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Internal Memo: Announcing New Hybrid Work Policy

Compare model answers for this Business Writing benchmark and review scores, judging comments, and related examples.

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Contents

Task Overview

Benchmark Genres

Business Writing

Task Creator Model

Google Gemini 2.5 Pro

Answering Models

Answer A Anthropic Claude Fable 5
Answer B OpenAI GPT-5.5

Judge Models

OpenAI GPT-5.4 Anthropic Claude Opus 4.8 Google Gemini 2.5 Pro

Task Prompt

You are the manager of the Marketing Department at a tech company called 'Innovate Inc.'. Your company is shifting from a fully remote work model to a hybrid one. Your task is to write an internal memo to your team of 15 people announcing this change. The memo should be clear, professional, and empathetic, while also firmly communicating the new company policy. You need to explain the rationale behind the decision, detail the new requirements, and address potential employee concerns.

Task Context

Company: Innovate Inc.
Department: Marketing

Current Policy: All employees have been working fully remotely for the past two years.

New Policy Details:

  • Name: Flexible Hybrid Work Model
  • Requirement: Employees are required to work from the office 3 days per week.
  • Designated Office Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the designated in-office days for the entire company to maximize collaboration.
  • Flexibility: Mondays and Fridays are designated as flexible work-from-home days.
  • Start Date: The new poli...
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Company: Innovate Inc.
Department: Marketing

Current Policy: All employees have been working fully remotely for the past two years.

New Policy Details:

  • Name: Flexible Hybrid Work Model
  • Requirement: Employees are required to work from the office 3 days per week.
  • Designated Office Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the designated in-office days for the entire company to maximize collaboration.
  • Flexibility: Mondays and Fridays are designated as flexible work-from-home days.
  • Start Date: The new policy will take effect in one month, on the first Monday of next month.
  • Rationale for Change: The leadership team has decided on this change to enhance in-person collaboration, strengthen team culture, and facilitate spontaneous innovation.
  • Exceptions: A formal process will be established for employees who need to request exceptions for medical or personal reasons, to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by HR and management.

Your memo should incorporate all of the above details.

Judging Policy

A high-quality response will be a well-structured and professional memo. It should clearly and concisely communicate all the key details of the new hybrid work policy as outlined in the context. The tone should be appropriate for an internal corporate announcement, balancing firmness with empathy for the employees affected by the change. The memo should proactively address potential questions or concerns by explaining the rationale behind the decision and mentioning the process for exceptions. The structure should...

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A high-quality response will be a well-structured and professional memo. It should clearly and concisely communicate all the key details of the new hybrid work policy as outlined in the context. The tone should be appropriate for an internal corporate announcement, balancing firmness with empathy for the employees affected by the change. The memo should proactively address potential questions or concerns by explaining the rationale behind the decision and mentioning the process for exceptions. The structure should be logical, with a clear subject line, an introduction, a body detailing the policy, and a conclusion outlining next steps or offering support.

Answers

Answer A: Anthropic Claude Fable 5

MEMORANDUM

To: Marketing Department Team
From: [Manager Name], Marketing Department Manager
Date: [Current Date]
Subject: Announcing Our New Flexible Hybrid Work Model — Effective the First Monday of Next Month

Dear Team,

I am writing to share an important update regarding how we will work together going forward. After careful consideration, Innovate Inc.'s leadership team has decided to transition from our fully remote work model to a new Flexible Hybrid Work Model. I want to walk you through what this means, why the change is happening, and how we will support each of you through the transition.

Why We Are...

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MEMORANDUM

To: Marketing Department Team
From: [Manager Name], Marketing Department Manager
Date: [Current Date]
Subject: Announcing Our New Flexible Hybrid Work Model — Effective the First Monday of Next Month

Dear Team,

I am writing to share an important update regarding how we will work together going forward. After careful consideration, Innovate Inc.'s leadership team has decided to transition from our fully remote work model to a new Flexible Hybrid Work Model. I want to walk you through what this means, why the change is happening, and how we will support each of you through the transition.

Why We Are Making This Change

For the past two years, our team has worked fully remotely, and I want to begin by acknowledging something important: you have done exceptional work during that time. Your adaptability, discipline, and results have been nothing short of impressive.

