What is the difference between "bearing false witness" and "giving false testimony," and is it permissible to give false testimony to avert harm from oneself without harming others?

The Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Beware of false speech and false witness" is an example of mentioning the specific after the general for emphasis, as false witness is a part of false speech. Reporting that an employee attended work when they did not, is considered deception, fraud, and cooperation in sin and aggression, and it is a forbidden false statement. This act is considered a circumvention of the employer who pays a wage in exchange for adherence to agreed-upon conditions, and it involves a failure to fulfill contracts, which Allah has commanded, saying: "O you who have believed, fulfill [your] contracts."