to decrease staff

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to decrease staff" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the reduction of personnel in a company or organization, often in the context of budget cuts or restructuring. Example: "Due to the financial downturn, the company has decided to decrease staff in order to reduce expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It also reduces costs, helping to decrease staff turnover and reduce absence levels," says workplace expert, Tanya Korobka.

The Guardian

The score measures the difference between the proportion of the 1,000 employers surveyed who expect to increase staff levels and those who expect to decrease staff levels in the final months of this year.

The Guardian - Business

But the network strategists did not anticipate how difficult it would be to reverse decades of ratings erosion, or that CBS would continue to decrease staff members at the news division.

The New York Times

San Juan, Puerto Rico, has the worst employment outlook, with a net 8% of surveyed employers saying they expect to decrease staff between April and June.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Southwest Key said the donations were for a scholarship program for shelter youth who "want to further education or have extreme health or life problems," and that Sanchez never vowed to decrease staffing ratios.

Los Angeles Times

As well as this potential loss of continuity of care, staff satisfaction may be less as result of this type of approach, leading to decreased staff retention.

BMC Health Services Research

Annual influenza vaccination for HCP is recommended to reduce the spread of influenza and decrease staff illness and absenteeism.

The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety

In the weeks following the crisis 7/19 clinics reporting data on their post-election functioning (all excepting Mosoriot) experienced disruptions in the normal collection of patient data due to the need for rapid and streamlined visits to maintain patient safety and to accommodate decreased staff numbers.

Conflict and Health

A compounding factor was the intention of several departments of ILM to either take on other film work or decrease staff during slow cycles.

Wikipedia

Deficits in any components related to working conditions will not only affect the quality of health services but also decrease staff job satisfaction [ 45] and motivation [ 46].

Human Resources for Health

Susan Chira, the foreign editor of The Times, said the newspaper would decrease staff gradually.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to decrease staff", ensure it is clear why the reduction is occurring. Providing context, such as financial constraints or restructuring, will improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid using vague justifications like "for efficiency" without providing specific details. Explain the measurable benefits of the staff reduction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to decrease staff" functions as an infinitive phrase, often acting as a purpose clause, explaining the intention behind an action. Ludwig examples show it used to describe organizational decisions related to cost reduction or strategic changes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to decrease staff" is a grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to describe the action of reducing the number of employees. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not extremely common, the phrase appears in professional contexts like news reports, business communications, and scientific articles. Alternatives include "reduce staff levels" or "downsize the workforce". When employing this phrase, it’s best to provide context for the reduction and avoid vague justifications to maintain clarity and transparency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce staff levels

Changes the verb and uses a noun instead of an infinitive, retaining the meaning of reducing the number of staff.

cut staff

A more concise and direct way of saying the same thing.

downsize the workforce

Emphasizes the reduction in the overall workforce size.

lay off employees

Specifies a method of reducing staff, implying termination of employment.

decrease headcount

Uses a more business-oriented term for the number of employees.

trim the payroll

Focuses on reducing the financial cost of staff.

rationalize staffing

Suggests a strategic approach to reducing staff for efficiency.

streamline personnel

Implies making the personnel structure more efficient, often through reductions.

optimize workforce size

Suggests adjusting the workforce to the most efficient number.

scale back staffing

Indicates a gradual reduction in staff numbers.

FAQs

How can I use "to decrease staff" in a sentence?

You can use "to decrease staff" in sentences such as "The company plans "to decrease staff" due to budget cuts" or "The goal of the reorganization is "to decrease staff" and improve efficiency."

What are some alternatives to "to decrease staff"?

Some alternatives to "to decrease staff" include "reduce staff levels", "cut staff", or "downsize the workforce".

Is it better to say "decrease staff" or "reduce staff"?

Both "decrease staff" and "reduce staff" are acceptable. "Reduce staff" might sound slightly more natural in some contexts, but "decrease staff" is also grammatically correct and understandable.

What is the impact of "to decrease staff" on company morale?

Decreasing staff can negatively impact company morale. Therefore, it's crucial to communicate openly and transparently with the remaining employees to address their concerns and reassure them about the company's future.