On the one hand, the severance packages at all of these places are so generous that I would want to get laid off in order to work on side projects, take a vacat

On the one hand, the severance packages at all of these places are so generous that I would want to get laid off in order to work on side projects, take a vacation, play with some startup ideas... Maybe that's why I don't work at any of these places. I'm sure many of these folks are dependent on their very high salaries to maintain their lifestyle, but seems like a golden opportunity for some temporary freedom that we're not often afforded in the USA.