gaqua's journey

I was laid off last Thursday after over 20 years with the same company. It’s been quite the journey, helping to build this business from the ground up alongside the founders, but with most of them having retired or moved on, I was one of the last remaining from the original team. Recent changes in adjacent industries have hit our sales hard, leading to a major restructuring that rendered my role—and several others—redundant. Now, I'm in my late 40s and feeling a bit lost about what to do next. The company is offering me six months of severance and a potential acceleration of my stock RSUs, but I'm hesitant about signing the paperwork without having a lawyer review it first. My main concern is the non-disparagement agreement, which seems quite one-sided. Given my position as a director, I believe it should be mutual. Financially, I have some savings that allow me to take a breather before jumping into a new job, so I plan to spend a week or two reflecting on what I truly want to do moving forward. I’ve started updating my résumé and LinkedIn profile, and since I’m technically still employed until December 1, I can maintain my health insurance until the end of the year. While the severance isn't terrible, I feel it could be better considering my long tenure and contributions to the company. I'm contemplating negotiating for a better package, but I’m also aware that severance negotiations can be tricky. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!