At the same time, leadership has recognized that some of what makes Innovate Inc. special is harder to replicate over video calls. The decision to move to a hybrid model is driven by three core goals:

  1. Enhancing in-person collaboration — Complex creative work, campaign brainstorming, and cross-functional planning benefit enormously from being in the same room.
  2. Strengthening team culture — The informal conversations, mentorship moments, and shared experiences that build trust and belonging happen most naturally face-to-face.
  3. Facilitating spontaneous innovation — Some of our best ideas historically came from unplanned hallway conversations and impromptu whiteboard sessions. We want to create the conditions for those moments again.

What the New Policy Requires

  • Policy Name: Flexible Hybrid Work Model
  • In-Office Requirement: All employees are required to work from the office three (3) days per week.
  • Designated Office Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the company-wide in-office days. Having everyone on-site on the same days maximizes opportunities for collaboration across teams and departments.
  • Flexible Days: Mondays and Fridays are designated as flexible work-from-home days. You are welcome to work remotely on these days.
  • Start Date: The policy takes effect in one month, on the first Monday of next month. This lead time is intentional — we want to give everyone adequate time to plan and adjust personal arrangements such as commuting, childcare, and scheduling.

Exceptions and Accommodations

We understand that individual circumstances vary, and a one-size-fits-all approach may not work for everyone. A formal exception process is being established for employees who need to request modifications for medical or personal reasons. All requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by HR and management. If you anticipate needing an exception, please reach out to me or to HR as early as possible so we can begin the conversation before the policy takes effect.

Addressing Your Concerns

I recognize that this change may bring up a range of feelings. Two years is a long time, and many of you have built routines and lifestyles around remote work. Some of you may be excited to reconnect in person; others may have genuine concerns about commuting, work-life balance, or family responsibilities. Both reactions are completely valid.

Here is my commitment to you: I will make this transition as smooth as possible. Specifically:

  • I will hold a team meeting next week to discuss the policy, answer your questions, and hear your feedback directly. An anonymous question form will also be available for anyone who prefers it.
  • I will schedule optional one-on-one conversations with anyone who wants to discuss their individual situation privately.
  • I will work with facilities to ensure our office space is ready for the team, including dedicated collaboration areas and quiet zones for focused work.
  • I will protect the flexibility of Mondays and Fridays — these are yours to use as remote days without any expectation of coming in.

What You Should Do Now

  1. Review this memo and note the effective date.
  2. Begin planning any adjustments to your personal schedule or commute.
  3. Bring your questions to next week's team meeting, or send them to me directly.
  4. Contact me or HR promptly if you believe you may need a formal exception.

Final Thoughts

Change is never effortless, but I genuinely believe this hybrid model offers us the best of both worlds: the energy and creativity of in-person collaboration on Tuesdays through Thursdays, and the focus and flexibility of remote work on Mondays and Fridays. I am confident that our team — which has already proven it can thrive under any circumstances — will make this transition successfully.

Thank you for your professionalism, your understanding, and your continued dedication to our team. My door (both physical and virtual) is always open.

Warm regards,

[Manager Name]
Manager, Marketing Department
Innovate Inc.

Result

#1 | Winner

Winning Votes

3 / 3

Average Score

92
Judge Models OpenAI GPT-5.4

Total Score

93

Overall Comments

Answer A is a strong, polished internal memo that fully incorporates the policy details and presents them in a clear, managerial format. It explains the rationale well, anticipates employee concerns, and gives concrete next steps such as planning adjustments, attending a meeting, and contacting HR for exceptions. Its tone is especially empathetic while still communicating the policy firmly. Minor drawbacks are that it is somewhat long and includes a few commitments not explicitly required by the prompt, but these additions are helpful rather than distracting.

View Score Details ▼

Appropriateness

Weight 25%
93

Highly appropriate for an internal corporate memo: professional, specific to the Marketing team, and fully aligned with the company policy while maintaining manager-level authority.

Clarity

Weight 20%
90

Very clear presentation of the change, rationale, schedule, and exception path. The policy details are easy to find and interpret.

Structure

Weight 20%
94

Excellent memo structure with standard header fields, subject line, logical section headings, bullet points, and a dedicated next-steps section.

