Scenario:

You are a human resource professional for a notebook and paper company, Paper Plus. You are working with the President of the company, Bart Gustavsen, to deliver an important message to the organization: the company will be relocating to Franklin, Tennessee. While he is a great leader and businessman, Bart lacks tact. He sent the following draft of a memo to you and would like you to revise it before it is distributed to all employees of the organization.$$

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As you read the draft sent by President Gustavsen, you immediately identify a lack of empathy and tact. This news could devastate employees and eliminate their livelihood; the message must be rewritten and delivered more effectively. You begin making notes of apparent changes you will need to make:

Change the subject line $-$ this could ensue panic before the readers even get to the message.

Alter the approach $-$ the straightforward approach is shocking and will not preserve goodwill with employees.$$Rewrite using the indirect approach outlined in my commentary and chapter $11.$ Please review the Watch: Direct vs$.$ Indirect Approach in Bad News Messages for a full explanation of how to include a buffer and an explanation of reasons supporting the decision before you deliver the statement of bad news.

Reasons why $-$ the audience is going to wonder why the Board of Directors has arrived at this decision and will want to know if this decision was well$-$thought$-$out.

Respectful closing $-$ asking for the support of all employees is a big request, given the limited information provided.

Reasonable call to action $-$ many people will have to consider moving their entire family and changing their lives. Asking them to make this decision by the end of the week is unreasonable. Instead, the company will give them two months to make a decision.

After a meeting with President Gustavsen, you have gathered additional information that will help you modify his message and, hopefully, maintain a positive relationship with employees. Here are some additional facts you gathered:

The company is growing, and the current plant facility in Los Angeles cannot accommodate the increased production needs.

Production currently occurs in Los Angeles and China, company headquarters are in New York City, and the customer relations call center is outsourced in India. The opportunity to relocate to Franklin would allow the company to operate solely under one roof and bring a sense of pride in being completely American$-$made.$$

Franklin is a more affordable location tax$-$wise $($and would be more affordable living for employees$),$ is more centrally located in the nation, and presents room for future expansion.$$

The new location will drastically reduce transportation and logistics costs.$$

Franklin is an appealing, small town located only a short drive from the famous, growing city of Nashville.

This memo will go out to employees this week, but the President will host an informational meeting next Monday morning that will include answers to employee questions. He encourages employees to think about the opportunity, research the area, and present their questions to their team leaders by Friday at $5$ PM$.$

Employees choosing to relocate will be offered a compensation package as a gesture of goodwill and to assist with expenses $($specifics on this package will be given at the meeting on Monday$).$

Employees who choose not to relocate will be offered career coaching and assistance transitioning.$$

After collecting more information, you return to your office to draft a memo to Paper Plus employees. You must make the five changes you noted above and decide which information you gathered from the President should be included in the message. Remember to write with "you attitude" and to emphasize the positive. Please note you do not have to incorporate all of the information above. Use your best judgment and think of what is most essential and necessary for the audience to understand the company's decision.