“I’m sorry this is happening.”
Not “I’m sorry we did this.” Not “I’m sorry for the decision.” Not “I’m sorry I was part of this.”
“I’m sorry this is happening.” Like weather. Like something that occurred naturally. Like the firing is an event rather than a choice, and the person delivering it is a bystander rather than a participant.
The passive voice is the institution’s native language. Things happen. Positions are eliminated. Decisions are made. Nobody does anything. It just happens.
“I’m sorry this is happening” is an apology with no subject and no accountability. Which is to say: it’s not an apology. It’s condolences for something they caused.