Bad News Report

Imagine that your business/organization (the business is called Pabst Prestige Property(exclusive real estate agency)) has been open for close to a year now. You will be writing a memo that reports on something that will be changing at your workplace. Select some change (in policy, schedule, or personnel assignment) that is currently happening in your business/organization. Here are some examples: change in dress code, change in scheduling/days off/vacations policy, change in childcare policy, change in computer use policy, changes in the lunch room, change in parking priorities, change in travel funding, reduction in hours or wages, etc.

This change will affect your subordinates, the people who consider you their boss, so use the work you did in the Discussion to help with this. The change you are writing about could be based on something similar that has happened to you as an employee in a real work setting. Note that any procedural or policy change within a workplace can be considered bad news, because it will affect the usual routines and expectations of those that it affects.

The memo report will be limited to two full pages, with a minimum of one full page, properly formatted. Throughout the memo/report, be sure to employ best practices for communicating bad news.

Format: use memo format for this report, including a complete address header, informative paragraph headings, and so on. Please include:

Opening that includes a buffer
Background paragraph to open the topic
Two or three brief paragraphs the provide details and specifics about your bad news
A closing that extends good will to your subordinates

Style: A memo addressed to subordinates is normally formal rather than conversational. Too much friendliness can potentially backfire in a bad news message, although you want to be sure to be compassionate and acknowledge the difficulties that can come with changes.