Do you really know what your job description is?

Look at some of the classified job ads on the internet today, read the descriptions and then compare the descriptions to the titles. Now, take a look at your own job title and compare it to what you actually do. Does the information match?

Companies are obsessed with productivity nowadays, to the point where there are actual metrics for how much time you spend in the bathroom (seriously). Funny thing is, we are more productive than ever thanks to technology. It seems we are constantly plugged in to some kind of information stimuli, even when we should be relaxing, and companies seem to want to capitalize on this trend until they can discard you for the “newer model". There is no social contract at work, and the expected ramp up time for jobs is getting shorter and shorter.

Now back to the job description. The descriptions are so general or so all-inclusive that it borders on false advertising; and the reward for doing a good job is more work (with no pay increase). There are large companies that hire large amounts of people, but do not seem to understand why they have 50% to 100% turnover rates. Sure, they will blame it on the “metrics”, but human beings are more than just numbers and require more than just orders.

When was the last time you had one-on-ones with your employees and asked them about their family? When was the last time you gave a heartfelt thank you to all your employees just because? Some companies reward the top people because they want them to keep producing, then burn them out because they expect more and more from them all the time. These same companies punish everyone for not hitting the same goals as the top people; they punish until the employee has had enough and then the company has to start again with new people. Your most valuable employees are actually the ones who are there day in and day out being consistent: not everyone is going to be a superstar.

Companies are you being honest when you hire people or are you deliberately obfuscating? Do you have a long-term plan for your employees or are you running a puppy mill.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam