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Fired - removed from your position "for cause" - can be performance, breaking company policy etc. Laid off - company's business situation has changed and does

Fired - removed from your position "for cause" - can be performance, breaking company policy etc. Laid off - company's business situation has changed and does not require your services anymore - no fault of yours.

gambiting 7y ago
I've literally never heard anyone make that distinction.
- jjeaff 7y ago
  It's a pretty important distinction as it can decide whether you qualify for unemployment or not.
rhizome 7y ago
My impression is that there is a legal issue in calling something a layoff, in that the position has to have been eliminated.
- vsskanth 7y ago
  I believe you don't qualify for unemployment insurance if you are fired, as opposed to laid off.
  - rhizome 7y ago
    Yeah that's the basic difference, but I believe there's also something accounting-ish or tax-y about it, too.