Who are typically said to receive red circle rates?

Red circle rates refer to the compensation given to employees whose pay exceeds the maximum pay range established for their job or position. This situation might occur due to various reasons, such as long-standing tenures, exceptional performance in the past, or market conditions that have resulted in salaries rising significantly in comparison to the established pay scale. When an employee is categorized under red circle rates, their pay is essentially "frozen," meaning they will not receive further salary increases until the pay range for their position is adjusted upward to accommodate their current salary level.

This categorization serves to manage payroll expenditures and ensure equity within the organization while recognizing that the individual has a compensation level that surpasses the predefined structure. Hence, red circle rates specifically apply to individuals whose salaries exceed the maximum range for their role, confirming why this answer is the most accurate.

In contrast, the other choices refer to situations that don't align with the concept of red circle rates, such as new employees or those with lower performance evaluations, neither of which would typically justify a salary that surpasses the maximum range for their position.