Job Descriptions And Responsibilities 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which section of a job description typically lists the day-to-day tasks an employee is expected to perform?
- Compensation and Benefits
- Duties and Responsibilities (Correct answer)
- Equal Opportunity Statement
- Company Mission
Correct answer: Duties and Responsibilities
The Duties and Responsibilities section outlines the specific tasks and functions the role requires on a regular basis.
Question 2: A job description states 'other duties as assigned.' What does this phrase primarily protect?
- Employee overtime pay
- Employer flexibility to assign tasks beyond those listed (Correct answer)
- Union contract terms
- EEOC compliance requirements
Correct answer: Employer flexibility to assign tasks beyond those listed
'Other duties as assigned' gives employers legal flexibility to require tasks not explicitly listed in the job description.
Question 3: When writing job responsibilities, which verb tense is considered best practice?
- Past tense (e.g., 'managed')
- Future tense (e.g., 'will manage')
- Present tense action verbs (e.g., 'manages') (Correct answer)
- Gerund form (e.g., 'managing')
Correct answer: Present tense action verbs (e.g., 'manages')
Present tense action verbs make responsibilities clear, direct, and consistent in professional job descriptions.
Question 4: A job description for a team lead includes 'accountable for team performance metrics.' This responsibility is BEST classified as:
- Administrative
- Technical
- Managerial/supervisory (Correct answer)
- Customer-facing
Correct answer: Managerial/supervisory
Accountability for team performance is a managerial responsibility, reflecting oversight of others' work outcomes.
Question 5: Which of the following is a PRIMARY risk of listing too few responsibilities in a job description?
- Candidates may be overqualified
- Employees may claim additional tasks are outside their role (Correct answer)
- The position may attract too many applicants
- Compensation benchmarking becomes easier
Correct answer: Employees may claim additional tasks are outside their role
An incomplete responsibilities list creates scope disputes where employees argue assigned tasks fall outside their defined role.
Question 6: In the US, under the ADA, how should job responsibilities be documented regarding physical requirements?
- Physical requirements should be omitted entirely
- Only essential functions with genuine business necessity should be listed (Correct answer)
- All possible physical tasks must be listed regardless of frequency
- Physical tasks should only appear in employment contracts
Correct answer: Only essential functions with genuine business necessity should be listed
The ADA requires that only essential functions — those with genuine business necessity — be listed, to avoid discriminatory screening.
Question 7: A software company lists 'contribute to code reviews' as a responsibility. This type of responsibility is BEST described as:
- Strategic
- Collaborative/peer (Correct answer)
- Administrative
- Customer service
Correct answer: Collaborative/peer
Code review is a collaborative peer responsibility where the employee participates in team quality assurance processes.
Job Descriptions And Responsibilities 2
Which section of a job description typically lists the day-to-day tasks an employee is expected to perform?