Severance Package Review — DOGE layoff with inadequate severance

I publish illustrative scenarios prepared by my practice. All participants and conversations are fictional. The fictional posts are not posts by real users, accounts of client experiences, or reports of actual results.
Illustrative scenario prepared by my practice.
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Hypothetical question

Has anyone dealt with something like this? I'm not sure what my options are.

DOGE layoff with inadequate severance. I've been dealing with this for about 10 weeks now and the situation isn't improving.

I have worked at this company for 10 years. My position is non-exempt and I do not have a written employment agreement beyond the standard offer letter.

Should I hire a lawyer for this or try to handle it myself?

Illustrative response

Something people miss: if your employer misclassified you as exempt when you should've been non-exempt, you might have 2-3 years of unpaid overtime to recover. Look at the duties test, not just the salary threshold.