Assignment Scenario - Bad News Letter

You are an upper-level manager in a large metropolitan hotel. One of your assistant managers, Emily Clarke, left you a voicemail message requesting emergency leave for her next shift, which begins in 21 hours. You know from previous requests for emergency leave that Emily''s grandmother is coping with a debilitating illness. Your other assistant manager, Nina Hernandez, has covered for Emily three times in the last two months. She has been looking forward to having this weekend off, as she is going out of town to celebrate her grandson's first birthday. You are already on the schedule this weekend and if you allow Emily's emergency leave, you'll be short-staffed. To make matters worse, the hotel is hosting a convention this weekend and Frank Drebin will be in attendance to "consult" on the hotel's operations. The hotel is almost completely booked, the convention will be in full-swing, and you want to make a good impression on Drebin.

Having considered the entire situation, you denied Emily's request for emergency leave. In turn, she wrote an email asking for you to reconsider your decision. After further thought, you have decided to stand by your decision. Write a response in a format of your choosing to Emily reiterating your decision denying her request. Weigh the need to resolve this issue quickly vs. the need to justify your decision. Include all essential elements of a bad news letter (buffer, decision, good will) and consider the use of an explanation (which is not required).

Bad News Letter Rubric

Criteria	Weight
Includes Buffer	10%
Includes Decision (Denies the Request)	10%
Includes Good Will	10%
Focuses on the decision	10%
Handles the situation appropriately	10%
Fitting for professional environment/correct writing	10%
Appropriate tone	10%
Includes all necessary nuances of chosen format (Memo, Email, Letter)	10%
Provides only essential information/Focuses on brevity	10%
Does not invite questions	10%

Name _______________________ Bad News Letter Rubric

Criteria	Weight
Includes Buffer	10%
Includes Decision (Denies the Request)	10%
Includes Good Will	10%
Focuses on the decision	10%
Handles the situation appropriately	10%
Fitting for professional environment/correct writing	10%
Appropriate tone	10%
Includes all necessary nuances of chosen format (Memo, Email, Letter)	10%
Provides only essential information/Focuses on brevity	10%
Does not invite questions	10%