A programmer with terminal brain cancer was caught in Epic's mass layoff, but CEO Tim Sweeney says the studio 'will solve the insurance for them'

It’s no secret that layoffs often upend lives, but a particular pain point for workers in the United States is that it’s exceedingly common to only have health insurance through your employer. If a sudden layoff blindsides you, your coverage goes with your income. So it went with Mike Prinke, a technical writer who worked at Epic for seven years—right up until the studio laid off 1,000 people last week.

Prinke’s termination came amid particularly awful circumstances: He’s currently undergoing treatment for terminal brain cancer. His wife, Jenni Griffin, posted about their situation on Facebook in a plea to Epic or anyone who could help. Epic’s post announcing the layoffs said impacted staff would receive paid healthcare coverage for six months, but the nature of Prinke’s illness means medical coverage is not their only hurdle.