collapse of staff

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collapse of staff" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where a team or group of employees is significantly reduced in number or effectiveness, often due to various factors such as layoffs, resignations, or other disruptions. Example: "The company faced a collapse of staff after the recent budget cuts, leading to a significant decrease in productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mbongwana means "change" and that is exactly what Theo and Coco were looking for after the collapse of Staff Benda Bilili.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

While trade talks for a slugger enveloped the organization for weeks -- and should now subside with the acquisition of David Justice -- it is actually the virtual collapse of the pitching staff that has caused most of the Yankees' recent woes.

The New York Times - Sports

After the attack on the school, four members of staff collapsed and needed attention themselves.

The Guardian - Opinion

When the House effort collapsed, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Rob Nabors said he wasn't surprised.

Los Angeles Times

At Kaupthing, the Reykjavik bank that briefly prospered as Iceland built an economic miracle on sand, the speed and severity of the collapse left staff with almost nothing to do.

The Guardian - Money

chief of staff, suffered a nervous collapse.

The New Yorker

The army was confident that it could win if it struck first, but Yitzhak Rabin, the chief of staff, suffered a nervous collapse on the eve of battle.

The Economist

Ian King, the embattled chief executive of BAE, faces a battle to restore his reputation with disgruntled shareholders and the group's 93,000 staff after collapse of merger talks with EADS.

The Guardian - Business

Days before it collapsed into bankruptcy protection a month ago Lehman Brothers revealed $6.12bn of staff pay plans in its corporate filings.

The Guardian - Business

Rather than using it to plan magazine start-ups or acquisitions, he found himself going over lists of staff cuts necessitated by print's collapse.

The New York Times

In fact, the congressman collapses during a drug-­fueled romp with his chief of staff, one Peggy Brogan.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "collapse of staff", ensure the context clearly indicates a significant reduction or failure in the workforce, not just minor staffing adjustments.

Common error

Avoid using "collapse of staff" when describing minor staff changes or isolated incidents. Reserve this phrase for situations where the reduction in staff has a severe and widespread impact on the organization's ability to function.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collapse of staff" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. It describes a situation where a significant number of employees are no longer available or effective, leading to a breakdown in operations. Ludwig AI confirms that it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "collapse of staff" is a grammatically sound but relatively uncommon way to describe a significant and detrimental reduction in an organization's workforce. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While its usage spans across News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, it's important to reserve it for situations where the staff reduction leads to critical operational failures. For less severe situations, alternatives such as "staff reduction" or "personnel shortage" might be more appropriate. When writing, ensure you aren't overstating the impact; "collapse of staff" is best used when the consequences are truly dire.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

staff breakdown

Focuses on the inability of the staff to function effectively, akin to a system failure.

staff depletion

Emphasizes the gradual reduction in the number of staff members.

breakdown in staffing

Highlights a failure or interruption in the system of staffing.

workforce reduction

A more general term referring to a decrease in the number of employees.

personnel shortage

Highlights the lack of sufficient personnel to fulfill the required tasks.

decimation of staff

Implies a significant and destructive reduction in the staff.

staff disintegration

Suggests that the staff has broken apart and is no longer functioning as a cohesive unit.

staff implosion

Suggests a sudden and dramatic failure of the staff structure.

staff dissolution

Emphasizes the termination or breaking up of the staff structure.

organizational meltdown

Extends the sense of failure to include not just the staff but also the entire organization.

FAQs

What does "collapse of staff" mean?

The phrase "collapse of staff" refers to a significant and detrimental reduction in the number or effectiveness of employees within an organization, often leading to operational difficulties.

What are some synonyms for "collapse of staff"?

Alternatives to "collapse of staff" include "staff breakdown", "staff depletion", or "workforce reduction", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How is "collapse of staff" different from "staff reduction"?

"Collapse of staff" implies a more severe and disruptive situation than a simple "staff reduction". The former suggests a critical failure due to loss of personnel, while the latter is a more general term for decreasing staff numbers.

Is it appropriate to use "collapse of staff" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "collapse of staff" can sound dramatic. In formal writing, consider using more neutral terms like "staff shortage" or "personnel reduction" unless you specifically want to emphasize the severity of the situation.