layoff

plural layoffs · alternative lay-off

1. USA dismissal of employees from their jobs because of tightened budgetary constraints or work shortage (not due to poor performance or misconduct).

   Synonyms: downsizing, reduction in force, redundancy

2. A period of time when someone is unavailable for work.

   But even the return of skipper Steven Gerrard from a six-week injury layoff could not inspire Liverpool

   2010 December 29, Sam Sheringham, “Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 16 Mar 2017

   3 more examples

   One of the muscles on the point of the shoulder was torn loose and it didn't need more than a glance to see that Mr. Hickey was in for a long lay-off. He wouldn't pitch again for quite a spell, if ever;

   1916 March 11, Charles E. Van Loan, “His Folks”, in Saturday Evening Post

   After a ten-month layoff, during which extensive testing had taken place in conjunction with AEI, the 'Blue Trains' resumed full operation on October 2 1961, [...].

   2021 July 28, Ben Jones, “When BR got cracking after withdrawal of 'Blue Trains'”, in RAIL, number 932, page 32

   At tech companies that spent recent years expanding paid parental leave, parents have felt the whiplash of mass layoffs in an especially visceral way.

   2023 April 11, Kurtis Lee, “California Economy Is on Edge After Tech Layoffs and Studio Cutbacks”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 19 Apr 2023

3. UKball gamesA short pass that has been rolled in front of another player for them to kick.
4. A bet that is laid off, i.e. placed with another bookmaker in order to reduce risk.