take on staff

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take on staff" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act of hiring new employees. For example, "The company decided to take on staff to meet increasing demand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Growing companies may be able to take on staff working from home without having to find office space for them.

The Guardian - Tech

Of the nine sectors polled, only agricultural employers did not expect to take on staff between January and March.

The Guardian - Money

The RSA includes several recommendations in its report that the government and businesses could use to encourage firms to take on staff.

The Guardian

A Jesuit university in Guadalajara, known as Iteso ( for the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente), supplies young interns who often take on staff positions.

The New York Times

The aim of the contract is to promote a flexible workforce, where employers would be more willing to take on staff in the knowledge they would not be bogged down with future employment claims.

The Guardian - Money

In a letter written to Johnson, Duvall demanded answers on why the GLA had reneged on an agreement to take on staff, who were signatories to the British Tourist Board pension scheme.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Taking on staff is a sign that your business is doing well – but for the small businesses looking to hire this year, the process may seem difficult to negotiate.

The Guardian

After years of cutting staff numbers at headquarters, companies often lack people to throw at a special project and loathe the idea of taking on staff who, if all goes well, will be sacked within a year.

The Economist

Construction firms have taken on staff for seven months in a row, the longest consecutive period of job creation for five-and-a-half years, as more confident clients give the go-ahead to projects.

Independent

An R.B.S. spokeswoman said that while no decisions had yet been taken on staff bonuses, "rest assured that if any bonuses are paid they will be substantially down on previous years".

The New York Times

The deal marks the second time in four months that Facebook has taken on staff from another social network.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "take on staff", ensure the context clearly indicates the addition of new employees to the organization. Be specific about the type of roles or skills you are seeking to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "taking on staff" automatically resolves all workload issues. Clearly define roles and responsibilities to prevent overlap or gaps in task completion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take on staff" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of hiring or employing new personnel. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take on staff" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the act of hiring new employees, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and business contexts, this phrase indicates an expansion of the workforce. When writing, ensure clarity regarding the roles being filled. Alternatives such as "hire personnel" or "recruit employees" can be used for variety. Remember to define responsibilities to prevent workflow issues after you "take on staff".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hire personnel

Focuses on the action of employing individuals.

Recruit employees

Emphasizes the process of finding and selecting new workers.

Employ individuals

Highlights the act of giving someone a job.

Expand the workforce

Indicates a general increase in the number of workers.

Increase staffing levels

Focuses on the numerical aspect of adding employees.

Add to the payroll

Refers to the financial aspect of hiring new employees.

Enlarge the team

Suggests integrating new members into an existing group.

Bring in new hires

Emphasizes the arrival of newly employed individuals.

Onboard staff

Highlights the integration and training of new employees.

Augment personnel

A more formal way of expressing the addition of staff.

FAQs

What does "take on staff" mean?

The phrase "take on staff" means to hire or employ new personnel, adding them to your existing workforce.

What are some alternatives to "take on staff"?

You can use phrases such as "hire personnel", "recruit employees", or "expand the workforce" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "take on staff" in formal writing?

Yes, "take on staff" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile choice for various writing styles.

How does "take on staff" differ from "taking over staff"?

"Take on staff" refers to hiring new employees, whereas "taking over staff" implies assuming responsibility for an existing team, often in a management or organizational change.