# staff

URL: /business/nouns/role/staff · Id: `verb:Role.staff` · Call: `await $.Role.staff({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Staff fills a Role with a Worker, human or agent, who then performs the Role’s Verbs under its Permissions.

Staff fills a [Role](/business/nouns/role) with a [Worker](/business/nouns/worker), human or agent, who then performs the Role’s [Verbs](/business/nouns/verb) under its [Permissions](/business/nouns/permission).

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `role` | [Role](/business/nouns/role) | Yes | The Role to fill. |
| `worker` | [Worker](/business/nouns/worker) | Yes | The Worker who fills it. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `role` | [Role](/business/nouns/role) | Yes | The staffed Role. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Role.staffed`](/business/events/Role.staffed).
- Performed by the [People Lead](/agents/people/people-lead).
- Gives a new agent Worker its name for this Startup.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Role.staff](/business/nouns/role/staff) |
| The record is not in a state that allows this Verb, so the call is refused. | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | Read the record, run the Verb that moves it to an allowed state, then retry. | [Role.staff](/business/nouns/role/staff) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Low: two-way, nothing at stake |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | None: it runs once review passes. |
| Limit | The call [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Staff the latest role with a worker.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/roles/role_1/staff \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"worker":"worker_1"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com",
  "role": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/roles/role_1",
    "$type": "Role",
    "name": "Kiln Bakery",
    "status": "vacant"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Role.staff",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const role = await $.Role.staff({ role: 'role_1', worker: 'worker_1' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Role.staff --json '{"role":"role_1","worker":"worker_1"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Role.staff({ role: 'role_1', worker: 'worker_1' })"
  }
}
```

Guides that call it: [Run sales myself](/agents/run-a-seat-yourself), [Add a role to the team](/agents/add-a-role), [Add a team](/agents/add-a-team), [Buy a specialist agent for a seat](/agents/buy-a-specialist-agent-for-a-seat).