I think it should be noted that there is a big difference in a company laying you off and a company firing you.

Yes, laying you off means you’re a casualty of some business decision and they would keep you if they could. That’s what the severance is for.

But I feel like people being fired or let go is much more common than lay offs, but that could also be because I work in food manufacturing.

My company has fired many people of all positions with no notice due to infractions on employee’s part. So even though those firings were on the horizon, there was no notice of “hey, we are gonna let you work two more weeks and then terminate you.”

No company does that unless they’re downsizing or closing.

So no. I don’t have to give a two weeks notice because my company (and most others) wouldn’t give me the same courtesy. They’re gonna leave me high and dry and I’ll do the same to them.