skeleton staff
noun1
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.
- The line was closed officially on August 9, and only a skeleton staff retained.1947 March and April, “The Position of the Festiniog Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 74:
- But you must keep skeleton staff on duty at all car parks while the event is still open.2004, Des Conway, The Event Manager's Bible: How to Plan and Deliver an Event, page 121:
1 more example
- The police department was operating with a skeleton staff.2018, Lee Child, Past Tense, page 63:
- Related terms
- skeleton crew, skeleton service