Definition

Noun: 1. The act of terminating the employment of a worker or a group of workers, typically temporarily or due to business conditions: A "layoff" refers to the action an employer takes to end an employee's job, often not due to the employee's performance but because of economic reasons, restructuring, or a lack of work.

Usage

A "layoff" is typically used to describe a situation where employees are dismissed from their jobs by an employer. It often implies the possibility of being rehired in the future if business conditions improve, distinguishing it from a permanent firing for cause. - It is commonly used in business, economic, and human resources contexts. - It can refer to a single employee or a large workforce.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The factory announced a layoff of 300 workers due to the economic downturn.
  • She received a layoff notice after ten years with the company.
  • The recent layoffs have affected the morale of the entire department.

Advanced Usage

• "to be facing layoffs": to be in a situation where job terminations are likely or imminent.
  • The department is facing layoffs after the merger.
• "mass layoff": a large-scale termination of many employees at once.
  • The plant closure resulted in a mass layoff.

Variants and Related Words

• Lay off (phrasal verb): The verb form from which the noun is derived, meaning to dismiss workers.
  • The company had to lay off 50 people.
• Laid-off (adjective): Describing a worker who has been subjected to a layoff.
  • He is a laid-off auto worker looking for a new job.

Synonyms

• Dismissal: The act of sending someone away, especially from employment.
• Redundancy (chiefly British English): The state of being no longer needed or employed, often with a severance package.
• Downsizing: The process of reducing the number of employees to cut costs.

Antonyms

• Hiring: The act of employing someone.
• Recruitment: The process of finding and hiring new employees.

Related Phrases

• Layoff period: The time during which an employee is temporarily without work but may still be formally employed or eligible for recall.
• Layoff benefits: Payments or services provided to workers who have been laid off, such as severance pay or career counseling.

Noun

1. the act of laying off an employee or a work force