Developing a work guide for employees.

 

High-quality job descriptions? Do we really need them?


Introduction

From onboarding to retaining an employee a job description can be a powerful tool. It outlines the expectations and responsibilities for a role, which can reduce confusion and uncertainty for those responsible for carrying out the tasks. Additionally, a strong job description provides your employees with a roadmap to success, allowing them to clearly understand their expected deliverables, as well as the rewards associated with meeting them.

Creating and maintaining clear job descriptions also helps to create consistency across teams and departments. Without clear directives on the daily tasks of each job and the expectations for each employee, it can be confusing and difficult to determine which is which. Establishing clear job expectations from the start can help you to create a more equitable workplace, where all employees understand what they are responsible for and what they are expected to accomplish.

A well-written job description also helps ensure that an employee has the necessary skills and qualities to do their job. By clearly stating the qualifications and requirements of each role, you are able to attract the right candidates and make sure they can successfully complete their duties. Additionally, job descriptions can assist in developing an employee’s skill set over time, a useful tool for both the company and human resource management.




The Pros and Cons of issuing a Job Description

                                PROS                                                                            CONS 

 1. Specifies duties and responsibilities of a role, making it simpler for workers to grasp what is expected of them. A job description explains the precise duties and responsibilities of a role.

 1. Limits creativity: An overly rigid work definition may prevent employees from being innovative and creative. Missed chances to find innovative and improved methods of doing things may come from this.

 2. Aids in recruitment: A job description can help draw in the right applicants and turn away those who are not a good match by outlining the precise skills and qualifications necessary for a position.

2. Job descriptions may not accurately represent the tasks of the position: Job descriptions may be out-of-date or inaccurate and may not accurately describe the obligations of a position. Employees may become frustrated and perplexed as a result. 

 3. Provides a framework for performance reviews: A job description establishes the standards for gauging employee success, offering a precise framework for reviews and comments.

 3. Can be overly general: Some work titles may be too vague, offering little direction on the precise duties of the position. Because of this, it may be challenging for workers to understand what is anticipated of them.

 4. Supports career development: A work description can act as a career development road plan for an employee, outlining the knowledge and expertise required to advance within the company.

 4. Can result in micromanagement: When job descriptions are overly specific and thorough, supervisors might feel obligated to micromanage employees, restricting their autonomy and freedom to make decisions.

5. Assures compliance: By ensuring that a company complies with legal and regulatory standards like the Americans with Disabilities Act, employment descriptions can help businesses. 

 5. Job descriptions may be used as a weapon for discrimination in some circumstances, such as when targeting people with impairments or people of a particular ethnicity or gender. (Businessballs.com, 2019)



Regulations governing Employment.  

Different countries adopt separate laws that govern employment and when it comes to creating job descriptions these laws should be taken into consideration. Regulations that govern industry could also vary from time on duty to safety to working conditions and rest.   

Some of the laws governing employment are.

·         Fair Employment Practices: Job descriptions should be written in a manner that complies with fair employment practices and anti-discrimination laws (www.eeoc.gov, n.d.).

·         Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Job descriptions should include essential job functions that are necessary for the employee to perform the job successfully (ADA National Network, 2017).

·         Wage and Hour Laws: Job descriptions should include information about the required hours of work and compensation.

·         Occupational Safety and Health: Job descriptions should outline the potential hazards and physical demands of the job to ensure compliance with occupational safety and health regulations.

·         Worker's Compensation: Job descriptions can serve as evidence in worker's compensation claims (Smith, 2021).


 


Conclusion

The industry and government laws should be understood before a job description is created as this could lead to fines and lawsuits. To maximize the potential of job descriptions, employers should have a thorough understanding of their teams’ respective roles and provide their employees with an up-to-date description that accurately reflects their responsibilities. This means regularly reviewing each description to make sure it is not only easy to understand, but also that it covers all the job-related tasks the employee is expected to perform.

