Fired? Speak No Evil
<i>And I was soon informed that the president wished to assure me that there is nothing unusual about such clauses</i><p>Whoop whoop whoop!  This sets off giant alarm bells in my head.<p>It might be totally normal.  That doesn't mean you should sign it.<p>It's also an older-than-dirt salesman tactic to say that something you just made up is "totally common."<p>Of course, the company can attach whatever clauses it wants to a separation agreement.  You aren't entitled to a severance payment.  I'll tell other engineers that two weeks' salary is a piddly amount for the company for you to surrender such rights.  You can just walk away.  They are the ones who want you to sign that.<p>(It's kind of ironic, but after you have been given notice you are fired, <i>you</i> have power.  They want you to do certain things, and what are they going to do?  Fire you?  Already did that. Withhold pay?  Illegal.)