layoff
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɫeɪˌɔf// UK //lˈeɪɒf// lay·off
n. a period of time when an employee is not working because their company has no work for them. It is usually a temporary situation.
n. a period of time during which an employee is not working, typically due to a lack of available work or economic downturn. Often used in the plural to describe a company-wide reduction in workforce.
The factory workers are on a three-week layoff.
After the merger, many employees faced a temporary layoff while the new management structure was finalized.
The seasonal nature of the tourism industry means that many hospitality staff are accustomed to a layoff during the winter months when visitor numbers drop significantly.
Deverbal from lay off.