[Marcella]

In Britain, you don't get laid off or fired, you are, instead, “redundant”. Note that word is in that article. “Redundant” in Britain means “laid off or fired” but you will never hear those words.

I was there one time with my son and his family who live there, and the wife was very upset as her friend had become “redundant”. I asked what that was, and the friend was fired. Then the whole family talked of friends they knew who had become “redundant” and how awful that was.

I hope none of you become redundant (or get laid off or fired).

[Winniesboy]

In Britain, you don't get laid off or fired, you are, instead, “redundant”. Note that word is in that article. “Redundant” in Britain means “laid off or fired” but you will never hear those words.

You do, actually. 'Redundant' has a very specific meaning. You're asked to leave the company with no blame attached to yourself, and no suggestion of incompetence or misconduct. Under British employment law, in these circumstances you can't be summarily dismissed without payment. You're entitled to a statutory 'redundancy compensation', usually a week's pay for every year of service (although many companies offfer better than this in their employment contracts). You also have to be given a month's notice of redundancy, and must be paid in full for that month.