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Employees write their own JDs?
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Employees write their own JDs?
Discuss workforce management, performance management, retention, communication, motivation, contributing to business results and other topics.
Why do managers ask their employees to update or write their own job descriptions? I have never been a fan of this. It seems lazy, like the managers are out of touch with what the employees really do
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Forums » Topic Forums » General Forum » Employees write their own JDs?
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Employees write their own JDs?
posted at 4/26/2011 2:24 PM EDT
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Posts: 160
First: 12/5/2002 Last: 4/26/2011 |
Why do managers ask their employees to update or write their own job descriptions? I have never been a fan of this. It seems lazy, like the managers are out of touch with what the employees really do and that they lack the vision and leadership to define what the organization is and how employees fit. In worst cases the employee might inflate their description to vie for a raise or dumb things down so they can set the cruise control.
Does anyone have any PROS they can offer? |
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Employees write their own JDs?
posted at 4/26/2011 2:57 PM EDT
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Posts: 562
First: 11/12/2009 Last: 9/14/2011 |
Depends on the process. If the employee is asked to write his/her own job description and that becomes the official one without any review, then it's a really really bad idea as you say.
If the manager reviews it in conjunction with the employee and agrees on the job description, then this can be a good communication tool for responsibilities and expectations. And if some competent HR compensation person reviews that and blesses it, even better. BUT, and it's a big "but", there will have to be some guidance about what goes into a job description from HR. Otherwise, you run a very real risk that what you get will be various piles of crap in different scents and all you will have done is waste a lot of time and cause some degree of discouragement. |
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Employees write their own JDs?
posted at 4/27/2011 4:49 AM EDT
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Posts: 1103
First: 3/16/2007 Last: 8/19/2011 |
That would depend upon what you mean by write or update.
I have always gathered input from those doing the work in order to update job descriptions and ensure that the compensation structure was adequately covering all aspects of the job. The final "writing" was a joint effort between the manager and the compensation team. |
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Employees write their own JDs?
posted at 4/27/2011 4:57 AM EDT
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Posts: 2442
First: 2/12/2000 Last: 9/14/2011 |
Since the position deliverables are in the JD, it is a positive to have the employee review it annually to agree. This way when you do the annual review and discuss how they did against the deliverables there can be little disagreement as to what was expected.
The bigger challenge is when we do the annual goals process and these goals are in conflict with the JD...... |
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Employees write their own JDs?
posted at 4/27/2011 6:10 AM EDT
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Posts: 2146
First: 2/15/2006 Last: 9/14/2011 |
I wouldnt' want to write a JD without the employee and the manager's input! Not that they have final say, but as HR, I write most of these for our company and some jobs I have NEVER done.
We do have a standard template and I usually write the first draft (usually with help from online JDs in the same/near job position), but then ask for their input. Oftentimes things do get put on there from them, but I usually get a much better "real" picture of what the position actually does. I really haven't had too many "upsells". If anything, they tend to "downgrade" the requirements! I find specific individual goals harder to write than the JD itself. And do expect a lot more input from employees and managers on those. |
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Employees write their own JDs?
posted at 5/3/2011 5:36 AM EDT
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Posts: 11
First: 4/27/2010 Last: 8/16/2011 |
A "desk audit" was performed of one of my colleagues and -- once it was discovered what our real duties were -- we all got a grade increase and raise. That was the good news. The bad news was that -- once it was discovered that our job description actually entitled us to a higher grade, due to the educational requirement, they re-wrote the description, dumbing it down, so that future hirees into these positions are not required to be as qualified as the incumbents. |
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Employees write their own JDs?
posted at 5/3/2011 6:14 AM EDT
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Posts: 2442
First: 2/12/2000 Last: 9/14/2011 |
Grannybunny-The initial response was incorrect based on what you have told us. If the positions really did not/do not require the skill sets you have then the PDs should have been accurately written then and salary ranges not changed.
In other words just because you have certain skills and experiences does not mean that you get compensated for them. If the position does not require the extra skills then there is no extra pay entitlement. |
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Employees write their own JDs?
posted at 5/3/2011 8:58 AM EDT
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Posts: 562
First: 11/12/2009 Last: 9/14/2011 |
Howard is dead on. It's the job duties that matter, not the education. Bill Gates (a college drop out) would not be the ex-CEO of MicroSoft were that true, and a PhD working as a janitor is still a janitor.
Education may be set as a requirement for entry into the position, not necessarily as a requirement for someone already successfully performing it. |
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