The Alliance Health Group (AHG) began as a small business providing local health services just over 10 years ago. It quickly became one of the best places to work in town. They treated each employee as a member of the family with the motto "People First." The motto has been adopted by the employees, and they have a positive attitude regarding the company's efforts to take care of them, even in hard financial times. The Alliance Health Group's commitment was confirmed during a financial crisis when the company maintained all their staff even though the revenue declined by over 30% for 2 years. AHG never fully regained their financial footing. The company has acquired a mountain of debt that is no longer sustainable, and investors have refused to invest more. Now the company must make layoffs or lose the business altogether. Initial estimates are that AHG must lay off at least 20% of their workforce. Rumors have started to emerge that the company is insolvent. Management has asked you to draft a letter to inform employees about the upcoming layoffs and when those decisions will be made. The company realizes that if they do not notify employees of the company's intent, people will be caught off guard with no to time to prepare.

The following are attributes of the AHG employee culture:

• Value:People First. AHG is loyal and committed to its employees.
• Belief:Even in hard times, AHG will find a way to keep everyone employed.
• Belief:AHG takes care of its employees.
• Attitude:If another financial crisis occurs, AHG will take care of us again.
• Attitude:AHG recovered from previous hard times.
• Attitude:My job is secure.
• Experience:AHG kept all of their employees, taking on the hardship as a company so employees did not have to.

Assignment Instructions:

AHG is about to notify employees of upcoming layoffs. The company plans to begin layoffs about 30 days after the notification. Based on the information provided in the summary, values, beliefs, attitudes, and experience, develop a page letter notifying the employees of upcoming layoffs while reaffirming AHG's commitment to its employees and values. The letter should be tailored to the AHG culture and characteristics and account for AHG employee values, beliefs, attitudes, and experience. The letter should incorporate all three modes of persuasion and addresses the following:

• Commitment to AHG employees.
• Timing of layoffs. (The letter is a 30-day notice.)
• Inform employees so they can make preparations.
• How layoff notifications will occur.
• Layoff decisions are made by the management team.
• All official notifications and information will come from the executive management team.

In addition, include a paragraph separate from the letter that explains how you have incorporated the three modes of persuasion tailored to the culture and characteristics of the organization as well as the audience.