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:

I fired John because he came to work drunk.
My boss fired me yesterday because he said I was not doing a good job. I am going to sue him.
Jack got angry and called his supervisor an idiot. He was fired on the spot.

EXAMPLES - to lay off:

What is the opposite of
"to fire" or "to lay off"?

It's "to hire".