At many companies you find out when your badge doesn't open the door, and someone from security walks up behind you to escort you to your cubicle so you can clear out your personal stuff, then to HR for the exit interview and final pay, and then out the door.

There really is no nice way to tell people they've been laid off. The best you can hope for is a severance package that will tide you over until you can find another job. If you're in your 50's then you'd better get a lot less picky about what you'll do to survive because the odds are good you'll never do the same kind of professional work again.