At least where I work, an announcement like this would go out to the stock markets first, then to the staff. Staff aren't (and pretty much can't be, due to US stock exchange rules) trusted with material nonpublic information about the company lest they leak it. I know BA's a UK/Spain quoted company but the principles are the same.
So, assuming the staff are reading a rolling newsfeedor have a news alert set up for the name of the company, we know major things via the press before the internal announcement communications hit our inboxes.
It pretty much sucks for the feelings of the staff, but laws and lawyers ready to sue on behalf of shareholders if anything leaks mean that it'll never be any other way for a large company with a big announcement. If you work for a large quoted company and you're not one of the few insiders implementing a decision, you'll find out what's happening in the press like everyone else.