trim the payroll

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trim the payroll" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the reduction of employee costs or expenses within a company, often in the context of layoffs or budget cuts. Example: "In order to improve our financial situation, we need to trim the payroll by reducing staff hours and eliminating some positions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

If he were running a team, he said, he might trim the payroll to build for the future.

The New York Times - Sports

To cut costs, he said, I.B.M. planned to take most of $1 billion yearly in charges to trim the payroll in the current quarter.

The New York Times - Tech

Hewlett-Packard is on target to trim the payroll by 10,000 this year, aiming at a total of 15,000 by next year.

The New York Times

Despite an inspired 2003 season, ownership in Toronto ordered General Manager J. P. Ricciardi to trim the payroll from $53 million to $50 million.

The New York Times - Sports

One of Mr Pittman's first tasks was to trim the payroll, which he did unapologetically, by 2,400.What complicates Mr Pittman's job is that, in the past, Time Warner was run as a collection of independent fiefs.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

As county executive, he has trimmed the payroll and gone on a building campaign, constructing or renovating office buildings, jails and schools.

The New York Times

Ms. Fiorina trimmed the payroll, reduced travel spending and closed offices, but cost-cutting could not keep pace with the falloff in business.

The New York Times

The company will take a third-quarter charge of as much as $700 million to cover the costs of trimming the payroll, the chief executive, Lawrence Bossidy, said at an investor meeting.

The New York Times

Much of the focus is on trimming the payroll through retirements, a hiring freeze, and, as a last resort, layoffs, said the T official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

They held a fire sale to dump old inventory and eliminated more than a thousand temporary and full-time employees, trimming the payroll by one-third.

Forbes

Birt trimmed the payroll by 4,000 during his seven-year tenure, but Dyke thinks there's plenty of fat left to cut, especially among the ranks of outside consultants and managers.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial strategy, use "trim the payroll" to convey a deliberate effort to reduce employee-related expenses, often through strategic adjustments rather than across-the-board cuts.

Common error

Avoid using "trim the payroll" to describe temporary or minor adjustments to staffing levels. It typically implies a more significant, strategic reduction in employee expenses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trim the payroll" functions as a verb phrase, typically used with a company or organization as the subject. It describes the action of reducing expenses by reducing the number of employees or their compensation. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Sports

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trim the payroll" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood expression used to describe the act of reducing employee-related expenses within an organization. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not extremely frequent, it appears most often in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Sports contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. When using this phrase, ensure the context involves a significant, strategic reduction in employee expenses, distinguishing it from minor staffing adjustments. Alternatives like "reduce payroll costs" and "cut payroll expenses" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Reduce payroll costs

Focuses specifically on the cost aspect of the payroll.

Cut payroll expenses

Emphasizes the action of cutting expenses related to the payroll.

Decrease labor costs

Directly addresses reducing the costs associated with labor.

Downsize the workforce

Highlights the reduction in the number of employees.

Lower salary expenditure

Emphasizes reducing the amount spent on salaries.

Streamline staffing

Suggests making staffing more efficient, possibly leading to fewer employees.

Implement workforce reductions

Highlights the implementation of actions that lead to a smaller workforce.

Optimize personnel expenses

Focuses on optimizing or improving personnel expenses, with the implication of reducing them.

Rightsize the company

Suggests adjusting the size of the company to be more appropriate for its current needs, often involving staff reductions.

Rationalize employment levels

Focuses on making employment levels more rational or efficient, often involving cuts.

FAQs

What does "trim the payroll" mean?

The phrase "trim the payroll" means to reduce the expenses related to employee salaries and benefits, often through layoffs, attrition, or other cost-cutting measures.

What are some alternatives to saying "trim the payroll"?

You can use alternatives like "reduce payroll costs", "cut payroll expenses", or "downsize the workforce" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "trim the payroll"?

It's appropriate to use "trim the payroll" when discussing deliberate cost-cutting measures related to employee compensation, especially in the context of financial restructuring or economic downturns.

Is "trim the payroll" the same as "layoffs"?

While layoffs can be a method used to "trim the payroll", the phrase encompasses broader strategies like attrition, hiring freezes, and salary reductions, not just employee terminations.