Legal Question in Business Law in California

Re: 401(k) rights for terminated employees

I think your 401(k) plan is a private contract between your ex-employer and you, and possibly including a third-party plan administrator, so the first place I would look is the enrollment papers you signed to authorize deductions, etc. There should be some provisions regarding rollover, what happens if you are terminated involuntarily, maybe ERISA rights, and the like. It seems unlikely to me that the company can hold your plan's assets hostage to force you to sign a particular severance agreement, but reference to the contract and the plan rules would be your starting point in getting ready to argue the point with the company or their plan administrator.

Re: 401(k) rights for terminated employees

No. Doing so is a federal violation. If that actually happens to you, to your detriment, feel free to contact me for the legal help you'll need. That could be used as leverage in negotiations.