> A layoff generally means "business is slow, so we don't need you anymore" (its not you, its us), where firing for cause generally means "you're not performing

> A layoff generally means "business is slow, so we don't need you anymore" (its not you, its us), where firing for cause generally means "you're not performing up to minimum standards" (its not us, its you). In most places in the US, a layoff comes with state unemployment benefits, where as being fired does not. Workers terminated for performance can collect unemployment benefits usually. The terms and meanings differ state to state and person to person.