what does furlough mean

A furlough means a temporary leave of absence or temporary unpaid leave from work. It is used when an employer temporarily stops work or reduces working hours without pay for a specified period, often due to economic conditions, budget cuts, or other causes beyond the employer's control. Employees on furlough retain their jobs and sometimes their benefits, with the expectation they will return to work after the furlough ends. Furloughs differ from layoffs, as layoffs usually mean permanent termination of employment, while furloughs are temporary and employees typically resume work afterward.