Unskilled and Reasoning Level 2 -- Simple, Repetitive Work? Not Necessarily

Over the past two posts, we discussed reasoning level 2 occupations that are not simple, repetitive work because they are skilled SVP 5 and 6 occupations.  One group carried the temperament for repetitive work but had other characteristics that explained why there were not simple, repetitive work.  The second group did not carry the temperament for repetitive work and necessarily had other characteristics that betrayed the idea of R2 equals simple, repetitive work.  Academically interesting but not informative since the ALJ asks about the ability to perform other unskilled work in the majority of disability cases.  In this and the next few posts, we will use what we learned about R2 skilled work to declassify R2 unskilled work from that simple, repetitive work mantra. 

Consider this list of 24 light, unskilled, reasoning level 2 occupations that do not carry the temperament for repetitive work but do carry the temperament for people. 

DOTCode	DOTTitle
159.647-010	AMUSEMENT PARK ENTERTAINER
371.567-010	GUARD, SCHOOL-CROSSING
372.667-042	SCHOOL BUS MONITOR
311.472-010	FAST-FOODS WORKER
352.677-018	WAITER/WAITRESS, CLUB
311.477-010	CAR HOP
319.464-014	VENDING-MACHINE ATTENDANT
344.677-010	PRESS-BOX CUSTODIAN
349.677-018	CHILDREN'S ATTENDANT
342.667-014	ATTENDANT, ARCADE
324.577-010	ROOM-SERVICE CLERK
335.677-014	HOT-ROOM ATTENDANT
346.677-018	SECOND
358.677-014	LOCKER-ROOM ATTENDANT
353.667-010	ESCORT
349.667-010	HOST/HOSTESS, DANCE HALL
249.366-010	COUNTER CLERK
295.467-010	BICYCLE-RENTAL CLERK
295.467-018	HOSPITAL-TELEVISION-RENTAL CLERK
291.454-010	LEI SELLER
291.457-010	CIGARETTE VENDOR
292.457-010	NEWSPAPER CARRIER
205.367-058	TRAFFIC CHECKER
245.367-014	BLOOD-DONOR-UNIT ASSISTANT

Several occupations on the list jump out as identified by vocational experts.  Some, like cigarette vendor, do not exist or exist in dwindling numbers -- my hunch with no data exploration.  Each of the occupations listed carry a "S" for significant on that middle digit, the people code in the data-people-things coding.  This significant-not significant coding is found in a variety of sources that compile the electronic files of the DOT-SCO data set, such as Occu Collect.  The people codes range from 4 to 7 in this set.  The DOT defines those classifications:

4 Diverting: Amusing others, usually through the medium of stage, screen, television, or radio.

 5 Persuading: Influencing others in favor of a product, service, or point of view.
 6 Speaking-Signaling: Talking with and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to helpers or assistants.
 7 Serving: Attending to the needs or requests of people or animals or the expressed or implicit wishes of people. Immediate response is involved.

The words "others" or "people" are in the categories used and are designated as significant.  The temperament for people from the Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs (Dept. of Labor 1991) refines the concepts:

Dealing with PEOPLE: Involves interpersonal relationships in job situations beyond receiving work instructions.

This definition of the people temperament includes more than the interaction of receiving instructions; this definition requires the ability to engage in interpersonal relationships.  People are not simple.  The fifth example has the most application to unskilled work activity.  The RHAJ describes dealing with people by exemplar:

 Receives callers at establishment, determines nature of business, and directs callers to destination.

Embedded in this definition are the functions of making determinations of the intent or need of another person and making a decision how or who the caller needs to go to meet that need.  The 24 light unskilled occupations do not qualify as simple, repetitive tasks despite the presence of reasoning level 2 because of the significance of dealing with people beyond receiving work instructions   Occupations without the temperament for repetitive or short cycle work and with a temperament are not simple nor are they repetitive.