I was reading an article, but I had a little problem understanding the meaning of "to sack" in this context.

"Companies are being forced to restructure in order to survive, and this means they have to sack or lay off many employees."

When I looked for the meaning of to sack, it gave me: to remove someone from a job, usually because they have done something wrong or badly, or sometimes as a way of saving the cost of employing them.

But to lay off means the same thing, doesn't it?? To sack in this context would have the meaning of to save up?

Question

I was reading an article, but I had a little problem understanding the meaning of "to sack" in this context.

"Companies are being forced to restructure in order to survive, and this means they have to sack or lay off many employees."

When I looked for the meaning of to sack, it gave me: to remove someone from a job, usually because they have done something wrong or badly, or sometimes as a way of saving the cost of employing them.

But to lay off means the same thing, doesn't it?? To sack in this context would have the meaning of to save up?

Answer

To "sack" (British English) or to "fire" (American English) someone is to tell an employee that they are no longer wanted. They have been permanently let go.

To "make (someone) redundant" (BE) or to "lay off" someone (AE)  is tell them that there isn't enough work, so they are being temporarily placed on leave. Presumably, they'll be called back if and when there is more work.

Answer

I was going to answer this question, but it looks like Johnathan Kimball beat me to it. To "sack" means fire, to "lay off" means a person is temporarily let go with the promise of a possible job in the future.

Answer

Yes, to sack means to fire employees or terminate employment.

Lay off is similar, but a cost-cutting strategy and usually comes with severance or government unemployment benefits.

Sack is a harsher term, usually.

Sack is never "saving up."

Answer

Sack or fire is done to an individual employee because of that employee's behaviour.
An employee may be sacked or fired because they are incompetent.

Lay off is done usually to mote than one employee because the company needs to save money. It has no connection to the behaviour no the employees who are laid off. Those employees are just unlucky.