understaffing
1
3.9
- noun
- /ˌʌndərˈstæfɪŋ/
:
falta de personal
- This pattern has put the prison system into a death spiral: understaffed guards lead to overpaid guards, making new guards unaffordable and the understaffing problem worse.
- chronic understaffing
- understaffing problem
Examples
-
In relation to current deficits, Figure 2 shows the nationwide trend toward the understaffing of programs in visual impairment for the three studies in which full-time-equivalent personnel were calculated.
Academic text (2010) -
The understaffing proposed under the EMA contract will affect the quality of our water.
Blog text (20) -
Vacancies, for example, are rarely filled immediately because workers are likely to accommodate to understaffing if they believe it to be a temporary situation.
Academic text (1994) -
Next week, the Union County Quorum Court will consider a proposal to create two additional positions at the Union County Jail in response to an understaffing problem.
Blog text (17) -
But understaffing seems to be endemic across drilling states, especially where state regulatory agencies are responsible for checking both producing oil and gas wells and injection wells for waste or to enhance production.
Blog text (32) -
As a result of banks' disorganization and understaffing—particularly at the peak of the crisis in 2009 and 2010—homeowners were often forced to run a gauntlet of confusion, delays, and errors when seeking a mortgage modification.
Blog text (28) -
The employees complained that the understaffing made it difficult to meet customer demands.
-
Due to understaffing, the team struggled to complete the project on time.
-
Managers held a meeting to discuss the challenges caused by ongoing understaffing in the department.
Synonyms
1
5.1
Not enough of something for people who need it
How Staffed
37
3.1
1
3.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
understaffing = understaff (transparent) = under + staff + ing
The verbal noun is formed by adding '-ing' to 'understaff' and the meaning 'the state of having insufficient staff' follows directly from the base.
Etymology
Understaffing comes from the parts under- and staff, where under- means 'not enough' or 'below' (as in underpaid) and staff means 'workers'; so understaffing is when there are not enough employees to do the necessary work.