Whole Foods

Your Turn: Job Evaluation at Whole Foods

Rather than wait until you are next in a supermarket to check out the different types of work, we brought some of the jobs at Whole Foods Market to you. Now that you have some background in job evaluation, it is time to try it out. As a first step, Whole Foods has done job analysis and prepared job descriptions. The results are shown below. Now a job structure is needed. The manager has assigned this job to you.

* 1. Divide into teams of four to six each. Each team should evaluate the jobs and prepare a job structure based on its evaluation. Assign titles to each job, and show your structure by title and job letter. A broad hint: Recall from our discussion of Whole Foods’ business and pay strategy that teams play an important role.

* 2. Your team should describe the process it went through to arrive at that job structure. The job evaluation techniques and compensable factors used should be described, and the reasons for selecting them should be stated.

* 3. Each team should give each job a title and put its job structure on the board. Comparisons can then be made among job structures of the various teams. Does the job evaluation method used appear to affect the results? Do the compensable factors chosen affect the results? Does the process affect the results?

* 4. Evaluate the job descriptions. What parts of them were most useful? How could they be improved?

JOB A (Team Member, Deli)28

Kind of Work

Provide excellent customer service. Follow and comply with all applicable health and sanitation procedures. Prepare food items: sandwiches, slice deli meats and cheeses. Prepare items on station assignment list and as predetermined. Stock and rotate products, stock supplies and paper goods in a timely basis; keep all utensils stocked. Check dates on all products in stock to ensure freshness and rotate when necessary. Use waste sheets properly, as directed. Operate and sanitize all equipment in a safe and...