I've worked in IT for nearly 31 years, including nine years as a senior systems administrator. My current workplace has become extremely toxic, and company leadership appears convinced that AI will eventually replace most employees.
Several months ago, an executive assistant showed me an email from my manager discussing plans to eliminate my position. More recently, I saw another email suggesting that my last day may be in the first week of October. Those messages also described my junior coworker working behind my back with management and misleading me about what was happening.
Since discovering the first email, my anxiety and stress have become overwhelming. I have an autoimmune disease, and the stress seems to be worsening both my physical and mental health. I'm sleeping poorly, having night sweats, and dealing with intense Sunday-night anxiety. I usually feel somewhat better once I'm away from work.
I've also started drinking more because it temporarily helps me shut off the anxiety, although I know it's making things worse in the long run. My family and friends think I should stay until I'm laid off so I don't risk losing severance or unemployment benefits. Others have suggested medical leave if my health continues to deteriorate.
For now, I'm doing the minimum necessary while actively applying for other IT jobs. I've had several interviews, but no offers, and the job market has been difficult. I'm also questioning whether I want to remain in IT at all.
If you were in this situation, would you stay until the expected layoff to preserve severance and unemployment eligibility, pursue medical leave, or resign once another job is available? How would you protect your health while making a practical exit plan?
5 Answers
Unless your health makes it impossible, don't resign before you understand exactly what you would lose. Keep doing your job professionally, continue applying, and let the company make the next move. A voluntary resignation can affect severance and unemployment, while a documented layoff is usually much easier to deal with. Talk with a doctor and, if necessary, an employment lawyer or benefits specialist about leave and eligibility rather than relying on general advice online.
The biggest immediate issue is your health, especially the drinking, poor sleep, night sweats, and autoimmune symptoms. Alcohol may provide short-term relief, but it worsens sleep and anxiety and can create a nasty feedback loop. Make an appointment with your doctor and consider a therapist or counselor. Replace the evening drinking routine with something that lowers your stress—walking, exercise, time with friends, or a structured bedtime routine. If stopping alcohol feels difficult or you drink heavily, get medical guidance rather than trying to handle it alone.
Don't assume your next role has to be an identical senior administrator job. With that much experience, look at adjacent options such as infrastructure architecture, cloud operations, security, consulting, technical leadership, training, or roles outside traditional corporate IT. A healthier organization may be worth accepting a lower salary, especially if the current job is damaging your health. The goal isn't simply to escape into another version of the same toxic environment.
It may help to reframe the situation: the company has already made a business decision, and you are not going to fix its leadership or AI strategy from your current desk. Focus on what you can control—your finances, health, documentation, resume, skills, and job search. Keep records of relevant employment and medical matters, but don't take confidential company information. If you are close to retirement, review your finances now as well; that could open up options you haven't considered.
You have an advantage that many laid-off workers don't: advance warning. Update your resume, document projects and accomplishments, contact trustworthy former coworkers for references, and keep interviewing while you still have income. Treat the current job as a temporary financial bridge. Set boundaries, disconnect at the end of the workday, and avoid getting pulled into workplace drama. You don't need a careless 'I don't care' attitude—just a professional, sustainable level of effort while you plan your exit.
Start gathering medical documentation now if leave might be necessary. The paperwork and approval process can take longer than expected, so don't wait until the week before the expected termination date.