 

 

REFERENCE

  1. ADA National Network (2017). What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? [online] ADA National Network. Available at: https://adata.org/learn-about-ada [Accessed 02 Apr. 2023].
  2. Businessballs.com. (2019). Job Descriptions: Templates, Samples, and Examples - BusinessBalls.com. [online] Available at: https://www.businessballs.com/team-management/job-descriptions [Accessed 01 Apr. 2023] ‌
  3. Employsure AU. (n.d.). How To Write A Job Description | HR | Employsure Guide. [online] Available at: https://employsure.com.au/guides/hiring-and-onboarding/how-to-write-a-job-description/[Accessed 01 Apr. 2023] .
  4. Smith, T. (2021). It’s Time to Rethink Job Descriptions for the Digital Era. [online] Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2021/12/its-time-to-rethink-job-descriptions-for-the-digital-era [Accessed 03 Apr. 2023].
  5. www.eeoc.gov. (n.d.). Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPAs) and Dual Filing | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. [online] Available at: https://www.eeoc.gov/fair-employment-practices-agencies-fepas-and-dual-filing [Accessed 03 Apr. 2023]

  6. www.hourly.io. (n.d.). How to Write a Job Description That Attracts Top Talent (With Examples) - Hourly, Inc. [online] Available at:https://www.hourly.io/post/how-to-write-a-job-descriptio  ‌[Accessed 04 Apr. 2023].

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Comments

  1. Anonymous7 April 2023 at 00:16

    Great job on creating a work guide for employees! This shows that you value your employees' time and want to ensure they have all the resources they need to excel in their roles. Providing a comprehensive guide not only helps new employees get up to speed quickly but also serves as a useful reference for existing employees. By investing time and effort into this project, you're also demonstrating your commitment to improving communication and productivity within your team. Keep up the excellent work!



    ReplyDelete
  2. Piumali8 April 2023 at 04:09

    Job description is necessary for people and it is important to creat a based on qualification and requirement. some qulity works are important to the organization therefore they try to get hire people who can perform better than others. because it ensures the existence of the organization.so i think ,,the job description is important factor for recruit the correct people.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tharanga Wanigasundara9 April 2023 at 22:28

    Remember,that the work guide should be clear and written in a way that employees can easily understand. It should also be updated regularly to reflect any changes in policies or procedures within the organization. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  4. M.Kamal Priyashantha15 April 2023 at 18:48

    Hi George, Yes, there are more benefits we can gain when assigning JD.The organizations need job descriptions in order to efficiently manage their workforce and make sure that employees are aware of their duties and performance standards. They offer a detailed breakdown of the tasks and responsibilities necessary for a particular position, aid organizations in finding qualified candidates, assess employee performance, give staff members a path for acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge, and shield businesses from claims of discrimination, harassment, or wrongful termination. Overall, job descriptions are an essential tool for firms to efficiently manage their workforce and make sure that employees are aware of their duties and performance standards. Well done !!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous16 April 2023 at 05:21

    Hi George, You have explained clearly how important job descriptions are to important organizations. We can retain the employees in our organizations if we give them the correct job description and they are doing their jobs without struggling or creating unnecessary arguments. We have a lot of experience with team members who have resigned because they have not received the correct JD.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous16 April 2023 at 11:25

    Employee retention is the key here ,you have created a detailed article pros and cons.JD is something that will exactly set the guidelines to what the job role is and what is expected of you. Well done impressive

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous16 April 2023 at 22:27

    a quality job description is essential for attracting the right candidates, setting clear expectations, facilitating the hiring process, supporting employee retention, and ensuring legal compliance. Well done

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lalindu Wijesinghe16 April 2023 at 22:48

    a quality job description is an essential tool for both employers and employees, helping to ensure that the right candidates are hired, expectations are set, and legal issues are avoided. Good Job!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tharanga Jayasundara17 April 2023 at 07:24

    Your choice is intriguing, and we can all probably picture a poorly written job description. It merely has a few phrases, doesn't specify what the role includes, and is ambiguous regarding the pay. This job description is sufficient to deter even the most fervent candidates as a representation of the company's mission and aspirations.
    Job descriptions can help the team and ease the workload in HR in many ways in addition to bringing top candidates to the company.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kalani Wijewardhane (CBA/MAAT/Dip.in Comp. Acc)21 April 2023 at 18:35

    Great article highlighting the importance of job descriptions in creating consistency, clarity, and equity in the workplace. It's important to consider both the pros and cons of issuing a job description and to ensure compliance with industry and government laws. Employers should regularly review and update job descriptions to accurately reflect the responsibilities of each role and to support career development for their employees.

    ReplyDelete
  11. W.J. Chrishan Fernando.21 April 2023 at 22:58

    The article has been created under a detailed analysis after studying the facts well about the subject. Well done...!!

    ReplyDelete

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