Counter and Rental Clerks (SOC 41-2021) and the Simple Problem

Labor puts 11 DOT codes in the group of counter and rental clerks (SOC 41-2021).  The DOT classifies seven of those codes as requiring reasoning level 3; four with reasoning level 2.  In the simple versus complex debate, reasoning level 3 is typically enough to remove that level of work from the step 5 analysis.  The other four occupations, indeed all 11, require multiple significant worker functions in data, people, or things, except furniture-rental consultant.  The entire occupational group:

DOTCode	DOTTitle	STRENGTH	DATA	PEOPLE	THINGS	GEDR
249.366-010	COUNTER CLERK	L	3S	6S	6S	2
290.477-010	COUPON-REDEMPTION CLERK	L	4S	7S	7N	3
295.357-018	FURNITURE-RENTAL CONSULTANT	L	3N	5S	7N	3
295.367-014	BABY-STROLLER AND WHEELCHAIR RENTAL CLERK	L	3S	6S	7N	3
295.367-026	STORAGE-FACILITY RENTAL CLERK	L	3S	6S	7S	3
295.467-010	BICYCLE-RENTAL CLERK	L	4S	6S	7N	2
295.467-014	BOAT-RENTAL CLERK	L	4S	6S	7S	3
295.467-018	HOSPITAL-TELEVISION-RENTAL CLERK	L	4S	6S	7N	2
369.477-010	CURB ATTENDANT	M	4S	7S	7N	2
369.677-010	SELF-SERVICE-LAUNDRY-AND-DRY-CLEANING ATTENDANT	M	6N	7S	7S	3

All counter and rental clerks require dealing with people as a significant worker function.  That is the common thread running through group.  The O*NET OnLine describes counter and rental clerks as having constant contact with others in 91% of jobs and frequent contact with others in 9% of jobs.  Dealing with external customers is fairly important in 18% of jobs; important or very important in 1% of jobs, each; and extremely important in 80% of jobs.  Counter and rental clerks face conflict situations in 99% of jobs.  Counter and rental clerks work with a group or team in all jobs.  Counter and rental clerks work part-time in 40% of jobs.  

The O*NET OnLine describes counter and rental clerks as having 30 days or less of training time in less than 14% of jobs.  The Occupational Requirements Survey assigns SVP 2 to 68.7% of jobs.  The O*NET is based primarily on incumbent surveys.  The ORS is based on human resource surveys.  

The ORS reports that counter and rental clerks have their workload controlled by people in 99.5% of jobs and work at a varying pace in 89.8% of jobs.  Counter and rental clerks require basic people skills in 50.4% of jobs and more than basic people skills in 49.6% of jobs.  Counter and rental clerks interact with the public in 100% of jobs and telework is never available.  

The DOT data set confirms that counter and rental clerks are not simple work.  That confirmation is supported by the findings of the O*NET and ORS.  

Of the reasoning level 2 occupations within the group of counter and rental clerks, counter clerk is the most often cited.  Vocational experts cite counter clerk in response to the light exertion; simple work; occasional reaching, handling, and fingering; and intact for contact with the public.  Counter clerk requires significant worker functions in all three data-people-things categories:

Data: 3 - Significant
Compiling: Gathering, collating, or classifying information about data, people, or things. Reporting or carrying out a prescribed action in relation to the information is frequently involved.

People: 6 - Significant
Speaking Signaling: Talking with and signaling people to convey or exchange information Includes giving assignments and directions to helpers or assistants.

Things: 6 - Significant
Feeding Off Bearing: Inserting, throwing, dumping, or placing materials in or removing them from machines or equipment which are automatic or tended or operated by other workers.

 The DOT narrative is descriptive of varied duties, broken down:

249.366-010 COUNTER CLERK (photofinishing)
1. Receives film for processing,
2. loads film into equipment that automatically processes film for subsequent photo printing, and
3. collects payment from customers of photofinishing establishment:
4. Answers customer's questions regarding prices and services.
5. Receives film to be processed from customer and
6. enters identification data and printing instructions on service log and customer order envelope.
7. Loads film into equipment that automatically processes film, and routes processed film for subsequent photo printing.
8. Files processed film and photographic prints according to customer's name.
9. Locates processed film and prints for customer.
10. Totals charges, using cash register, collects payment, and returns prints and processed film to customer.
11. Sells photo supplies, such as film, batteries, and flashcubes.

Counter clerk has one temperament: dealing with people beyond receiving work instructions.  

Counter clerk carries two work field designations (use the DOT/SCO summary report from OccuCollect).  The first listed work field:

232 NUMERICAL RECORDING-RECORD KEEPING
Systematizing information on transactions and activities into accounts and numerical records through the application of arithmetic. bookkeeping, statistics, and other quantitative procedures (including paying and receiving money). Distinguish from Verbal Recording-Record Keeping (231), in which the primary activity is the keeping of records without computation.

The second work field:  

202 DEVELOPING-PRINTING
Reproducing records of data and designs by chemical means.

The presence of two work fields, the required temperament for dealing with people, the presence of significant worker functions in the three categories measured, and the list of 11 serial job duties suggest strongly that this is not simple, routine, and repetitive work that viewing reasoning alone would suggest.   

The integrated use of the entire DOT data set is often necessary to understand the nature and requirements of a specific occupation as it is typically performed in the national economy.  

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SUGGESTED CITATION:

Lawrence Rohlfing, Counter and Rental Clerks (SOC 41-2021) and the Simple Problem, California Social Security Attorney (June 30, 2020)

https://californiasocialsecurityattorney.blogspot.com/2020/06/counter-and-rental-clerks-soc-41-2021.html