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Bad News Announcement Template
When you have to tell people something difficult — clear, respectful, no spin.
When to use this
Use for reorganisations, layoffs, project cancellations, and other hard messages. The structure forces clarity (what changed, why, what happens now, what doesn't change) — which is what people need most when they're surprised.
The template
# Announcement — [Subject]
**From:** [Sender] **To:** [Audience] **Date:** [Date]
## What changed
> Lead with the change, in one sentence. No preamble.
## Why
> Three sentences. Honest reasoning. Avoid jargon ("right-sizing", "realigning"). If trade-offs were made, name them.
## What happens next
- Immediate steps (this week)
- This month
- Where the next update will come from, and when
## What doesn't change
> Re-anchor on what's still true. This is the section people remember.
## Support available
- [Resource]
- [Resource]
- [Named person] is available to answer questions; here's how to reach them.
## What I expect from you
- [Specific behaviour during this period]
I know this is hard news. I'm available to talk through it directly — [how].
[Name]