The most ethical way for leaders to communicate about the prospect of layoffs

Four out of five members of the global labor force are currently dealing with business closures or reduced hours as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and a whopping 1.25 billion work in industries at risk of further layoffs or wage cuts, according to a new report from the United Nations’ International Labor Organization. As the ripple effects of the crisis move beyond the travel and hospitality industries, managers in a broad range of sectors may be wondering how to raise the subject of potential layoffs with workers—and whether it makes sense to mention the possibility at all. The answer to the latter question is a firm yes, according to Kim Scott, co-founder of the executive education company Radical Candor and the author of the best-selling book by the same name.