Short-staffed

The adjective 'short-staffed' describes a situation where a business, organization, or department does not have enough employees to adequately perform its required tasks or functions. This shortage can lead to increased workloads for existing employees, reduced efficiency, decreased service quality, and potential burnout. The causes of being short-staffed can vary, including budget cuts, employee turnover, difficulty recruiting qualified candidates, temporary absences due to illness or vacation, or unexpected increases in demand. The impact can affect both employees and the public or customers served, leading to frustration and a decline in overall operational effectiveness. Solutions often involve strategic recruitment, employee retention strategies, and, sometimes, temporary measures like overtime or hiring temporary staff.

Short-staffed meaning with examples

• The restaurant was severely short-staffed on Saturday night. The few waitresses working were overwhelmed with orders. Customers waited an excessive time, many complaining about the slow service, the manager was very apologetic, and some customers even ended up walking out after waiting over an hour. The owner is struggling to find new staff.
• Due to a wave of resignations, the hospital's emergency room was drastically short-staffed. This meant longer wait times for patients and increased pressure on the medical personnel who were working overtime. The quality of care was noticeably impacted as doctors struggled to see everyone in a timely manner.
• The library branch, impacted by budget cuts, was frequently short-staffed, which forced them to cut back the open hours. This left the employees working constantly busy. The limited operating hours caused complaints from the community, who relied on the library. The librarians felt that the library services were suffering.
• The project team, hit by a sudden surge in demand, became short-staffed, and the remaining members had to work tirelessly to meet deadlines. Project managers were struggling, and the project began to fall behind schedule, and the stress levels of the staff were extremely high as they struggled to find more hands.
• The retail store experienced an unexpected surge in customer traffic, leaving them short-staffed at the busiest shopping period of the year. This led to long lines, and a decrease in customer service. Employees worked double shifts to try and cope with the massive crowds, as more staff was urgently needed.