Write a memo announcing employee layoffs.

You are the SVP of human resources for a fi nancial software company that has 7,500 employees. The company has decided to sell AccountSoft, one of its major products. The software has suffered declining sales for the past two years, and it no longer fi ts with the new mission of the company, which is to sell to small businesses and individuals, rather than larger accounting fi rms (currently 95% of AccountSoft's buyers).

You will have individual conversations with employees who are affected by the layoffs, but fi rst you advise the CEO to send an email to all employees to announce the decision to sell AccountSoft and to prepare employees for the downsizing and what will happen next.

As you write this memo for the CEO to send under his name, consider that not all employees from the AccountSoft division will be laid off. The software developers will go to the acquiring fi rm, Accounting Support Services, Inc., but the sales and marketing staff (about 150 people) will be leaving the fi rm. This was your agreement with Accounting Support Services, as part of the acquisition deal.

Write the memo to communicate the decision clearly and help employees understand and accept the message.