Your team can’t win if they don’t know the rules of the game. Yet many small businesses operate without clear, current job descriptions — or skip them altogether. That’s a huge HR misstep, and it could be holding your team (and your growth) back.

The Risks of Vague or Outdated Job Descriptions

Not having solid job descriptions can lead to:

• Hiring mistakes: You can’t hire the right person if you’re unclear on what the role actually requires.

• Employee confusion: When expectations are fuzzy, performance suffers — and frustration builds.

• Compliance challenges: In disputes about job duties, pay, or ADA accommodations, job descriptions are a key piece of legal protection.

What Every Job Description Should Include

Whether you’re a team of five or fifty, each role deserves a clear outline that includes:

• Job title and summary

• Key responsibilities and daily tasks

• Required skills, experience, and education

• Physical requirements (if any)

• Reporting structure and position in the company

✅ Want to know what else helps with legal protection? A clear employee handbook goes hand-in-hand with good job descriptions.

How to Keep Job Descriptions Useful (Not Dusty)

• Review annually: Set a calendar reminder. Roles evolve, and your descriptions should too.

• Involve your team: Employees can help fine-tune what’s realistic and what’s outdated.

• Use them for hiring, onboarding, and reviews: A job description should be a living document — not something that disappears after the interview.

💡 Need help keeping your HR practices compliant? Check out our HR Compliance Checklist for 2025 to see where your business stands.

CHRS Makes It Easy

At Consult HR Services, we help small businesses write and update job descriptions that actually work — for hiring, compliance, and performance management. We tailor every description to your industry, your team, and your goals.

Let’s take the guesswork out of your roles — and put clarity back in your workplace.
Contact us today to get started.