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Understaffed: meaning, definitions and examples

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understaffed

 

[ ˌʌndərˈstæft ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

workplace situation

Understaffed describes a situation in which a workplace does not have enough employees to handle its workload effectively. This can lead to increased stress for existing staff, reduced productivity, and potentially lower service quality. Organizations that are understaffed may struggle to meet deadlines, provide adequate customer service, and fulfill other essential responsibilities. The condition can arise due to budget cuts, high turnover rates, or unrealistic hiring expectations.

Synonyms

insufficiently staffed, short-handed, under-resourced.

Examples of usage

  • The restaurant was understaffed during the dinner rush.
  • Many hospitals are understaffed, leading to burnout among nurses.
  • The customer service team is often understaffed, resulting in long wait times.
  • The project was delayed because the team was severely understaffed.

Translations

Translations of the word "understaffed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 com falta de pessoal

🇮🇳 कर्मचारी की कमी

🇩🇪 unterbesetzt

🇮🇩 kurang staf

🇺🇦 недостатньо укомплектований

🇵🇱 niedobór pracowników

🇯🇵 人手不足

🇫🇷 sous-effectif

🇪🇸 falta de personal

🇹🇷 personel yetersiz

🇰🇷 인력 부족

🇸🇦 نقص في الموظفين

🇨🇿 nedostatek personálu

🇸🇰 nedostatok personálu

🇨🇳 人手不足

🇸🇮 pomanjkanje osebja

🇮🇸 starfsfólk skortur

🇰🇿 персоналдың жетіспеушілігі

🇬🇪 პერსონალის ნაკლებობა

🇦🇿 işçi çatışmazlığı

🇲🇽 falta de personal

Etymology

The term 'understaffed' is a combination of the prefix 'under-', meaning insufficient or below normal, and the word 'staff', which refers to a group of employees or workers. The word 'staff' has its origins in the Middle English period as 'staf', which referred to a stick or rod, later evolving to represent a group of people in a professional context. The concept of being understaffed emerged as businesses and organizations began to recognize the need for adequate personnel to maintain efficiency and productivity. The prevalence of this term increased notably during times of economic hardship, where companies may cut costs by reducing their workforce, potentially leading to understaffing issues. Today, 'understaffed' is commonly used in various industries, including healthcare, retail, and hospitality, to highlight the challenges associated with not having enough employees to meet demands.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,693, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.