Question

Job descriptions at a company have been out of date for almost a decade. Recent hires have complained that the job they currently have is not what they thought they were applying for initially. As the HR manager, you want to keep employees informed of expectations but not disrupt daily operations. What planning process would you implement to achieve both goals?

A. Conduct meetings with employees and direct supervisors to inform them of the expectations.
B. A company-wide project to bring all job descriptions up to date starting immediately.
C. A job analysis conducted annually and job descriptions revised accordingly.
D. Conduct training with the staff weekly to bring them up to date on job expectations.

Answer 1

To update outdated job descriptions without disrupting daily operations, one should conduct an annual job analysis and revise job descriptions accordingly, ensuring continuous alignment with job functions and expectations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Implementing a Planning Process for Job Descriptions

As an HR manager looking to update outdated job descriptions without disrupting daily operations, I recommend option C: a job analysis conducted annually with job descriptions revised accordingly. This involves a few key actions:

1. Conducting a job analysis to determine the accuracy of current job descriptions. This process should draw on observation, interviews, and surveys of employees in the given roles, their peers, and supervisors.
2. Updating job descriptions based on insights from the job analysis to ensure they align with the current demands and responsibilities of the role.
3. Scheduling annual reviews of job descriptions as a part of the performance appraisal process to maintain their relevance, updating as necessary to reflect any changes in job functions or expectations.

This approach allows the HR manager to keep job descriptions current without necessitating frequent, time-consuming projects - ensuring that employees always have a clear understanding of their responsibilities.