Setting clear expectations about the content and quality of the job is an essential first step. The following guidelines will help you with the first of your responsibilities - to determine the major job duties for each of your staff members.
Major job duties are those duties that are essential to the job. These duties are fundamental and critical to the job, describing what the job is really established to perform and if they are not performed, would severely impact the nature of the job. Major job duties are distinct from marginal or secondary functions which ar peripheral to the core duties. The following resources may help you identify major job duties for specific jobs:
1. The position description form that is on file in your unit.
2. Prior performance appraisal documents that you have in effect in your
department. Some things to consider in determining major job duties
When the supervisor and employee review the expected performance, there should be a detailed discussion about the performance expectations.
These standards should fully describe satisfactory performance, be observable, measurable and specific, be meaningful and realistic, and be consistent. When discussing these standards, keep in mind that good performance typically involves more than technical expertise, e.g. friendliness, helpfulness, courteousness, punctuality, etc. These behaviors often help to determine whether performance exceeds expectations. Things to consider when discussing performance expectations include:
