by Janice Heath

Created on: March 28, 2010

Just as all employers are different, the idea of what makes a good employee may vary according to the particular industry and job.  There are some characteristics however that distinguish a good employee from a poor one, regardless of the role they are undertaking.

The primary one is attitude.  Employers often comment that they can train people in the necessary skills but they must have the correct attitude.  The “correct attitude” can be composed of numerous factors, the following are some that employers tend to look for when they are hiring new staff.

Reliability and Punctuality

A good employee attends work at the time they are expected to be there and on all the occasions they are expected to be there, short of illness or other reasonable issues preventing them.  It doesn't matter how good an employee is at their job, if they are not there to perform it, then they cannot be regarded as a good employee. Similarly, if an employee is in the habit of turning up late, it’s not only their work that can suffer but also that of their colleagues.

Performance

Employees are hired to perform particular tasks.  A good employee will perform their tasks to the best of their ability and have an understanding of how their work contributes to the overall goals of their department and the organization as a whole.  All employees will usually have an idea of the level of performance that is expected, whether that is explained by a supervisor or set out in writing in the employee’s performance review.  If for some reason there is a gap between the desired performance and the actual performance, a good employee will ask what they can do to improve.

Motivation for the Role

A good employee will have chosen a field of work where the duties they undertake are in alignment with their personality and their preferences.  They will perform their duties cheerfully and willingly and have a positive influence on those around them.

Engagement

Good employees, because they are engaged with and interested in their work, will be the first ones to come up with new ideas and suggestions for improvements.  They are able to focus on their duties whilst they are at work.  They understand that they have entered into a contract with their employer to exchange their time in return for the employer providing wages and are keen to honor their commitment to their employer.  Their time during working

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