No positions established or filled in state service ... Technology outdated.”

The state employs one “telephone operator” at Atascadero State Hospital but it’s not clear what that person does. The facility’s “switchboard is no longer in operation,” according to the report, which recommends the state look into the situation and, “assuming that the absence of a switchboard is confirmed, abolish the class.”

We'll bet that in another 36 years it will still be there.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article7051097.html#storylink=cpy