Plural of furlough; periods of temporary leave from work without pay, typically due to business slowdowns or restructuring.
From Dutch 'verlof,' the noun form adopted into English in the 1600s. Originally referred to official military leaves, then broadened to include civilian workforce management.
Interestingly, 'furloughs' sound less harsh than 'layoffs,' so companies and governments use the word strategically—it sounds temporary even when the future is uncertain!
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