21.   The legislation gave companies the right to lay off workers and hire temporary employees.

22.   The station has laid off one-third of its staff.

23.   Then, towards Christmas, the work dwindled and he was laid off.

24.   They had more job security and were less likely to be laid off or made redundant.

25.   They have laid off thousands of workers and have stopped paying local water and heating bills.

26.   Unions fear that many part-time employees will be laid off.

27.   We sought out people who had been laid off from large corporations and were forced to create new lives.