6 Reasons to Regularly Review and Update your Job Descriptions

Josh Kiernan has spent over 15 years helping HR and compensation teams simplify tasks with technology; saving them time so they can focus on what they care about most. At Mosh JD, he leads the effort to simplify job description management so HR teams can maintain hundreds of accurate job descriptions without thousands of hours of work.

Job Description Software

Job descriptions are a key element of the hiring process, compensation strategy, and organizational effectiveness when it comes to human capital.

Job descriptions are also a helpful guide for employees to identify how they will be evaluated and guide them through long-term career development opportunities.

Forbes estimates that 44% of worker skills will be disrupted in the next 5 years (2023) emphasizing the growing importance for employers to regularly review and update job descriptions to maintain their accuracy and relevance.

Here are 6 key reasons why organizations should have a plan and procedure in place to ensure job descriptions are consistently reviewed and updated.

Person updating job description on laptop

1. They Help Avoid Misunderstandings

43% of employees indicated the reason for quitting a job was because the role didn’t meet their expectations (Harvard Business Review). Regularly reviewing and updating job descriptions can help to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings between employers and employees. If the employee’s job duties are clearly outlined in the job description, candidates will be aware of what is expected of them by their employer right from the get go. When job descriptions match job reality, employees are happier with their decision to join a company & tend to stay longer at the organization.

2. Dynamic Role & Business Requirements

Everyday there are new technologies & processes emerging that can improve/alter the skills and duties required to do a job. In order to capture these changes and stay ahead of the competition when it comes to talent acquisition, retention, and productivity, it’s important to keep job descriptions updated.

3. They Help Attract AND Retain the Best Talent

A study found that 44% of companies do not provide compelling career paths which leads 75% of employees to browse for new roles at other companies (Forbes). When job roles and advancement opportunities are unclear, employees will seek alternative employment options. By keeping job descriptions up to date, organizations can develop career paths that will provide employees visibility into internal mobility options.

4. They Improve Job Performance and Productivity

Reviewing and updating job descriptions regularly can help identify areas of improvement for employees and identify areas where there may be potential skill gaps in the organization. When addressed appropriately, this can lead to improved job performance and productivity.

5. They Help Ensure Compliance with Laws and Regulations

Having up-to-date job descriptions can help ensure that employers comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Job descriptions that are regularly reviewed have a smaller chance of missing any required compliance information.

6. To Maintain Competitive Pay and Avoid Accidental Overpayment

Compensation professionals make pay-setting decisions by matching internal job descriptions to job information published by trusted salary survey data providers. If the organization’s job descriptions are not accurate, benchmarking efforts by role and geography will be skewed, resulting in accidental overpayment or underpayment.

Why Do We Need to Update Jobs So Frequently?

Job Duties are Rapidly Changing and Evolving: Jobs evolve or change over time, and job duties may need to be revised in order to reflect the changing responsibilities of the position.

Technology is Driving Rapid Change in Job Requirements Over 85% of organizations say adoption of frontier technologies is the trend most likely to drive change in their organizations. (World Economic Forum, 2023). By regularly reviewing job descriptions, employers can stay ahead of technological advances and ensure that their employees are knowledgeable of any changes in expected duties/skillsets.

Business Objectives May Instantly Alter Workforce Needs It is important to keep in mind that job roles may evolve over time due to changing business needs. It is essential for employers to review and update job descriptions in order to accommodate new or updated workforce needs at the organization.

Establish a Regular Review Process to Keep Up with Dynamic Business Needs (We Can Help).

Ultimately, regularly reviewing and updating job descriptions can be beneficial for both employers and employees. It helps to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, define goals and objectives, improve performance, ensures pay is optimized and keeps you in compliance with laws and regulations.

Keeping job descriptions up-to-date is particularly important when jobs change or evolve over time due to changing technology, business needs, and other factors. By regularly reviewing job descriptions, employers can ensure that both employee and employer expectations are accurately reflected and defined.

By establishing a job description management process for regular review and update job descriptions, employers can ensure that their workforce is well-managed and productive. This can help to create a positive work environment in which employees feel supported and valued, leading to improved job performance and overall employee satisfaction.

You can’t regularly update your job descriptions and maintain job accuracy without a centralized job description management system.

That’s why we we developed Mosh JD – so you can keep your job updated without investing thousands of hours of work to do it.

Click here to learn more about how we can help.