Crossword Genius

Regularly admit employees on mother's side (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

distaff

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'mother's side' is the definition.
'distaff' can be an answer for 'side' (thesaurus). I'm not certain of the 'mother's' bit.

'regularly admit employees on' is the wordplay.
'regularly' means one should take alternating letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
'employees' becomes 'staff' (I've seen this before).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
The alternating letters of 'admit' are 'di'.
'di'+'staff'='DISTAFF'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for distaff that I've seen before include "(referring to the women)" , "helps one to unwind" , "Traditionally feminine" , "Wool-spinning stick" , "Characteristic of or peculiar to a woman" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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