I am currently employed at a biotech startup but I will be going into a phd program the week of August 21st. My manager knew this and I had yet to give him a definite two week notice and he had not shared any of this information with the broader company. Last week the company laid off a number of people including my manager – the head of my team and the head of broader groups as well as my coworker responsible for roughly half of the group work that I routinely assist with. I am responsible for the other half that they didn't help with. They reorganized the groups and put me into a group reporting to a former coworker – this coworker my new manager had previously reported to the same manager as me in the past (previous reorganization). They have sort of unknowingly shot themselves in the foot because they didnt realize I will be leaving soon. This will leave only a single newly hired RA on a team that used to have two additional people running the majority of assays and work. I wish I was laid off and given the severance pay my coworker received ( around 20K). I am not not sure how to go forward to be honest? Do I beg for severance? Do I inform my new manager? Do I take two weeks PTO to hope to get laid off ? I have two weeks PTO could just do that as my two week notice? My old manager can't speak with us for 8 days due to NDA. I could say this was a pre approved vacation. I am not sure how to proceed for the best option for myself. HR seemed totally in on the sacking to get rid of people other in the company didn't like and I don't trust them to do anything benefiting me . Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.