Fired? Speak No Evil
And I was soon informed that the president wished to assure me that there is nothing unusual about such clausesWhoop whoop whoop!  This sets off giant alarm bells in my head.It might be totally normal.  That doesn't mean you should sign it.It's also an older-than-dirt salesman tactic to say that something you just made up is "totally common."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.(It's kind of ironic, but after you have been given notice you are fired, you have power.  They want you to do certain things, and what are they going to do?  Fire you?  Already did that. Withhold pay?  Illegal.)