Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'layoff'

English Word: layoff

Key Russian Translations:

• увольнение [ʊˈvolʲnʲɪjə] - [Formal, used in professional and legal contexts]
• сокращение [səkrəˈʃenʲɪje] - [Formal, specifically in business or economic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in business and news discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate) - Requires understanding of formal vocabulary and labor-related concepts; for "увольнение", it's B2, while "сокращение" might lean towards B1 if in simpler contexts.

Pronunciation (Russian):

увольнение: [ʊˈvolʲnʲɪjə]

Note on увольнение: The stress is on the second syllable; the soft 'л' sound can be tricky for English speakers, similar to the 'l' in "million".

сокращение: [səkrəˈʃenʲɪje]

Note on сокращение: Stress on the third syllable; the 'щ' sound is a palatalized fricative, pronounced like a soft 'sh' in "sheen".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The act of temporarily or permanently dismissing employees due to economic reasons, restructuring, or downsizing.

Translation(s) & Context:

• увольнение - Used in formal legal or workplace contexts to describe employee dismissal, often implying a non-voluntary separation.
• сокращение - Applied in business settings for staff reductions, emphasizing economic necessity rather than personal reasons.

Usage Examples:

• Компания объявила о массовом увольнении сотрудников из-за экономического кризиса.

  The company announced a mass layoff of employees due to the economic crisis.

• В результате сокращения штата многие работники потеряли свои должности.

  As a result of the staff reduction, many employees lost their positions.

• Увольнение по сокращению часто сопровождается выплатой компенсаций в России.

  Layoffs due to downsizing are often accompanied by compensation payments in Russia.

• После увольнения он начал искать новую работу в другой отрасли.

  After the layoff, he started looking for a new job in a different industry.

• Сокращение в компании привело к повышению эффективности, но вызвало социальные проблемы.

  The layoffs in the company led to increased efficiency but caused social issues.

Permanent dismissal or firing (less temporary than typical layoffs).

Translation(s) & Context:

• увольнение - In this sense, it can imply a more permanent separation, often with legal implications.

Usage Examples:

• Его увольнение было неожиданным для всей команды.

  His layoff was unexpected for the entire team.

• Увольнение без предупреждения противозаконно в многих странах.

  Layoff without warning is illegal in many countries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "увольнение" and "сокращение" are neuter nouns in Russian, which follow standard declension patterns for third-declension nouns. They are invariable in gender but change based on case, number, and context.

For "сокращение", the inflections are similar:

These nouns do not have irregular forms but must agree with adjectives and verbs based on case and number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: сокращение штата (staff reduction, more specific to business), увольнение по сокращению (layoff due to downsizing) - "сокращение штата" is often used interchangeably but emphasizes organizational changes.
• Antonyms: найм (hiring), приём на работу (employment) - These refer to bringing in new staff, contrasting with dismissal.

Related Phrases:

• Массовое увольнение - Mass layoff; used for large-scale dismissals, often in economic downturns.
• Увольнение по собственному желанию - Voluntary resignation; contrasts with involuntary layoffs.
• Сокращение штата - Staff reduction; a common phrase in corporate contexts for downsizing efforts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "увольнение" directly corresponds to "layoff" in formal contexts, but it can also mean general dismissal. Use "сокращение" for business-related layoffs to emphasize economic reasons. Be mindful of the genitive case in phrases like "увольнение сотрудников" (layoff of employees). In professional writing, pair these with verbs like "объявить" (to announce) for accuracy. Choose based on context: "увольнение" for legal aspects, "сокращение" for economic ones.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "увольнение" with "увольнение по собственному желанию" - Learners might misuse it for voluntary resignation. Correct: Use "увольнение" only for involuntary layoffs, e.g., Incorrect: "Его увольнение было по собственному желанию" (should be "увольнение по собственному желанию" for voluntary). Explanation: The full phrase specifies intent.
• Overusing "сокращение" in non-business contexts - Incorrect: "Сокращение из-за личных причин" (better as "увольнение"). Explanation: "Сокращение" implies organizational downsizing, so reserve it for economic scenarios to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, layoffs are heavily regulated by labor laws, such as the Labor Code, which requires notice periods and severance pay. The term "увольнение" often carries emotional weight due to historical contexts like post-Soviet economic reforms, where mass layoffs were common, highlighting themes of job insecurity in Russian culture.

Related Concepts:

• работа
• трудоустройство
• увольнение по собственному желанию