MEMO: Negative Message
You are the President/CEO of ABCIndustries, Inc..Due to your company’s declining performance, you are forced into a merger with your largest competitor, XYZ Industries, Inc. Your competitor has agreed to allow 80% of the workforce to stay, however, performance reviews will be mandated to assess employee value.Draft a memo explaining this scenario to your 150+ employees.
Header:Begin your memo with the four standard memo heads (Date, To, From, Subject). Body/Discussion:
In the first paragraph of the body include your reasons for the decision.Memos do not begin with greetings or salutations.Fully explain why the change is occurring and what the current situation is.
The second paragraph is where you add a positive spin to the situation.This is where you should outline the proposed merger and the process by which employees will be evaluated.Think of other important elements employees may want to know such as timeline, severance packages, etc.
In the third paragraph, be sure to validate any anticipated concerns employees may have about this adjustment. Explain the greater benefit in the long-term this decision provides and conclude your memo by indicating how the reader may contact you if he/she has any questions.
