Laid Off vs Fired! What are the Implications and Definitions in 2023

No one likes to lose their job, especially when it is something they love doing. However, losing your job might not entirely be your fault in case of a layoff or when you’re fired. Could there be some differences in a Laid off vs Fired faceoff?

According to BLS, in June, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) increased by 233,000 to 4.0 million, following a decline of 431,000 in May. This measure is 2.9 million higher than in February 2020.

Considering these numbers, it’s okay to assume there was a mass firing, but maybe there was a major layoff because of the pandemic.

If you’re still puzzled about layoffs and firing, this article will help clear the air. You’ll walk through a Laid-off vs Fired faceoff and learn the differences and implications of these ways of leaving a job role.

What Does it Mean to be Laid Off?
What Does it Mean to be Fired?
Laid off vs Fired: Differences
Conclusion

What Does it Mean to be Laid Off?

When you’re laid off, it simply means you’ve lost your job because of changes the company leaders made. When you are laid off, you don’t primarily make a mistake. For example, employees could be laid off because a company may need to focus on another product and market or is not making enough profit to sustain the department. During the pandemic, this was common in many companies.

If you have been laid off from your job, you can get angry and may seek to vent, but be careful that you don’t destroy your reputation. In such a situation, it’s best to speak with the human resource manager of your department to get adequate paperwork.

You need to ensure a letter is drafted describing the circumstances regarding your lay-off, which you can use for other ventures. You can attempt to see if your supervisor would write you a letter of recommendation and a LinkedIn recommendation. This is vital, as it would show other employers that you were let go, not because of your incompetence.

What Does it Mean to be Fired?

Being fired is another terminology for being terminated from your job because of an issue the company believes is directly influenced by you. For example, a professional can get fired for fighting, sabotaging company resources, and causing harm or injury to a colleague intentionally.

If you get fired, ensure you get the reason for terminating your appointment in writing. This is vital when you believe your termination was wrong. Additionally, you can speak with your human resource manager on any issues regarding your pay.

Even when you feel wrongfully terminated, ensure you avoid spreading negative information about the company you worked for. Although the company might have made a mistake, spreading this information doesn’t look good on you as a professional and can destroy your chances of getting in contact with a hiring manager on the job.

While working things out with the company, doing things right is advisable. If a conversation during a job interview about the events that made you lose your last job comes up, providing quality and truthful information is advisable.

Further Reading: Top 10 in-demand Courses leading To Great Jobs/Careers

Laid off vs Fired: Differences

Getting laid off and fired might all lead to the same result, but they don’t mean the same thing. This section would put the laid-off vs fired conversation into perspective.

The differences include:

Laid Off	Fired
Fault of Employee	Employee Not At Fault
Can Be Short-term	Is Final
Recommendation is Easy	Recommendation is Difficult
No collection of severance	Collection of severance

Conclusion

Whether you’re laid off or fired, keeping your head high in your job search is vital. You must avoid carrying any form of bitterness and malice for your former employers. Instead, getting a recommendation letter from them can boost your chances of getting the next job.