skeleton staff

English

Noun

skeleton staff (plural skeleton staffs)

1. The minimum number of employees needed to operate a business during a vacation, weekend, or other period when people do not normally work, or full staffing is not necessary.
   • 1947 March and April, “The Position of the Festiniog Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 74:

     The line was closed officially on August 9, , and only a skeleton staff retained.

   • 2004, Des Conway, The Event Manager's Bible: How to Plan and Deliver an Event, page 121:

     But you must keep skeleton staff on duty at all car parks while the event is still open.

   • 2018, Lee Child, Past Tense, page 63:

     The police department was operating with a skeleton staff.