I suppose it can mean that, but in practice, it doesn't. Being fired and being laid off are very different things in this year's English. So different, in fact

I suppose it can mean that, but in practice, it doesn't. Being fired and being laid off are very different things in this year's English. So different, in fact, that I have been "laid off" when the employer really had a mind to fire me for poor performance but wanted to avoid hurting my future prospects. Here, don't take my word for it: https://www.google.com/search?q=fired+laid+off https://www.google.com/search?q=fired+laid+off