Enforced lockdowns meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 has severely hurt businesses around the world.<br />According to Business Insider, some employers are choosing to put their workers on furlough, rather than firing them or laying them off.<br />An employee furlough is when staff members are required to take an unpaid, temporary leave of absence.<br />Employee furloughs help businesses cut costs and retain talent, but employees receive less income, or no income at all, and may seek new work.<br />One upside for furloughed employees is that benefits such as health insurance generally remain intact.<br />And, depending on the state, furloughed employees may also be eligible to receive partial unemployment benefits.
