Consequences of Being Understaffed

You are in a tight spot. As a result of times being tough, your firm's revenue is down and you are under pressure to reduce your expenditures, make budget cuts and perhaps lay off members of your staff. Is conducting layoffs the route you should take?

Not necessarily. In fact, it is the last step you should consider carrying out. You will learn how being short-staffed can add pressure in the workplace.

First Effect: The employees are required to work more. Because some of the workers have been let go, the remaining ones have to put in additional hours. Many of them will probably not like this, even if they get paid by the hour or receive overtime pay.

Second Effect: The staff members fear for their jobs. They will probably think, "Some of my fellow workers have been sent packing. There is a good possibility I will be the next one to be let go."

Third Effect: Some employees might become stressed out from worry and having extra responsibility. Consequently, some of them might experience a decline in their health or perhaps a nervous breakdown.

Fourth Effect: The managers become stressed out. It is easy to become unnerved when the amount of resources you have is less than adequate.

Fifth Effect: You are under pressure to handle your business finances well and make the right budget cuts. If you spend some of the company revenue on useless things, you could lose credibility with your employees and investors.

Sixth Effect: The staff's productivity level, or amount of work produced per hour, rises. If the output rises a high amount, your workers will probably unite and say, "We are producing greatly for you; therefore, you have to pay us more."

Seventh Effect: You are under more pressure to bring warm bodies on board. Because you do not have enough workers to fill an immediate need, you do not have the luxury of taking the time to only hire employees who are fully qualified.

Eighth Effect: Tempers are likely to flare up. The staff members might take out their frustration on their fellow workers and the members of the management team. The supervisors might take out their frustration on the employees.

Ninth Effect: The workers who are left have a sense of survivor's guilt. They feel guilty because their colleagues were the ones who lost their jobs.

You have learned how being short-staffed can add pressure in the workplace.