Short-term worker not on time to produce pattern (8)
I believe the answer is:
template
'pattern' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'short-term worker not on time' is the wordplay.
'short-term worker' becomes 'temp' (I've seen this before).
'not on time' becomes 'late' (I've seen this before).
'temp'+'late'='TEMPLATE'
'to produce' is the link.
(Other definitions for template that I've seen before include "original design" , "Pattern or mould" , "Something used as a pattern" , "Model or standard for making comparisons" , "Shape serving as model" .)