referencing <h:outputText> using javascript

[asookazian]

I need to reference the value of this element:

<h:outputText id="employeeName" value="#{myRow[0].id.employeeName}"/>

using javascript. The above is renders as follows, for example:

<span id="mainForm:dataTable1:1:employeeName">JONATHAN GONZALEZ</span>

whereas a hidden field

<h:inputHidden id="siteId" value="#{myRow[0].id.siteId}"/>

is rendered as follows:



how can I reference the outputText field using javascript or must I assign it to a hidden field, etc.???