Survived 3 layoffs, thought it was a win; then employee realised the cost the company expected them to pay

As companies continue to downsize amid economic uncertainty, employees left behind often carry the weight of multiple roles — sometimes with little support or recognition. The emotional cost of surviving layoffs can be immense, especially when overwork and lack of communication compound the pressure. A recent case highlights just how isolating and mentally taxing this situation can become, as one employee chose to resign after being left as the last member of their team following three rounds of layoffs.

The employee shared their experience anonymously on Reddit, revealing that their company initially employed four developers, along with a tech lead and a project manager. After three successive waves of layoffs, only the poster and one remaining colleague were left. When that final team member was handed a redundancy notice, the poster realised they would soon be managing an entire department’s workload alone.

While they admitted to initially feeling “lucky” for having survived the layoffs, the sentiment quickly turned to exhaustion and disillusionment. The person revealed working long hours and being mentally drained while receiving empty promises of bonuses. The absence of meaningful support from management only added to the strain.

Unanswered Meeting and a Final Email

A meeting had been scheduled with their manager to discuss the situation, but it never happened. The employee tried to reach out informally, with no response. Feeling abandoned and unable to continue under such pressure, they submitted their resignation over email.

The decision, however, came with emotional consequences. Despite recognising the toxic work environment and the impact on their well-being, the employee expressed feeling guilty for leaving at a time when the company was clearly struggling. They questioned whether resigning via email was the right choice, even though they felt they had exhausted all options.

Support From Online Community
The post drew wide support on Reddit, with many users validating the employee’s decision. One user remarked that resigning over email was more courtesy than the company deserved, especially after being left to shoulder multiple roles. Others highlighted that businesses often treat workers as expendable and that the employee was right to prioritise their health.

Commenters emphasised that respect must be mutual in any workplace relationship. As one put it, even a text would have sufficed under the circumstances, given the lack of support from leadership. Another pointed out that, from a business standpoint, the company had already failed its team by reducing it to one person.

This situation is emblematic of a larger issue many employees face following mass layoffs—survivor’s guilt combined with burnout. While job retention might appear fortunate on the surface, the pressure of doing multiple roles without proper compensation or support can be damaging in the long term.