Blog

Definitions and Meaning in English

1. Laid off (verb): Terminated from employment, usually temporarily or permanently, due to economic reasons, downsizing, or company restructuring, rather than personal performance.
2. Laid off: A situation where an employer ends a worker’s job role because the position is no longer needed or affordable.

History and Origin

• The term “laid off” originated in the early 20th century in industrial and corporate contexts. It became widely used during economic downturns to describe job losses caused by reduced demand or financial constraints. Initially, it referred to temporary dismissals but later expanded to include permanent job cuts.

Detailed Explanation

Being “laid off” means losing one’s job due to factors beyond individual control, such as economic downturns, company bankruptcies, mergers, or automation. Unlike being fired, which usually results from personal performance or misconduct, layoffs are not linked to the worker’s behavior. Employers often offer severance packages, unemployment benefits, or rehiring possibilities to employees who are laid off.

Example Sentences

1. Many employees were laid off due to the company’s financial struggles.
2. The factory laid off hundreds of workers after a decline in demand.
3. She was laid off when the company downsized its workforce.
4. The employer promised to rehire workers who were laid off once the economy improved.
5. Being laid off can be stressful, but it’s not a reflection of personal failure.
6. The pandemic caused many businesses to lay off employees temporarily.
7. He received a severance package after being laid off from his position.
8. Automation led to several employees being laid off from the assembly line.
9. She is attending a career workshop after being laid off last month.

Synonyms with Short Explanation

1. Terminated: Losing a job, but often more general than being laid off.
2. Dismissed: Another term for losing a job, though it can imply fault.
3. Unemployed: A state of not having a job after being laid off.
4. Redundant: A British term for being laid off due to the job no longer being necessary.
5. Displaced: Removed from a position, often due to restructuring.

Related Words with Short Explanation

1. Severance: Compensation given to employees who are laid off.
2. Unemployment: The condition of not having a job, often after being laid off.
3. Downsizing: The process of reducing the number of employees in a company.
4. Outplacement: Services offered to laid-off employees to help them find new jobs.
5. Restructuring: Organizational changes that may lead to layoffs.

More Matches with Short Explanation

1. Job loss: General term for losing employment, including layoffs.
2. Temporary layoff: A situation where employees may be rehired later.
3. Retrenchment: A term used for layoffs due to financial constraints.
4. Cutbacks: Reductions in staff or resources, often leading to layoffs.
5. Layoff notice: Official communication informing employees about their layoff.

Antonyms

1. Hired: Being employed or given a job.
2. Promoted: Advancing to a higher position within a company.
3. Retained: Kept in a job despite organizational changes.
4. Recruited: Sought after and added to a workforce.
5. Employed: Currently working in a paid position.