I was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) a few months ago at my job with a government agency, and my schedule was changed to a more traditional setup. I feel like my manager is targeting me, especially since I’m the only Black person on my team. During our meetings with HR, she belittles me and brings up issues she never mentioned in our one-on-ones, which has been really frustrating. The winter and holiday season are particularly tough for my mental health, and I usually save my PTO to take care of myself and escape to a warmer place. However, I'm running low on leave, and the PIP along with the schedule change has severely affected my well-being. I'm considering applying for Short-Term Disability (STD) or Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) but I'm worried about the possibility of being fired. My therapist has kept detailed documentation of my mental health struggles, and I've recently been dealing with lingering fatigue and brain fog after getting sick. I've started applying for new jobs, fellowships, and even master's programs because I want to leave this toxic environment as soon as possible. I know I won’t recover from this PIP; my confidence is shattered, and I’ve completely checked out from my work. HR has scheduled a meeting to discuss FMLA and STD with me, but I’ve already done a lot of research on the topics. I’m unsure how cautious I should be during that meeting. I would quit immediately if I had the financial stability and support, but I don’t, and I’m still waiting for callbacks from interviews.