Buying silence.
I think there should be a law to make it illegal for companies
to buy silence from employees that are let go for one reason
or another. A low level employee like myself is forced to
give up all rights to sue their employer for any wrongdoings
in return for receiving severance pay. Bribes like these stand
up in court (unlike the case where a ski resort makes you sign
a form that you won't sue it if you break your leg) because you
are getting something in return for giving up your rights.
But there was nothing in the agreement I signed that forbids me
from talking about anything (except proprietary information of course)
concerning my employer and I intend to do just that :-). However
upper level executives are also paid money to keep silent about
non-proprietary things they know concerning their (former) employer.
It seems to me this violates the first amendment and it should be
against the law to forbid someone from revealing illegal activites
or just plain embarrassing information.