Backfill can refer to two different things: a construction process and an employment term.

• Construction Backfill: Backfilling is the process of filling in the excavated area around a foundation or structure. The backfill material can be anything from soil to gravel to sand, and it is used to provide support and stability to the foundation or structure.

• Employment Backfill: In the context of employment, backfill refers to the act of filling in a position left by an employee who has been moved to another role, went on a justified leave of absence, or quit/lost their job. Backfill positions are important to ensure that there are qualified replacements available when specific positions need to be filled due to employee absenteeism, sudden promotion, or job termination. Backfill positions offer many advantages, including minimizing recruitment costs if there’s already a qualified replacement within the organization, reducing employee onboarding expenses, and increasing employee retention.

Overall, backfilling is an important process in construction to provide support and stability to structures, and in employment to ensure continuity of business operations and minimize workflow interruptions.