Learn English – Proper term for hiring fewer people than required

word-requestword-usage

What is the word (if there even is one) to describe an employer hiring/employing fewer people than he/she should?

For example, a cafe wanted to save money and chose to only hire one waiter even though it needed at least three during busy times. The term that came to my mind was 'underhire' or 'underemployed', but after consulting dictionary neither of them works.

So is there an adjective/verb can I can use to describe this kind of situation?

Many thanks

Best Answer

Understaffed may be the word that you are looking for:

Understaffed (adjective)

  • If a shop, business, or organization is understaffed, it does not have enough employees:
  • The hospital was desperately understaffed.

Cambridge Dictionary

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