Furlough: meaning, definitions and examples
๐๏ธ
furlough
[ หfษหrloส ]
employment situation
A furlough is a temporary leave of absence from work, often without pay, usually initiated by the employer. It is commonly used during economic downturns when companies need to reduce their labor costs while retaining employees for future work. Employees on furlough may be eligible for unemployment benefits, depending on local laws and regulations. This practice allows organizations to manage financial challenges while planning for eventual recovery.
Synonyms
leave of absence, suspension, temporary layoff
Examples of usage
- The company announced a furlough for many of its employees due to budget cuts.
- During the pandemic, several businesses resorted to furloughs to cope with the loss of revenue.
- Employees are worried about how long the furlough will last and its impact on their finances.
employment management
To furlough someone means to place them on a temporary leave of absence, often due to economic reasons. This action allows companies to reduce their workforce temporarily without permanently laying off employees. The term is particularly relevant in industries affected by seasonal changes or economic downturns, where organizations may need to retain the option of bringing back their staff when conditions improve.
Synonyms
to discharge temporarily, to relieve, to suspend
Examples of usage
- The organization decided to furlough its staff to reduce expenses.
- Due to lack of work, they had to furlough the employees until the next project started.
- Management decided to furlough workers instead of laying them off permanently.
Translations
Translations of the word "furlough" in other languages:
๐ต๐น licenรงa
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเฅเคเฅเคเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช Auszeit
๐ฎ๐ฉ cuti
๐บ๐ฆ ะฒัะดะฟัััะบะฐ
๐ต๐ฑ urlop
๐ฏ๐ต ไผๆ
๐ซ๐ท congรฉ
๐ช๐ธ perรญodo de descanso
๐น๐ท izin
๐ฐ๐ท ํด๊ฐ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฅุฌุงุฒุฉ
๐จ๐ฟ dovolenรก
๐ธ๐ฐ dovolenka
๐จ๐ณ ไผๅ
๐ธ๐ฎ dopust
๐ฎ๐ธ frรญ
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะดะตะผะฐะปัั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแกแแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ mษzuniyyษt
๐ฒ๐ฝ perรญodo de descanso
Etymology
The word 'furlough' originates from the late Middle English term 'furlough' or 'furlowe,' which derived from the Middle Dutch word 'verlofu' meaning 'permission' or 'leave.' This evolved from the Old English 'forlofa,' which combines 'for-' (meaning 'for') and 'lofa,' related to the concept of permission or leave. Historically, it has been used to describe the act of granting leave to soldiers or workers. Over time, the usage of the term expanded to encompass its modern application in employment contexts, particularly during economic hardships. Furloughs became more widely recognized in the 20th century, especially during recessions where companies sought to keep their employees while temporarily suppressing labor costs.