A layoff is the temporary suspension or permanent termination of an employee's (or a group of employees') employment for business reasons such as personnel management or downsizing. Originally it referred only to a temporary interruption in work, but in both British and US English it has evolved to mean a permanent elimination of a position; the word "temporary" must be added to specify the original meaning.
Definition and Evolution
A layoff is the temporary suspension or permanent termination of employment for an employee, or more commonly, a group of employees, driven by business reasons such as personnel management or downsizing an organization. The term originally referred exclusively to a temporary interruption in work or employment. Over time it has evolved in both British and US English to denote the permanent elimination of a position, which is why 'temporary' must be added when the original meaning is intended.
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