Short-handed

Describes a situation where a team, organization, or group is lacking the usual or necessary number of workers, players, or participants. This deficiency can severely impact efficiency, productivity, and performance. Causes of being short-handed can include illness, resignations, unexpected absences, or insufficient initial staffing. This frequently results in increased workloads for remaining individuals, potential delays, and increased stress levels. Effective management strategies are crucial when short-handed, involving prioritizing tasks, seeking temporary replacements, and offering support to existing personnel to mitigate negative effects. Ultimately, 'short-handed' highlights a state of resource scarcity.

Short-handed meaning with examples

• The restaurant was severely short-handed on Saturday night due to a flu outbreak among the kitchen staff. The remaining servers had to cover multiple tables and faced customer delays. The management offered apologies and discounted meals to placate frustrated patrons. They promised additional staff coverage next week.
• The basketball team played short-handed after the point guard suffered an ankle injury. The remaining players had to adjust their strategies and take on increased responsibilities in both offense and defense. Despite the hardship, the team fought hard. They lost in the final seconds.
• With two engineers on medical leave, the software development team was short-handed for the deadline. Project managers struggled to distribute the workload amongst the remaining members to meet project completion and ensure each worker wasn't over-stressed. Additional help was found.
• During the holiday season, retail stores are often short-handed because of increased customer traffic and higher employee absenteeism. Stores hire temporary workers and implement schedule flexibility. Some stores offer double time to attract workers.
• The volunteer organization, short-handed after the fundraising event, struggled to finish post-event tasks. Fewer volunteers means increased work. They had to reschedule some tasks and request extra help, to avoid burnout and to preserve morale. Some found it exciting.