Updated on July 19, 2022
Work today is quite different from a couple years ago. The pandemic changed where work gets done. It also affected the scope of work and how work gets done (and your remote job descriptions!)
As more employees work hybrid or fully remotely, it’s more important than ever to capture the essential functions of each position. Clearly outlining roles and responsibilities, in your remote job descriptions, helps everyone understand expectations. Now that we spend less time in-person, having clear lines of responsibilities put in writing is more important. This will also provide a measure of what success looks like.
It has always been good practice to revisit job descriptions at least every other year. Given how much the world has changed around us, the need to review job descriptions is even more urgent now. Plan to review your job descriptions this quarter or even this month! Read my most read blog on the Six Common Problems with Job Descriptions to get you started.
Although the HR textbook recommends that job description be based on the results of a job analysis, I find that a structured conversation with the job holder works quite well. I have a list of questions. In order to capture the scope and scale of each position, I like to focus on recurring tasks, projects, reporting lines. One of my favorite questions is to ask employees to identify their “big rocks,” what they are responsible for moving forward on the job. Once we have established the laundry list, we attempt to group related items under headings such as Supervision, Project Management, Daily Operations, Data Tracking and Reporting.
For more on how to create (or update) your job descriptions, check out my Job Description Toolkit. It contains all of my best advice and practical templates so you can handle job descriptions like a pro!
In 2020, our work processes changed. This needs to be addressed in job descriptions. It’s also time to reassess the skills needed to perform the job. Skills required to work from home are probably new for some positions: learning and using digital tools, strong writing communication skills, ability to troubleshoot IT equipment. In terms of abilities, being a self-starter and able to work collaboratively have now risen to the top of many job requirements.
Other practical consideration as you update your Work From Home job description:
Clarify the Location Of Work From Home Jobs in Your Remote Job Descriptions
A common misconception about remote work is that someone can live anywhere. Since the start of the pandemic, many large metro areas across the country report an urban exodus. Consider if you have location requirements. Taxation rules, state and local employment laws still impact remote workers. Employees who work from home might still live within reach of your offices for occasional in-person meetings or near their client base. If so, consider adding a sentence such as “work remotely within a 100-mile radius of Location X.”
Specify Other Important Requirements in Your Remote Job Descriptions
Beyond a geographical location, remote work may have additional requirements. For example, someone handling sensitive personal information (say your HR coordinator) may not be allowed to work from the coffee shop. Even if the work doesn’t involve sensitive information, you may not want staff logging into company servers from a public wi-fi connection. Include specifics such as “Because you will be handling confidential information, work has to be performed from a home office, and should never be done in a public location (like a coffee shop or the library).”
Equipment Required
If you expect employees to provide their own equipment, spell out that requirement clearly in the job description. Also, define what software programs are used. While many things are cloud-based these days, you may still require staff to have certain licenses to access these programs. Define what they should have and who is paying for it.
Mention the Work Hours
While some positions offer flexibility and control over daily schedules, staff may still have to be accessible and responsive during your core business hours. Work from home often comes with some flexible hours but it doesn’t preclude mandatory meetings. Make sure those are included in the job description. No need to list specific dates and times. Simply state “Must attend weekly department meetings” or, “Required to attend company retreat twice a year.”
