Effectively developed employee job descriptions are communication tools that are significant in your organisation's success.

Poorly written employee job descriptions, on the other hand, add to workplace confusion, harm effective 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. 

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 organisation to produce work.

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

Employee job descriptions provide an opportunity to clearly communicate your company direction and they tell the employee where he or she fits within the big picture.

Whether yours is a small or large business, or a multi-site organisation, well-written job descriptions will help you align employee direction. Aligning employees with your goals, vision, and mission spells success for your organisation.

As a leader, you are assuring that the inter-functioning of staff positions and roles will get the job done for your customer.

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Employee job descriptions set clear expectations. If employees aren’t doing what you want them to do, you need to make certain that they clearly understand your expectations. This understanding starts with the employee job description.

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 any issues or questions of those people who were not selected.

Well-written employee job descriptions help organisation employees who must work with the person hired and 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 co-worker.

Developing employee job descriptions is an easy way to involve people in your organisation's success.

For effectiveness, you must regularly look at and use employee job descriptions as part of your day-to-day work.

In addition to the updating of regular goals and objectives suggested above, employee job descriptions are an integral part of the performance management and evaluation system. They are used to determine salary increases and bonus eligibility.

If the job description is just going to sit in the Human Resource’s file cabinet, or only be reviewed at times of hiring, then it will become a waste of paper and will not help the company reach their goals.

Vlasta Eriksson is the managing director of Signature Staff.