overhire
Hire too many
To overhire is to employ more people than are needed or can be sustained.
Companies often overhire during boom periods, then face layoffs when growth slows: The startup overhired in 2021 and had to cut half its staff the following year.
The noun overhire refers to either the practice or the excess workers themselves.
Surplus of workers
- redundancyNeedless duplication
- bench strengthQuality of reserve personnel
- overexpansionExcessive increase in scope
Mass job eliminations
- downsizingReducing workforce or scale
- restructuringRearranging an existing framework
- budget cutsPlanned spending reductions
- underutilizationInsufficient use of resources
burnout · resentment · disengagement · role confusion · communication breakdown · inefficiency · career stagnation
Cutting employee headcount
- rightsizingOptimizing employee numbers
- attritionGradual reduction through loss
- severanceTermination pay or disconnection
- outplacementJob-search help for terminated employees
rebalancing · headcount reduction · voluntary separation · early retirement · reassignment · redeployment · staff cuts
Payment for work performed
- overheadLocated directly above
- cost overrunExpenses exceeding allocated funds
- burn rateCapital expenditure velocity
Extremely rapid expansion
- scalingClimbing or resizing
- venture fundingCapital for early-stage companies
- talent warCompetition for skilled workers
- market correctionDecline reversing overvalued prices
overstaffing
Surplus of workers
- redundancyNeedless duplication
- bench strengthQuality of reserve personnel
- overexpansionExcessive increase in scope
layoffs
Mass job eliminations
- downsizingReducing workforce or scale
- restructuringRearranging an existing framework
- budget cutsPlanned spending reductions
underutilization · burnout · resentment · disengagement · role confusion · communication breakdown · inefficiency · career stagnation
workforce reduction
Cutting employee headcount
- rightsizingOptimizing employee numbers
- attritionGradual reduction through loss
- severanceTermination pay or disconnection
outplacement · rebalancing · headcount reduction · voluntary separation · early retirement · reassignment · redeployment · staff cuts
labor costs
Payment for work performed
- overheadLocated directly above
- cost overrunExpenses exceeding allocated funds
- burn rateCapital expenditure velocity
hypergrowth
Extremely rapid expansion
- scalingClimbing or resizing
- venture fundingCapital for early-stage companies
- talent warCompetition for skilled workers
overhireunderstaff
Employ too few workers
understaffing · short-staff · short-staffed · skeleton crew · staff shortage