13 Types of Work Quality With Examples for Each

There are many ways to gauge the progress of a company and its overall success, both of which depend largely on the employees who work there. A company may evaluate your work quality to measure how well you're performing in your role. Your employer may also use work quality to provide constructive feedback or formally recognize you for exceeding expectations.

In this article, we define work quality and provide a list of 13 common types of work quality with examples of each.

Related: 9 Qualities of a Good Employee

What is work quality?

Work quality is the standard of work that an employee or team delivers consistently. Some work quality examples include time management, communication and professional knowledge.

These factors help to measure the performance of employees, departments or programs in a company. When your employer conducts performance reviews, work quality is an important factor that they may consider.

During a formal performance review, your manager may answer a standard set of questions about your work quality in written form, or they may choose to have a direct conversation with you. Even though the format of performance reviews can vary, a manager typically uses these reviews to evaluate whether you're meeting or exceeding expectations in different areas of work quality.

Related: What To Say in a Performance Review

13 work quality examples and types

Here's a list of 13 common work quality types with examples of each:

1. Accuracy

An employer uses this type of work quality to evaluate how accurately you're completing your assigned tasks. Your supervisor may consider whether your work is normally free of errors. This shows that you have excellent attention to detail.

Example: Marjorie delivers reports with an average error rate of 2%. For this reason, her manager says that she exceeds expectations in this type of work quality.

2. Completion of work

Your manager may consider the completion of work when evaluating your work quality. This work quality type helps them to evaluate the consistency of your completed work. Your manager may consider your thoroughness in completing tasks and whether your assignments require additional work after submission. They may also review the volume of work that you complete fully.

Example: Sarah usually completes her work ahead of schedule, and her supervisor rarely needs to make any additions to ensure the finished product meets the client's requirements. Because Sarah finishes her work on schedule and at a high level, her boss gives her high marks for completion of work.

3. Communication

Effective communication can lead to increased productivity and efficiency in a workplace. Employers may measure how well you communicate with your team members, supervisor and others. An employer may consider your written and verbal communication skills along with your ability to listen. Your manager may also review how you communicate to share information with others.

Example: Sawyer sends professional emails to his manager to ask questions about a task and to provide updates on his progress. He also listens to feedback from his team members and makes adjustments based on their suggestions. Sawyer communicates effectively with others in the workplace, and his manager recognizes that work quality, saying he exceeds expectations in that area.

Read More: 7 Tips for Improving Communication Skills

4. Attendance

When evaluating your work quality, your manager may review how often you're absent from your job. They may look over your schedule to see how many days you missed during the year. Employers may use this type of work quality to determine your commitment to the job.

Example: Joe volunteered for overtime shifts three times last year and missed only two days due to illness. Joe takes his work seriously, and his manager praises him for his attendance.

5. Safety

In some positions, safety is a critical part of the job that helps to lower the risk of workplace accidents. If you work in one of these jobs, managers may evaluate how well you understand safety policies and regulations. They could also look at whether you apply those safety principles to your daily tasks.

Example: Steve always wears his hard hat when he goes to a construction site to review a job's progress, and he also reminds others on his team to wear theirs. Because Steve applies safety principles to his job and encourages others to do the same, his manager says he exceeds expectations for this type of work quality.

6. Decision-making

Decision-making may be a type of work quality that your employer reviews when evaluating your performance. This work quality type shows your willingness to make decisions concerning your job. Your manager may review how often you make decisions independently or ask others for advice. They may also consider whether you use analytical skills to reach a solution.

Example: Hailey consistently makes good decisions and asks only one or two people for their suggestions and input before taking action. Because Hailey shows she can take action by making decisions independently, her manager gives her a high score for decision-making during her review.

7. Time management

It's important to manage your time efficiently to make sure you're prioritizing your tasks and completing the most important ones first. When evaluating time management, employers may consider how you schedule your time throughout the workday. Effective time management also shows that you can manage multiple tasks and still finish your work on schedule.

Example: Andrew usually works on two or three ongoing projects in addition to his daily responsibilities. He rarely has to ask for help and meets his deadlines 95% of the time. Andrew demonstrates time management skills regularly, so his employer says he exceeds expectations for this type of work quality.

Read more: Time Management Training: Best Practices and Tips

8. Judgment

In your job, you may need to use judgment to assess situations and take appropriate actions. Having good judgment indicates that you can make decisions based on relevant facts and information. Employers may also consider whether you maintain confidentiality when discussing work-related information with coworkers or clients.

Example: Randall makes fair decisions after carefully assessing the facts without letting his emotions affect the outcome. Because he consistently uses good judgment to make decisions, his manager gives him high marks in this area.

9. Problem-solving

Employers may evaluate your ability to use problem-solving skills to achieve effective solutions in the workplace. An employer may determine whether you can recognize problems and develop multiple solutions. They may also evaluate your willingness to take ownership of a problem and troubleshoot issues appropriately.

Example: Carrie identifies potential issues before they become larger problems and is always willing to brainstorm solutions with her coworkers to find the best solution. She demonstrates problem-solving skills, and her manager commends her for this type of work quality.

Read more: 12 Approaches To Problem-Solving for Every Situation

10. Initiative

This work quality type shows your employer that you can take initiative to improve your work performance. An employer may also consider whether you can work independently with minimal supervision. This shows that you can complete tasks without oversight and that you take pride in your work.

Example: Marissa often shows initiative by asking for new tasks and completes her assignments without requiring supervision. Because she's able to work independently, her employer says she exceeds expectations for this work quality.

11. Job knowledge

When judging your work quality, your manager may consider your understanding of the job and the technical skills that you possess. An employer may consider how well you understand the company's policies or procedures. They may also consider whether you're comfortable operating any equipment necessary for your job.

Example: Todd continues to develop professionally by learning how to operate the computer programs that he needs to use to complete his assignments. His supervisor notices the extra effort he puts into learning new technical skills and compliments him on expanding his knowledge.

12. Adaptability

Adaptability shows employers you can adjust to new expectations in your position. An employer may consider how quickly you can learn new skills. They may also examine your demeanor while handling stressful situations.

Example: Dave's supervisor gave him more responsibilities this year, and he welcomed each task as an opportunity to learn new skills that benefit his career. Dave shows he can adapt to new expectations with his job role, so his supervisor says he exceeds expectations in this area.

13. Attitude

Employers use this work quality type to measure your outlook on your job and how that outlook affects your coworkers. An employer may consider whether you complete your work with enthusiasm. They may also evaluate whether you consistently have positive interactions with other members of the team.

Example: Samantha maintains a positive attitude even when deadlines are approaching. Her coworkers find her to be positive and cheerful, and they like being in her presence. Because Samantha demonstrates a positive attitude in the workplace, her boss commends her for exceeding expectations for this work quality type.