eiziem's journey

I was recently laid off from my role as a support engineer, initially with a retention period of 12 months. I spent nearly a year in a state of anxious uncertainty, job hunting and preparing for interviews while dealing with the stress of my situation. During this time, I had three interviews but none progressed far. I even made the tough decision to break up with my ex and move back home, as my lease ended at the same time as my retention period. I faced countless sleepless nights, especially working night shifts and having to wake up early for interviews. Just two months before my planned transition, I was informed that I could stay if I wanted, as the company was now hiring to increase headcount. Their initial plan to automate my role had backfired, and they were now scrambling for night coverage. While I'm relieved to have a job again and appreciate the retention bonus, I can't shake the anger and frustration. It feels irresponsible on their part, as they seem to have jumped on the layoff trend without considering the long-term implications. Half of my team was let go last year, and now I’ll have to train new hires while struggling with a lean workload. They present this situation as if they are my saviors, but the reality is that I still can't take sick days or PTO without extensive planning. It's all just a mess.