Although the main purpose of a job description is to explain the roles of a job, it actually serves a much bigger purpose. In fact, a job description can improve a company’s ability to manage employees in many ways. A well-written job description will do the following:
1. Clarify expectations.
Employers need to spell out their expectations of what an employee should be doing on a day-to-day basis. Providing a clear description of tasks ensures that both employers and employees are on the same page and prevents misunderstandings of what needs to be done and when.
2. Provide structure.
Organizations must ensure that their needs are being met on a company-wide basis. Job descriptions provide the discipline and structure a business needs to make sure all necessary duties and responsibilities are assigned. They enable an organization to allocate and manage roles in a uniform way which increases efficiency and effectiveness of recruitment, training and development, organizational structure, workflow, and customer service.
3. Enable fair pay scales.
Most employers assign pay scales, or grades, to jobs. A transparent system which provides a “salary range” can ensure that those within the same, or similar, job functions are compensated fairly and logically across the board.
4. Identify skill sets and training needs.
Job descriptions can help employers gauge skill sets to understand who knows what, who doesn’t, and what types of training and development to provide employees. It can also be helpful in succession planning and career advancement for employees.
5. Set a standard for performance review.
Job descriptions allow employers to identify what has and has not been achieved since an employee’s last performance review. Many employers base merit increases on job performance linked directly to a job description as it provides objectivity for appraisals, performance reviews, counseling, and disciplinary issues.
A good job description is easy to create. In a nutshell: keep it simple, describe the actual duties, and leave it at that. Koukol Johnson & Schmit can help you craft job descriptions that can benefit employees and the company as a whole – especially when workflows or processes change and a job description becomes outdated. Call us at (402) 934-9499 or click here to schedule a consultation with our Business and Employment Attorney Angela Schmit, we are here to help.
