were furloughed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were furloughed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where employees are temporarily laid off or given a leave of absence, often due to economic conditions or organizational decisions. Example: "Due to the pandemic, many workers were furloughed until the company could resume normal operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Thousands of public workers were furloughed.

The New York Times

Many jobs were furloughed because of the shutdown.

The Guardian - Opinion

EFFECT More than half of the state's employees were furloughed.

The New York Times

The government shutdown complicated the talks, as many of the civil prosecutors in Sacramento were furloughed.

The New York Times

As a result, the numbers above might understate how many federal workers were furloughed in August.

The New York Times

But the Federal Aviation Administration employees required to complete the plane's registration were furloughed.

The New York Times

Thousands of employees at federal contractors were furloughed and might not receive back pay.

The New York Times

About 4,500 of those workers, many of them residents or customers, were furloughed.

The New York Times

Federal employees ended up being paid for days they were furloughed during the last shutdown, during the Clinton administration.

The New York Times

The team will reimburse any lost wages to the noncontract employees who were furloughed after the lockout began.

The New York Times - Sports

In September, several hundred coal miners were furloughed for at least two months because of rising costs and shrinking demand.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were furloughed" to clearly and concisely indicate that employees have been temporarily placed on leave, typically without pay, due to economic conditions or organizational restructuring.

Common error

Avoid using "furloughed" interchangeably with "laid off". "Furloughed" implies a temporary leave with the expectation of return, while "laid off" suggests a more permanent termination of employment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were furloughed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that employees experienced the action of being placed on temporary, often unpaid, leave. As Ludwig AI indicates, this usage is grammatically correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were furloughed" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression that conveys a temporary leave of absence, often without pay. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to inform about temporary job suspensions, typically due to economic or organizational reasons. Predominantly found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, it maintains a neutral to professional register. When using this phrase, it's crucial to differentiate it from "laid off", which implies a permanent job loss. For alternative phrasing, consider "were temporarily laid off" or "were given unpaid leave" to provide similar meaning while varying your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were temporarily laid off

Replaces "furloughed" with the more common term "laid off", emphasizing the temporary nature of the job loss.

were given unpaid leave

Focuses on the unpaid aspect of the leave, highlighting the financial impact on employees.

were temporarily suspended

Emphasizes the suspension of work duties, suggesting a temporary pause in employment.

were placed on temporary leave

Highlights the action of placing employees on leave, emphasizing the employer's decision.

experienced a temporary layoff

Shifts the focus to the experience of the employees, emphasizing their perspective.

were temporarily out of work

States the situation in simpler terms, emphasizing the lack of employment during the furlough.

had their jobs temporarily suspended

Similar to "temporarily suspended", but uses "had their jobs" to emphasize the impact on the employees' positions.

were subject to mandatory leave

Emphasizes the mandatory nature of the leave, suggesting it was not voluntary.

faced temporary workforce reduction

Highlights the broader impact of the furlough on the entire workforce, suggesting a strategic decision.

were affected by a temporary shutdown

Focuses on the shutdown of operations as the cause of the furlough, suggesting an external factor.

FAQs

What does it mean when employees "were furloughed"?

When employees "were furloughed", it means they were temporarily placed on leave, typically without pay. This is often due to budget cuts, government shutdowns, or economic downturns, with the expectation that they will return to work when the situation improves.

How is "were furloughed" different from "were laid off"?

"Were furloughed" implies a temporary leave with the expectation of returning to work, while "were laid off" generally indicates a permanent termination of employment. You can use "were temporarily laid off" as a phrase that emphasizes the temporary nature of the layoff.

What are some alternatives to saying "were furloughed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "were given unpaid leave", "were temporarily suspended", or "were placed on temporary leave".

Is it correct to say "were furloughed" in formal writing?

Yes, "were furloughed" is a correct and professional term suitable for formal writing, especially in business and news contexts. However, ensure the context clearly implies a temporary leave rather than a permanent job loss.