Stick the workforce (5)
I believe the answer is:
staff
I believe this is a double definition.
'stick' is the first definition.
(staff is a kind of stick)
'the workforce' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
(Other definitions for staff that I've seen before include "Personnel or wooden pole" , "team?" , "teachers possibly used" , "the general's assistants recognised" , "Stick of authority" .)