Layoffs Memo

Homework 5 Layoffs Memo

(p.277, Number 16)

You are the SVP of Human Resources for a financial 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 fits with the new mission of the company, which is to sell to

small businesses and individuals, rather than larger accounting firms (currently 95% of AccountSoft's

buyers).

You will have individual conversations with employees who are affected by the layoffs, but first 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 firm, Accounting

Support Services, Inc., but the sales and marketing staff (about 150 people) will be leaving the firm. 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.