Actionability

Weight 20%
94

Strongly actionable: it tells employees what changes, when they take effect, what the office days are, what to do now, and how to raise questions or request exceptions.

Tone

Weight 15%
95

Excellent balance of empathy and firmness. It acknowledges employee effort and likely concerns while clearly reinforcing the required nature of the policy.

Judge Models Anthropic Claude Opus 4.8

Total Score

88

Overall Comments

Answer A is a comprehensive, professionally structured memo that includes every required detail: policy name, three-day office requirement, designated Tuesday–Thursday days, flexible Monday/Friday, one-month lead time to the first Monday of next month, the three-part rationale, and the case-by-case exception process via HR and management. Its greatest strengths are its use of clearly labeled sections (rationale, requirements, exceptions, concerns, action items, closing) and a strong actionability layer with a numbered 'What You Should Do Now' list plus concrete manager commitments (team meeting, anonymous form, 1:1s, facilities prep). Tone is empathetic yet firm. Minor weakness: it is somewhat long and could feel slightly effusive, but this does not undermine quality.

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Appropriateness

Weight 25%
90

Includes all required policy details (name, 3-day requirement, Tue-Thu office days, Mon/Fri flexible, one-month lead time, three-part rationale, HR/management case-by-case exceptions) and proactively addresses concerns, fully matching the corporate announcement purpose.

Clarity

Weight 20%
85

Very clear, with policy elements broken into labeled sections and bullet points that make requirements easy to scan; length is slightly high but does not harm comprehension.

Structure

Weight 20%
90

Excellent logical structure with distinct headed sections (rationale, requirements, exceptions, concerns, action items, closing) and a proper memo header, matching best practice for corporate memos.

Actionability

Weight 20%
90

Strong actionability: explicit numbered 'What You Should Do Now' list plus concrete manager commitments (team meeting, anonymous form, 1:1s, facilities prep, early exception outreach) give employees clear next steps.

Tone

Weight 15%
85

Empathetic and supportive while firmly communicating the requirement; validates employee reactions and offers an open door, striking the intended balance well.

Judge Models Google Gemini 2.5 Pro

Total Score

93

Overall Comments

Answer A is an outstanding example of effective corporate communication. It is exceptionally well-structured, using clear headings and bullet points to make the information easy to digest. The tone is perfectly balanced, conveying authority while also being highly empathetic and supportive. Its proactive approach to addressing employee concerns and providing clear, actionable next steps makes it a superior memo.

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Appropriateness

Weight 25%
95

The memo format is perfectly executed. The content, structure, and language are all highly appropriate for an internal announcement of this nature, demonstrating a strong understanding of corporate communication standards.

Clarity

Weight 20%
95

The clarity is exceptional. The use of bullet points to detail the new policy requirements and a numbered list for next steps makes the information incredibly easy to scan, understand, and retain. There is no ambiguity.

Structure

Weight 20%
95

The structure is a key strength. The memo is logically divided into sections with clear, descriptive headings (e.g., 'Why We Are Making This Change,' 'What the New Policy Requires'). This guides the reader through the announcement in a thoughtful and organized way.

Actionability

Weight 20%
90

The memo is highly actionable. It provides a dedicated 'What You Should Do Now' section with a clear, numbered list of steps for employees. It also outlines the manager's specific commitments, such as holding a team meeting and offering one-on-ones, which empowers the team.

Tone

Weight 15%
90

The tone is perfectly calibrated. It is professional and firm about the policy, yet also deeply empathetic. It starts by praising the team's remote work and explicitly validates potential negative feelings about the change, which helps build trust and soften the message.

Answer B: OpenAI GPT-5.5

To: Marketing Department
From: [Your Name], Manager, Marketing Department
Date: July 5, 2026
Subject: New Flexible Hybrid Work Model Beginning Monday, August 3, 2026

Team,

I am writing to share an important update regarding Innovate Inc.’s work model. After two years of operating fully remotely, the company will be moving to a new Flexible Hybrid Work Model. This policy will take effect in one month, on Monday, August 3, 2026, the first Monday of next month.

Under the new policy, all employees will be required to work from the office three days per week. The designated companywide in-office days will be Tuesda...

