A policy of lowering staff numbers by not replacing workers who resign or retire, typically in public services.
it is an environment of frozen budgets and sinking lids
Example sentencesExamples
- Concerns have been raised with ministers about the effect of the sinking lid on funding.
- The previous Auckland City Council had a sinking lid but allowed relocations.
- If the goal is to increase economic freedom, then reapplying the "sinking lid" isn't the way to do it.
- It seems that to fill the gap in overall staff numbers created by the sinking lid, government departments are having to use more and more contractors.
- The so-called 'cap' on core public servants announced in 2008 quickly became a sinking lid.
- We are retaining a sinking lid but being a little bit more flexible about the components.
- This would undermine the council's region-wide "sinking lid" policy.
- There's a powerful narrative about National running down public services last time they were in government, using the "razor gang" and the "sinking lid" to cut services like health.
- She pointed to the public service sinking lid, saying "there's only so much blood out of a stone".
- One analyst told the forum that a majority of the local boards supported sinking lids in their areas.