it's a simple gmail.com account, not a workspace one.
I got the same impression as the root comment, since you stated "I have a work account on Gmail". In reality, you have a personal account that you use for work, with the accompanying dismal tech support.
Losing that account is a big risk for your work, paying Google Workspace is an investment in your case.
Yeah I would really clarify that this is not a "work account" in the way most people would interpret it. I agree OP should be paying for Google Workspace if your income depends on this account.
To be specific, I use it for a separate Google Play developer account, which Google refused to create on my Workspace account, saying it must be a regular Gmail account. (They also restrict Workspace accounts from some Google Play functions like rating the apps and leaving reviews).
I don't get it. To me it seems that being locked out of a "work" email is far better (far less worse) than being locked out of a "personal life" one, which probably includes stuff like telecom, utility, insurance, social media being tied to that entity. It is easier to get another job than to "recover" all the other aspects of life