Bad (Negative) News Message

1. Format this as a memorandum. 2. Use the indirect format (our textbook shares this in Figure 9.7 Delivering Bad News Sensitively) for sharing negative news.

You should share this document in four paragraphs 1) Buffer 2) Reasons 3) Bad News 4) Forward-looking statement

3. Make up or research any information that is not provided but is necessary to make this a believable memo for the workplace.

4. Address one of the scenario options.

5. Keep document to one page in length.

Scenarios

Option 1 You are an HR director and need to let employees know that they will no longer be able to use company computers for personal business. In the past, employees could use company computers for both work and personal business.

Option 2 You are a sales manager who needs to tell the sales team that the company is changing to a commission-based structure rather than a flat salary. ** Keep in mind, this will be negative news for some employees but can be good news for employees who are excelling.

Option 3You are a warehouse supervisor who needs to let the warehouse team know that the established schedule of working four 10-hour shifts per week is switching back to the more traditional schedule of five 8-hour shifts per week.