While the age limit for the 10% penalty for an IRA is 59-1/2, the age limit for a qualified workplace plan (401k, 403b) is age 55. If you were separated from service in the year you turned 55 or older, you are exempt from the 10% penalty for early withdrawal.
There is no general exception to the 10% penalty for being laid off. However, if you withdrew money from an IRA to pay for medical insurance while you were laid off, the part of the withdrawal used for those premiums is exempt from the 10% penalty. (But this applies to IRAs only, not to workplace plans.)
Other exceptions are listed here.
https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-exceptions-to-tax-o...
