have you heard of "furlough" in the past before covid?

Of course I've heard the word--I worked for the government for 31 years. A FURLOUGH is a temporary lay-off. You are expected to come back when the furlough ends. You still retain your benefits but you aren't usually eligible for back pay for the days you didn't work. Furloughs can last anywhere from a day to weeks. If you are laid off--you aren't expected to be brought back. It's not being fired--it's just ending your work relationship because of budget cuts, or staff cuts, or something--and they don't expect to have you back. Your benefits also end if you're laid off. Basically, it's being let go without negative reasons attached. Laid off people are usually eligible for unemployment. Furloughed people aren't. 

Furlough is an old military term. Still used quite often in the government. 

Yeah, 

During the Obama administration, when the Republicans were in control of Congress and the Senate, there were a couple of Government shutdowns which resulted in some Gov employees being Furloughed.  

Had to look it up

Leave

Holiday

sabbatical

R&R

furlough /ˈfəːləʊ/ Learn to pronouncenounleave of absence, especially that granted to a member of the services or a missionary. "a civil servant home on furlough" verbUS grant leave of absence to. "furloughed workers"

furlough old fashion out of date

yes          .

Extremely common corporate HR word to describe a temporary layoff.  Some types of business's have frequent seasonal work cycles so furloughs will be very common. Otherwise most business's will just permanently fire people when their work slows.  Companies always use it in bad times, the problem with it is there's really no guarantee you will get your job back.  I would advise anyone furloughed to spend the time looking for a new job.  

Absolutely, yes.

Sure.  I knew people who were furloughed during the Reagan era.

Nope, never heard of it - Spirits are of tongues, you have to become initiated into the Pantheons thinking those poor little Sodomized spaz tics and use words like new remit I think fornicating on tax payers money.

First time I heard of it. I’m guessing not many people have heard that term before the coronavirus because the radio had to explained what it means. 

 I heard of furlough over 10 years ago