A temporary leave of absence from work or military service, or a period when employees are sent home without pay due to lack of work.
From Dutch 'verlof,' meaning 'permission' or 'leave,' which came to English through military contact in the 1600s. The Dutch were prominent in military matters during this era.
During the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic, furloughs became household words as millions of workers were temporarily laid off—it's essentially a kinder way to say 'we're pausing your job, not firing you.'
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