I recently got laid off from my position as a director at a public enterprise where I had worked for over five years. Throughout my time there, I received a promotion, stock options, and annual bonuses, and I consistently delivered strong performance. However, I was the only one in my team of six who was laid off, which raises some serious concerns for me. My manager assured me that my performance was stellar and even highlighted some of my achievements, but I can't help but feel that my layoff might have been influenced by discrimination. I was the only person of color in my immediate team, and while other employees from different departments were also laid off, it seems suspicious that I was the only one let go from my team. I had the second-longest tenure, and my manager, who has been with the company the longest, made the decision to lay me off. Just a few months prior, I had discussions about a potential promotion, but was told to wait another year, despite my strong performance. To add to my frustration, the company hired a new employee in September 2025 and promoted him above me. He is a white individual from a more expensive country, earning significantly more than I do, even though we hold the same title. I was well-liked within the company, receiving praise for my expertise, and many colleagues reached out on LinkedIn to express their shock and disappointment at my layoff. I genuinely believe that my layoff was racially motivated, especially since the business vertical I supported was stable and had growth potential. If the layoffs were truly financially driven, it seems illogical that I would be the one let go. Currently, my lawyer has filed the necessary paperwork, and we have our first meeting coming up. This is all new to me, and I have a couple of questions: Do others believe that my layoff was discriminatory? And should I consider settling, as the company has a history of doing so, or should I fight this in court to try to get my job back?