Usage of 'pay off' - The workers were paid off as soon as the work over.

[Hanifasmm]

Hi,
1. The workers were paid off as soon as the work over.
Is the above sentence correct grammatically?
Does it mean as below?
The worker were given salary as soon as the work completed.
Thanks,
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa

[Mister Micawber]

The workers were paid off as soon as the work was over. =
The workers were given their wages as soon as the work was completed.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's