I was recently laid off from my job in New York while on maternity leave, just a month after giving birth. The company cited restructuring as the reason for my layoff, and I found out that my responsibilities are still being handled by others in my department, which feels incredibly unfair. This whole situation has left me feeling unstable and angry, especially since I have strong performance reviews from both peers and management. Initially, I reached out to an employment lawyer to negotiate a better severance package, but the company refused to budge on their offer, which I haven’t signed yet. My lawyer suggested filing a complaint with the EEOC, but I’m really nervous about that. I don’t want it to negatively impact my future job prospects or references. I’m also concerned that HR at my old company might portray me as a problematic employee if they mention the EEOC filing to potential employers. I’m seeking advice on whether pursuing the EEOC claim is worth it, or if I should just accept the severance and focus on finding a new job. I really appreciate any insights from others who might have gone through something similar.