Write a layoff communication package for managers and employees
Produces the employee notice, manager talking points, FAQ, and remaining-team message for a reduction in force, all consistent with each other.
The prompt
Help me write the communications for a layoff.
What is happening: [number of roles, teams affected, business reason in plain terms]
Timing: [notification date, last working day, sequence of meetings]
Support offered: [severance, benefits continuation, outplacement, references policy, equipment return]
What we can't share yet: [CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS]
Company tone: [e.g. direct and humane, no corporate jargon]
Write:
1. Notification letter for affected employees - decision, effective dates, pay and benefits details with [CONFIRM] markers on every figure, next steps, contact person.
2. Manager talking points for the 1:1 notification - under 2 minutes, decision first, no debate, what to say if asked "why me?"
3. FAQ for affected employees - 10-12 questions (final pay, benefits, unemployment, references, rehire eligibility, equipment).
4. Message to remaining employees - what happened, why, how affected colleagues are being supported, what changes for them, and when they'll hear more.
5. Manager FAQ for team questions - "Are more layoffs coming?", "Who covers this work?"
Rules: consistent facts across all pieces, no spin ("rightsizing journey"), no promises we can't keep, and nothing that blames individuals. Flag statements that need legal review, especially notice periods and severance terms, which vary by location.
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore HR & Hiring prompts
What to fill in
- notification date, last working day, sequence of meetings
- CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS
- e.g. direct and humane, no corporate jargon
- CONFIRM
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the RTF structure (Role, Task, Format). RTF tells the model who to be, what to do and what shape the answer should take. It is the quickest structure that still gives noticeably better results than a bare request.
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