The term "furloughed" means being placed on a temporary, unpaid leave of absence by an employer, usually due to economic difficulties, lack of work, or operational needs. Employees who are furloughed keep their jobs and often retain benefits like health insurance, but they do not receive pay during this period. Furloughs are typically temporary, with the expectation that the employees will return to their regular work schedule once conditions improve. This differs from layoffs, where employees are permanently separated from their jobs.
