what does it means "how many do you have on the payroll"

[duc]

Is this correct:
"How many employees do you have?"="how many do you have on the payroll?"
I saw this example in my dictionary but I wondered if it was true. Do we have to use "employees" after the phrase "how many" in the second sentence?
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Don't see your shade think you are great

[BuddhaGeo]

Well, it's not compulsory to mention "employees" since you've already mentioned in the first sentence, and it's pretty clear whom you're referring to.

[duc]

But when we only use the second sentence , do we have to use the word "employees"
_________________
Don't see your shade think you are great

[BuddhaGeo]

Well, it's up to you to specify or not, and it's not obligatory in a way, but specifying would still be better since not only "employees" can be on a payroll.
For an example, a mafia can have judges, policemen and attorneys on their payroll.