To get laid off and not fired the company usually has to be performing badly and closing offices, downsizing or something along those lines. For you to be laid

To get laid off and not fired the company usually has to be performing badly and closing offices, downsizing or something along those lines. For you to be laid off you personally have to be seen expendable in whatever spreadsheet the higher ups are looking at. Getting fired is much easier, but depending on where and how you get fired there could be some lost benefits like holiday pay, long service leave, etc.