“Other duties as required” or “any other reasonable duties” appears at the bottom of almost every job description in the UK. It is a standard catch-all clause that gives the employer legal flexibility to ask you to do tasks not explicitly listed in your job description.
Why it exists
No job description can anticipate every task. This clause exists so that if a reasonable but unlisted task comes up — covering for a colleague, helping with an office move, attending an event — the employer can ask you to do it without it being a contractual dispute. It is standard employment practice.
When it becomes a problem
The clause becomes concerning when it is used to regularly assign work that is well outside your role, skill set, or grade. Being asked to help with filing once is reasonable. Being expected to cover reception every afternoon when you were hired as a marketing executive is not. The key legal word is “reasonable” — duties must be consistent with your role and seniority.
Questions to ask
- What kinds of ad hoc tasks typically come up in this role?
- How often would I be asked to do something outside the core job description?
- Is there a clear boundary between this role and other functions?
