Plural of layoff; temporary or permanent dismissals of employees due to economic conditions or company restructuring.
From phrasal verb 'lay off' (1889) meaning to dismiss workers, literally 'to place aside.' Originally used in seasonal industries where workers were 'laid off' during slow periods and expected to return.
The term 'layoff' sounds almost gentle, like workers are just being 'laid aside' temporarily, but this linguistic softening masks the real human impact. It's corporate euphemism at work - compare it to the blunter 'firing' or 'sacking,' which sound much harsher.
Layoffs disproportionately affect women in precarious roles, yet media narratives typically center male executives' decisions. Women's economic vulnerability in downturns is often invisible.
When discussing layoffs, explicitly name disparate impact by gender, seniority, and role. Avoid framing as gender-neutral unless data confirms equal impact.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.