Employee Job Descriptions: Why Job Descriptions Make Good Business Sense

By Susan M. Heathfield

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy 

Effectively developed, employee job descriptions are communication tools that are significant in your organization's success. Poorly written employee job descriptions, on the other hand, add to workplace confusion, hurt communication, and make people feel as if they don't know what is expected from them.

Employee job descriptions are written statements that describe the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, and reporting relationships of a particular job. Employee job descriptions are based on objective information obtained through job analysis, an understanding of the competencies and skills required to accomplish needed tasks, and the needs of the organization to produce work.

Employee job descriptions clearly identify and spell out the responsibilities of a specific job. Employee job descriptions also include information about working conditions, tools, equipment used, knowledge and skills needed, and relationships with other positions.

Still uncertain about the value of employee job descriptions? Consider these tips about employee job descriptions.

Positives About Employee Job Descriptions

Employee job descriptions provide an opportunity to clearly communicate your company direction and they tell the employee where he or she fits inside of the big picture.
Whether you're a small business or a large, multi-site organization, well-written employee job descriptions will help you align employee direction. Alignment of the people you employ with your goals, vision, and mission spells success for your organization. As a leader, you assure the interfunctioning of all the different positions and roles needed to get the job done for the customer.

Employee job descriptions set clear expectations for what you expect from people.
According to Ferdinand Fournies in Why Don't Employees Do What They're Supposed to Do and What To Do About It, this is the first place to look if people aren't doing what you want them to do. He says you need to make certain that they clearly understand your expectations. This understanding starts with the employee job description.

Employee job descriptions help you cover all your legal bases.
As an example, for compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), you'll want to make certain the description of the physical requirements of the job is accurate.

Whether you're recruiting new employees or posting jobs for internal applicants, employee job descriptions tell the candidate exactly what you want in your selected person.
Clear employee job descriptions can help you select your preferred candidates and address the issues and questions of those people who were not selected.

Well-written employee job descriptions help organization employees, who must work with the person hired, understand the boundaries of the person's responsibilities.
People who have been involved in the hiring process are more likely to support the success of the new employee or promoted coworker. Developing employee job descriptions is an easy way to involve people in your organization's success.

On the next page, read five warnings about employee job descriptions, including how you can develop job descriptions that provide the positive impact you desire that mitigates their potential negative impact.