Writing: Using Plain Language; Communication Ethics:

Making Ethical Choices [LO-3] , Chapter 1 Your company has been a major employer in the local community for years, but shift s in the global marketplace have forced some changes in the company’s long-term direction. In fact, the company plans to reduce local staffi ng by as much as 50 percent over the next 5 to 10 years, starting with a small layoff next month. Th e size and timing of future layoff s have not been decided, although there is little doubt that more layoff s will happen at some point. In the fi rst draft of a letter aimed at community leaders, you write that

“this fi rst layoff is part of a continuing series of staff reductions anticipated over the next several years.” However, your boss is concerned about the vagueness and negative tone of the language and asks you to rewrite that sentence to read “this layoff is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to continually align its resources with global market conditions.” Do you think this suggested wording is ethical, given the company’s economic infl uence in the community?

Explain your answer in an email message to your instructor.