diff --git a/rq/job.py b/rq/job.py
index e8080f8..a2cf6a2 100644
--- a/rq/job.py
+++ b/rq/job.py
@@ -407,7 +407,8 @@ class Job(object):
 
         self.created_at = to_date(as_text(obj.get('created_at')))
         self.origin = as_text(obj.get('origin'))
-        self.description = as_text(obj.get('description'))
+        self.description = (as_text(obj.get('description')).decode('unicode_escape')
+                            if obj.get('description') else None)
         self.enqueued_at = to_date(as_text(obj.get('enqueued_at')))
         self.ended_at = to_date(as_text(obj.get('ended_at')))
         self._result = unpickle(obj.get('result')) if obj.get('result') else None  # noqa
diff --git a/tests/test_worker.py b/tests/test_worker.py
index 764cf46..c6d85ff 100644
--- a/tests/test_worker.py
+++ b/tests/test_worker.py
@@ -307,3 +307,14 @@ class TestWorker(RQTestCase):
         # Updates worker statuses
         self.assertEqual(worker.state, 'busy')
         self.assertEqual(worker.get_current_job_id(), job.id)
+
+    def test_work_unicode_friendly(self):
+        """Worker processes work with unicode description, then quits."""
+        q = Queue('foo')
+        w = Worker([q])
+        job = q.enqueue('tests.fixtures.say_hello', name='Adam',
+                        description='你好 世界!')
+        self.assertEquals(w.work(burst=True), True,
+                          'Expected at least some work done.')
+        self.assertEquals(job.result, 'Hi there, Adam!')
+        self.assertEquals(job.description, '你好 世界!')