Call It What It Is

This has been bugging me for awhile now.

I can only speak to the ad industry in St. Louis, but my guess is it is a similar story in more jobs and cities.

My question is; why do they call them layoffs when they are really firings?

Sure it's a nicer way for HR to let people go, but how has this become the norm?

A layoff is when work has slowed down, so an employer needs to let you go, but as soon as business picks back up they bring you back to your old job.

This is no where near the case now. I have seen at least 3 agencies in town, let people go and then weeks later have an ad posted for a job opening. Which is fine. Business can hire and fire whomever they want. I have written about being surprised that more agencies aren't trading up in talent in this time.

But just call it what it is. You are firing people.

Or maybe it all comes down to some legal BS. MAybe if they say lay-off they don't have to give you a real reason and also have less risk in some wrongful firing lawsuit.