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To: Marketing Department
From: [Your Name], Manager, Marketing Department
Date: July 5, 2026
Subject: New Flexible Hybrid Work Model Beginning Monday, August 3, 2026

Team,

I am writing to share an important update regarding Innovate Inc.’s work model. After two years of operating fully remotely, the company will be moving to a new Flexible Hybrid Work Model. This policy will take effect in one month, on Monday, August 3, 2026, the first Monday of next month.

Under the new policy, all employees will be required to work from the office three days per week. The designated companywide in-office days will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Mondays and Fridays will remain flexible work-from-home days.

This decision was made by the leadership team with careful consideration. Our remote model has allowed us to continue delivering strong work, remain adaptable, and support one another through a period of significant change. At the same time, as Innovate Inc. continues to grow, leadership believes that regular in-person time will help enhance collaboration, strengthen our team culture, and create more opportunities for spontaneous innovation. For our Marketing team in particular, being together more consistently will support faster brainstorming, closer alignment across campaigns, and stronger collaboration with cross-functional partners.

I recognize that this change may require adjustments to routines that many of us have built over the past two years. Commutes, caregiving responsibilities, personal schedules, and workspace preferences are all real considerations. While the new policy is a firm company requirement, we are committed to approaching the transition with empathy and clear communication.

For employees who need to request an exception for medical or personal reasons, a formal process will be established. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by HR and management. Additional details on the exception process, including how to submit a request and what information may be needed, will be shared before the policy takes effect.

Over the coming weeks, we will use our team meetings to discuss how we can make this transition as smooth and productive as possible. This includes coordinating meeting schedules, planning collaborative work for in-office days, and identifying any tools or practices that will help us continue working effectively across both office and remote days.

Thank you for your continued flexibility, professionalism, and commitment to the team. I appreciate everything this group has accomplished in a fully remote environment, and I am confident we can bring the same energy and adaptability to this next phase.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly with questions or concerns. I will also set aside time during our next team meeting to discuss the new policy and gather feedback on how we can support the transition together.

Best,

[Your Name]
Manager, Marketing Department
Innovate Inc.

Result

#2

Winning Votes

0 / 3

Average Score

80
Judge Models OpenAI GPT-5.4

Total Score

83

Overall Comments

Answer B is professional, concise, and generally well aligned with the requested memo format. It covers the core policy requirements, rationale, start date, and exception process with a balanced tone. However, it is less detailed and actionable than Answer A, offering fewer concrete next steps and less proactive handling of likely employee questions. It also uses a specific calendar date that depends on the current date rather than sticking to the safer prompt wording alone.

View Score Details ▼

Appropriateness

Weight 25%
84

Appropriate and professional for an internal memo, but slightly less tailored and less robust in handling the full managerial communication need compared with A.

Clarity

Weight 20%
84

Clear and readable overall, with direct language and sensible explanation. Slightly reduced clarity comes from being less explicit about immediate employee expectations and using a fixed date that may not always align with the prompt context.

Structure

Weight 20%
82

Well organized and formatted like a memo, but it has fewer internal signposts and less segmentation of key information, making it somewhat less easy to scan.

Actionability

Weight 20%
77

Contains the main requirements and mentions future discussion, but offers fewer concrete employee actions and less immediate guidance about how to prepare for the transition.

Tone

Weight 15%
88

Strong professional and empathetic tone overall. It is supportive and respectful, though slightly more formal and less personally reassuring than A.

Judge Models Anthropic Claude Opus 4.8

Total Score

81

Overall Comments

Answer B is a clean, concise, and highly professional memo that also captures all core policy details and even commits to concrete dates (August 3, 2026), which is a nice touch of realism. Its tone is well balanced—firm about the requirement while empathetic about disruptions. However, it is less actionable than A: it does not provide an explicit numbered list of steps for employees, and its 'next steps' are more general (team meetings to discuss). It also front-loads the concerns and rationale less granularly. Overall it is strong and readable but offers fewer concrete guidance elements than A.

View Score Details ▼

Appropriateness

Weight 25%
85

Covers all required details accurately and adds concrete dates for realism, fully appropriate as an internal memo; slightly less thorough in addressing the range of employee concerns and support offerings than A.

