Stopped and fired (4,3)
I believe the answer is:
laid off
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'stopped' is the first definition.
('lay off' can be a synonym of 'stop')
'fired' is the second definition.
(I know that fired can be written as laid off)
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for laid off that I've seen before include "Made redundant" , "Stopped - fired" .)