Furlough
A temporary, agreed pause in work — often with reduced or state-supported pay — during which employment continues.
Furlough is a temporary leave of absence during which an employee remains employed but does little or no work, often because the employer faces a downturn or disruption. It became widely known through pandemic wage-support schemes.
The arrangement lets employers retain skilled staff through difficult periods rather than making redundancies, ready to resume when conditions improve.
Terms — including pay, duration and whether any work is permitted — must be agreed and documented clearly, and any government support scheme rules followed precisely.
