Yes. It matters why they're being let go. Here's where, "I take full responsibility for:" is acceptable. "... dropping you because we automated your job away.

Yes. It matters why they're being let go. Here's where, "I take full responsibility for:" is acceptable. "... dropping you because we automated your job away." <-- acceptable. "... dropping you because, frankly, you're not very good at your job." <-- extremely acceptable. Hell, I was even told this when I was 16 years old and working at a shitty second-rate Lowe's clone called Sutherland's (and he's right, I wasn't good at my job, I didn't give a shit about stocking shelves - I was always helping people). "... dropping you because I fucked up on judging the market and I gotta make sure the company stays attractive to investors." <-- not acceptable, also fuck you, also, you step down and appoint someone else. YOU fucked up. Not them. That's what "full responsibility" looks like. Responsibility isn't, "Oh I made a booboo, here's 3 months pay and some other shit..." Love him or hate him, Dr. Jordan Peterson is correct with some of his "rules of life", one of which is, "Tell the truth, or at least don't lie." When you say, "I'm taking full responsibility for this problem," that means you incur all negative consequences - and I do fucking mean - **ALL** negative consequences. Otherwise, just say, "These cuts are not ideal; unfortunately, they have to be made because I'm beholden to certain aspects of modern capitalism." That's what people want to hear. They don't want to hear platitudes that don't even make them feel good, but assuage the other person's conscience. If your conscience is bothering you, it's because you know what you're doing isn't right. You may still have to do it, but don't fucking be a shitbag about it. Don't spout out some lines that "sound" good at a cursory glance. Tell the truth, or at least don't lie.