JOB
N
LYSIS
UESTIONN
IRE
2
3. Essentia
l Job Functions
In the table on the following page, list the essential functions of the job. The term "essential
functions
"
means fundamental job duties that are intrinsic to the job. For instance, a job function may
be
considered essential for any of several reasons, including the following:
Reason the job exists:
For example,
if a person is hired as a company driver, the ability to drive would then be an essential
function since it is the primary reason the job exists.
The degree of expertise or skill required to perform a specific function:
In c
ertain highly skilled positions, the employee is hired for their expertise or ability to perform a
particular function. In such a situation, the performance of the specialized task would be an essential
function.
Examination of work experience of present and past employees:
If yo
u looked at the background of people who are doing the job or have done the job, would it include
experience or training involving the function or duty in question?
Time performing the function:
The a
mount of time spent performing a particular function may give you a clue as to whether or not it is
essential. If a clerk typist spends 75% of their time typing, then typing is probably an essential function.
Importance of the function:
What
are the consequences of not performing a particular function? For example, not requiring a
firefighter to be able to pull an unconscious person from a burning building would have drastic
consequences even though that firefighter may only spend a small portion of their time performing this
function.
Function as evaluation criteria:
Would
you use an assessment of how well this function is performed in evaluating the employee's
overall performance? If so, then perhaps it is an essential function.
Function as a job qualification:
Would
you use an assessment of whether a candidate could perform the function as criteria for hiring
the person? If so, then this may be an essential function.
Other job functions:
Those dutie
s which the employee is responsible for doing during the absence of another employee or
those which are only marginal functions of the position should be included under "Other Job Functions".