To be furloughed means to be placed on a temporary, mandatory unpaid leave from work, usually due to economic constraints or a lack of available work. While furloughed employees do not receive a salary during this period, they generally remain employed by the company and often retain benefits such as healthcare. Furloughs are typically used by employers as a cost-saving measure during times when the company's expenses exceed its revenue or during other operational challenges. The expectation is that the employees will return to their roles once the furlough period ends, making it different from a layoff, which is a permanent termination of employment.
