Trousers - are it singular or is they plural?
'The staff ' is a singular entity. However, it is accepted usage to refer to 'it' as one would refer to any group of people - in the plural. There would be a few occasions when it would be necessary to refer to 'the staff' as a singular item. Think of the occasions when you might refer to 'the team' or 'the crew' and they would apply.
( Larry Vest One day at a time, sweet Jesus, FFS., Sat 13 Feb 2010, 22:19, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

But you would say "the team are getting the work done" or "the crew are blagging the jewellery store"
no "is" there either.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Sat 13 Feb 2010, 23:04, Reply)

No because the "team" isn't plural. You could say the teams are getting the work done....
or the internet geeks are getting nothing done.


(It's pretty bad when an american corrects someone's english).

Language does change. "Data is" is considered acceptable although "data are" is preferable.
(MichaelS wasn't picked again, Sun 14 Feb 2010, 1:05, Reply)