disagree.  when a company or business has a reduction in force, they determine which ones to keep and which ones to let go.  oftentimes, those employees who are low producers are let go.  without nondisclosure agreements, these disgruntled employees can bad mouth the employer and exaggerate the reasons for their dismissal.  This would be bad for the company or business.  when a business retracts, they are doing it for economic reasons, not to punish the employees.  and anyone knows that any bad publicity that emanates from their actions no matter how defensible it is, is still bad.  such nondisclosure agreement actually work to protect both employer and employee.  disagreements between the employer and employee should not be aired in public.