A new Career Trends report revealed that Healthcare and Information Technology continue to add jobs at a steady pace, while industries in the professional services sector such as Finance and Engineering are still experiencing sharp declines. Healthcare and Medical remained in the top position for online jobs with 43.5% after experiencing exponential growth over the previous quarter and past 12 months. Information Technology was in second place with 12.86%. Accounting and Finance experienced the largest percentage decline in jobs over the previous quarter (5.14%) causing the industry to drop to the third position.

A recent study revealed that 31% of working dads said they would leave their jobs if their spouse or significant other's income could comfortably support the entire family. This figure is down from 37% in 2008 and 49% in 2005. Despite a tough economy, 30% said they are willing to take a pay cut to spend more time with their children. 39% of working dads report they spend two hours or less per day with their children during the workweek, while 14% spend only an hour or less.

Because we want to best serve our readers, we feature a segment of our Newsletter where you can submit questions directly to our OperationsInc professionals. Do you have a question related to the management of the Human Resources function? Email it along to enewsletter@operationsinc.com. The best ones will make it into a future newsletter, along with the answer... and those that don't get published will still receive a response.

This week's question:
-What information needs to be in a job description?

--- HR Manager - Architecture Firm

Answer:
The basics are a list of key responsibilities and tasks handled by the resource, followed by the requirements that typically cover skills, schooling, etc. The source of the information within should be incumbents and then the management team that oversees these folks. One critical item is the need to consider compliance related items and employment law when assembling a job description. In short your attempt to outline tasks could result in you discriminating based on physical skills. For example requiring someone to be fit and capable of lifting 50 pounds could be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if it is determined that a reasonable accommodation would be to provide an employee with mechanical aide. Bottom line - get a professional's help when drafting these up.

" You must either modify your dreams or magnify your skills."

- Jim Rohn

Information provided in The OperationsInc Navigator is researched and reviewed by the HR experts at OperationsInc. The information in every issue of The OperationsInc Navigator is in part gathered via information available in the public domain, as well as in part the original, copyrighted work of OperationsInc and is protected under U.S. copyright laws. As such, you may not reprint or publish in any format any article or portion of article The OperationsInc Navigator without the express permission of OperationsInc.

OperationsInc provides the information in this e- newsletter for general guidance only. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional human resources, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional adviser who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular situation.

We encourage you to pass along any issue of The OperationsInc Navigator by forwarding it to friends and colleagues.