WHICH WORD?

to fire / to lay off

Business Verb
UPDATED: NOV 2021
Verb:  Business English
​
Used incorrectly.
Confuses the listener.
​Gives the wrong information.

You don't want to be "fired" or laid off from a job.
to fire (fired)
  • To lose your job because of incompetence or something you did wrong. 

  • The boss or supervisor fires you.

  • Donald Trump had a program called "The Apprentice" where he would "fire people".
to lay off  (laid)
  • You lose your job not because of something you did, but because there is no work, such as when a company or small business goes bankrupt and closes.

  • During a recession, the economy is weak. People get laid off.
EXAMPLES - to fire:
  1. I fired John because he came to work drunk.

  2. My boss fired me yesterday because he said I was not doing a good job.  I am going to sue him.

  3. Jack got angry and called his supervisor an idiot.  He was fired on the spot.
EXAMPLES - to lay off:
  1. I got laid off last month, but I got another job the next week.

  2. During the 2008 economic crisis in the US, over 2,000,000 were laid off.
    ​
  3. Mary had worked at JP Morgan for three years, when she got laid off.
What is the opposite of
"to fire" or "to lay off"?
​
It's "to hire".