Title: Understaffing Issues in the Workplace | Bizfluent
Headings: Understaffing Issues in the Workplace
Understaffing Issues in the Workplace
Effects of Being Short Staffed
Worker Exhaustion and Decreased Productivity
Low Employee Morale
Turnover as Employees Leave

Content: Understaffing Issues in the Workplace | Bizfluent
Understaffing Issues in the Workplace
Huntstock/DisabilityImages/Getty Images
By: Louise Balle
Reviewed by: Michelle Seidel, B.Sc., LL.B., MBA
Updated April 29, 2019
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Employees' pay and related costs together represent one of the largest expenses for many businesses, and when expenses start to run high, it's not uncommon for owners and managers to make cuts in this area precisely because it's so large. This can lead to understaffing, though, which causes many more problems for an enterprise. Any decision to reduce staff below optimum levels should only be undertaken with a clear understanding of the adverse consequences of understaffing as it can take quite a bit of effort to correct problems caused by having a lack of staff in the workplace. Effects of Being Short Staffed
An understaffed company lacks sufficient employees to cover the regular workload and complete job tasks efficiently. In some cases, understaffing is the result of challenges in finding suitable workers, but in others it's intentional due to cost-cutting measures. Regardless of the reason, though, understaffing's burden falls mostly on the shoulders of the existing workers, who must take up the slack. Worker Exhaustion and Decreased Productivity
Individual workers in an understaffed facility are required to perform more work than is normally associated with their jobs.