Legal Definitions - furlough

A furlough refers to a temporary leave of absence granted to an individual, typically from their employment, or, in a different context, a short-term release from incarceration.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of a furlough:

• Imagine a large manufacturing company that experiences a sudden drop in product demand. To avoid permanent layoffs, the company decides to implement a furlough for a portion of its factory workers. These employees are temporarily sent home for several weeks without pay, with the understanding that they will return to work once business conditions improve.

  This example illustrates a furlough as a temporary, often involuntary, leave of absence from employment, typically due to economic reasons, where the employee retains their job but is not paid during the furlough period.

• Consider a soldier deployed overseas who has been away from home for over a year. Their commanding officer grants them a two-week furlough, allowing them to travel back to their home country to visit their family before returning to their post.

  Here, a furlough signifies a sanctioned leave of absence from military duty, providing a temporary break for personal reasons.

• A non-violent inmate, nearing the end of their sentence and demonstrating consistent good behavior, is granted a 72-hour furlough to attend their daughter's high school graduation ceremony. They are required to report back to the correctional facility immediately after the event, under strict conditions.

  In this context, a furlough refers to a brief, authorized release from prison, often for specific compassionate reasons, rehabilitation, or to maintain family ties, with the expectation that the individual will return to custody.