I just experienced a sudden layoff after receiving a calendar invite for a quick sync. It was a fifteen-minute meeting at 9:15 AM with my manager and an HR representative I had never met before. My manager didn’t say much; it was mostly HR reading a script. I could tell it was a tough job for her, but she handled it professionally. My laptop access was cut off at 9:31 AM, and I remember the exact minute because I was still logged in when everything changed. After eleven years with the company, I was shocked. I even have a plaque somewhere for my contributions back in 2019. What surprised me the most was that I automatically said thank you at the end of the call—thank you for the call, as if it was a normal meeting. I was informed that my severance package includes eight weeks of pay. The portal states my last day is the 30th, but since I lost access to everything, I’m not sure what that means anymore. I’m 44 years old, the sole income provider, and my child is set to start college in two years.