In an emotional message, Blue Bell Creameries CEO and President Paul Kruse explains the "agonizing decision" to furlough some employees and lay off others. The company is struggling to regain ground after a recall stopped production. 

So far, the video post on Blue Bell's Facebook page received 1,022 likes. 

In a press release, the company described which and how many employees are affected: 

• Employees who are essential to ongoing operations and cleaning and repair efforts will continue to work but have their pay reduced. 
• A second group of employees will be placed on partially paid furlough.  They will be paid a substantial portion of their current pay, with the expectation that they will return to work as production resumes. 
• Because there is not a clear timeline for when production will resume, and because supply and distribution will be limited when it does, a third group of employees will be laid off. 

In total, "Approximately 1,400 employees will be furloughed, and approximately 750 full-time and 700 part-time employees-or 37 percent of the total Blue Bell workforce of 3,900-will be laid off."

Discussion Starters: 

• Assess Kruse's video message: which principles of bad-news messages does he follow? How well does he deliver the news? 
• Next, assess the press release: organization, word choice, tone, and so on. What works well, and what would you suggest the company improve? 
• If you were an employee affected by this decision, how do you think you might react?