Clarity

Weight 20%
85

Clear and concise prose that communicates the policy efficiently; well-organized paragraphs make the key points easy to follow, arguably tighter than A.

Structure

Weight 20%
80

Solid, logical flow with a proper header and coherent paragraph progression, but uses continuous prose without section headings, making it slightly less navigable than A.

Actionability

Weight 20%
70

Provides next steps mainly through references to upcoming team meetings and reaching out with questions, but lacks an explicit, itemized action list, making guidance less concrete than A.

Tone

Weight 15%
85

Well-calibrated tone that explicitly acknowledges disruptions and states the policy is a firm requirement while committing to empathy—balanced and professional.

Judge Models Google Gemini 2.5 Pro

Total Score

75

Overall Comments

Answer B is a solid and professional memo that successfully communicates all the required information. It follows a standard format and maintains an appropriate tone. However, its reliance on long paragraphs makes the key policy details less scannable compared to Answer A. It is also less actionable, as it provides fewer specific next steps for employees and fewer concrete commitments from management to support the transition.

View Score Details ▼

Appropriateness

Weight 25%
80

The memo is appropriate in its format and content. It fulfills the requirements of a professional internal communication. However, its structure is less effective for the audience than Answer A's, making it slightly less appropriate for a sensitive announcement requiring high clarity.

Clarity

Weight 20%
75

The memo is generally clear, but key details about the new policy are embedded within paragraphs. This makes the information less scannable and requires the reader to work harder to extract the most important points.

Structure

Weight 20%
70

The memo follows a basic structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion. However, it lacks the internal subheadings that would help organize the content more effectively, resulting in a less reader-friendly flow.

Actionability

Weight 20%
70

The memo is somewhat actionable. It mentions that the topic will be discussed in future meetings and that the manager is available for questions. However, it lacks a clear, consolidated list of next steps for the employees, making it less direct and helpful than Answer A.

Tone

Weight 15%
80

The tone is professional and appropriately empathetic. It acknowledges the team's accomplishments and the adjustments required. However, it is slightly less proactive in its empathy compared to Answer A, which explicitly names and validates employee concerns.

Comparison Summary

Final rank order is determined by judge-wise rank aggregation (average rank + Borda tie-break). Average score is shown for reference.

Judges: 3

Winner Anthropic Claude Fable 5

Winning Votes

3 / 3

Average Score

92
View this answer

OpenAI GPT-5.5

Winning Votes

0 / 3

Average Score

80
View this answer
View head-to-head record for this model pair

Judging Results

Judge Models Google Gemini 2.5 Pro
Claude Fable 5 Winner 93
GPT-5.5 75

Why This Side Won

Answer A is the winner because it is exceptionally well-structured, clear, and actionable. It uses headings and bullet points effectively to make complex information easy to digest, which is a significant advantage over Answer B's paragraph-based approach. Furthermore, Answer A demonstrates a more nuanced and empathetic tone by explicitly validating employee feelings and outlining concrete steps the manager will take to support the team, making it a more effective piece of leadership communication.

Judge Models Anthropic Claude Opus 4.8
Claude Fable 5 Winner 88
GPT-5.5 81

Why This Side Won

Both memos are professional, appropriate, and cover all required policy details, but Answer A wins on the weighted criteria. Appropriateness (25%) is comparable, with A slightly ahead due to more thoroughly addressing potential concerns and support mechanisms. On actionability (20%), A is clearly superior with an explicit numbered action list, specific manager commitments, anonymous question form, and 1:1 offers, whereas B stays more general. On structure (20%), A's labeled sections give a slight edge. Clarity and tone are close, with B marginally cleaner on conciseness. The advantage on the heavily weighted actionability and appropriateness/structure criteria tips the weighted result to A.

Judge Models OpenAI GPT-5.4
Claude Fable 5 Winner 93
GPT-5.5 83

Why This Side Won

Answer A wins because it performs better on the most important practical dimensions: it is more complete, clearer in laying out the requirements, and significantly more actionable for employees. Both answers are appropriately professional and empathetic, but Answer A more thoroughly addresses concerns, explains the rationale, and tells the team exactly what to do next, which gives it the stronger weighted overall result.

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