noun
supernumerary; excess personnel; surplus staff
Refers to staff members beyond what is needed; often used in organizational or business contexts.
不況で会社は冗員を削減せざるを得なかった。
Due to the recession, the company had to cut excess personnel.
noun
useless staff; deadwood
Only when written 冗員
Carries a stronger negative nuance, implying the staff are not just surplus but also unproductive or unnecessary. Often written as 冗員.
彼は会社で冗員扱いされ、重要な仕事を任されなかった。
He was treated as deadwood in the company and was not entrusted with important work.
Compound of 冗 (redundant) + 員 (member, personnel). The variant 剰員 uses 剰 (surplus).