to lay off
– C1-C2 (advanced) –
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In Canadian English, this phrasal verb typically means:
to remove an employee from a company, often due to changes in business (e.g., decreased profit, insufficient funding, bankruptcy, merge, buyout, etc.)
NOTE
The phrasal verb “to lay off” does not mean the same thing as the verb “to fire.” This is a common mistake among English learners.
EXAMPLES
“Due to the poor economic situation of the country at the moment, many companies are being forced to lay off large portions of their staff just to stay afloat.”
“I hate being the bearer of bad news. Everyone needs to financially support themselves and their families, so whether it’s laying off or firing people, its never easy to do. It’s without a doubt my absolute least favourite part of working in management.”
Have you ever been laid off? Have you ever been the person who was required to lay someone off? How did it feel? Practice using this phrasal verb by telling me about your experience in the comments below.
