Non-disclosure is on the way in. Non-disparagement is on the way out. Feel free to skip signing things on your way out, especially if it's involuntary.
On getting fired... It's usually an unplanned meeting shortly after you get in, possibly with HR present. Take a deep breath, and realize the decision has been made, and no amount of explanations, excuses, circumstances, or bargaining will change it. Keep your mouth shut. Don't bother asking them why; they won't say, and then you'll start guessing. There's nothing you can say that will help you. Don't sign anything; say you'll take home whatever documents they give you to review. Don't help them pick up your work where you left off--you don't work there, they made it clear they have no interest in you working there. Take all your personal belongings, return theirs. If they let you send a farewell email, send something generic (or not at all). As always HR is not your friend.
In short, keep every interaction as curt as respectfully possible. It minimizes professional impact, and if something leads you to legal action, it puts you in the best position for it.
> Non-disclosure is on the way in. Non-disparagement is on the way out.
Depends. 80% sure the last place I worked at had Non-Disparagement on hire. They were not primarily an IT company, and their primary pool of new recruits for their core business was adults fresh out of college. I don't think it's entirely coincidental that there was a -lot- of scary language in the agreements/handbook that seemed geared towards making sure people were afraid to talk about the problems the organization had.
> As always HR is not your friend.
My last day on that job, I had to do an exit interview. During said interview, the HR employee asked how I was doing that day, my answer was, "Considering this is the first time you folks are pulling me into a room since I got here, not bad!"
> 80% sure the last place I worked at had Non-Disparagement on hire.
You can always red-line the contract. Still, if I saw that, I'd be pretty worried. It's saying you can't even review them on Glassdoor, and I'd wonder what they're hiding.
> Don't sign anything; say you'll take home whatever documents they give you to review
And get an employment lawyer to review the documents. This happened to me a few years ago and had it not been for the lawyer spotting a mistake I'd have missed out on thousands of pounds in my payoff. It was well worth the 60 minutes of their time.
This, make sure you take the time to review what's in the agreement. I've been in this situation very recently and got an agreement on the spot that looked good and was tempted to sign right away, partly due to all the emotions that were there for me, it is an emotional event. But I took it home and allowed time for my rationale brain to think it through and realised I wasn't getting some things I was entitled to, due to an admin error (I genuinely believe it was a plain error).
So take it home let the emotions fade and think it through.
On getting fired... It's usually an unplanned meeting shortly after you get in, possibly with HR present. Take a deep breath, and realize the decision has been made, and no amount of explanations, excuses, circumstances, or bargaining will change it. Keep your mouth shut. Don't bother asking them why; they won't say, and then you'll start guessing. There's nothing you can say that will help you. Don't sign anything; say you'll take home whatever documents they give you to review. Don't help them pick up your work where you left off--you don't work there, they made it clear they have no interest in you working there. Take all your personal belongings, return theirs. If they let you send a farewell email, send something generic (or not at all). As always HR is not your friend.
In short, keep every interaction as curt as respectfully possible. It minimizes professional impact, and if something leads you to legal action, it puts you in the best position for it.