Job Descriptions

All well-designed compensation programs and processes require job descriptions.

So, just what is a job description? A job description is "simply" a list of responsibilities and functions that are required of a person in a particular position.

There are many uses for job descriptions. The usual primary reason is to establish wage and salary ranges and grades, or to distribute bonuses. A second use of a job description is in performance appraisal. The better job descriptions have quantitative measures of performance for the position, so that there is little confusion as to whether the employee is performing the position's duties adequately. Too often, during a review, an employee will say, "I didn't know that was expected of me." With job descriptions signed by the employee, that excuse cannot be made.

Many companies also provide the job description to job applicants seriously being considered for a position. Here, again, the applicant who gets the job can't come back after several months and say that he didn't know that was a responsibility.