You are a Director in the Andrews Corporation. Your boss called you to inform you that there is a proposed layoff in your department that would affect three of six of your employees if it takes place. Given the sensitivity of the issue, your boss asks you to keep this information absolutely confidential. Later that day, one of your employees (Shelia) who would be affected stops you in the hallway and says she’s heard rumors about a layoff, remarking, "I’m not going to be fired am I?" The layoff in fact does occur and you now have to deliver the bad news to your employees. It’s likely to send shockwaves through the organization and there will no doubt be considerable bad press associated with the layoff. With which of the following issues should you be most concerned when talking with Shelia?

Select: 1

Making certain that she has a chance to air any negative feelings so she doesn’t feel a need to go the local newspaper.

Clearly communicating that it’s not personal and that she has been a valuable employee.

Making sure that Shelia understands the economic need for laying-off staff.

Ensuring that Shelia understands the process for how she was selected as one of the employees to be terminated