Layoff announcements don't need a business case

I mean, really? Are you trying to convince the folk affected that their layoffs will be a good thing for them?  

Keep it simple, clear, and compassionate. That's what leadership does.

'With the changes in our industry and company, we will regretfully be laying off X thousand people over the next Y months, focused primarily in the Z business/geography. We will be providing A, B, and C to the affected employees to assist them. It is always difficult to lose so many talented members of our team, but this is the best way for Microsoft to remain a healthy and profitable industry leader for our shareholders and our remaining workforce.'

There, I fixed it for you, in just one paragraph (at least as a first draft).

Then, if you want to wax lyrical about long-term strategy and changing business tides, issue a separate, non-defensive memo next week.

Reshared post from +George Wiman

A truly extraordinary bit of corporate writing…