Cisco to slash 6,500 workers; RTP impact unknown

Another 5,000 in Mexico are being transferred to another company.

The company employs more than 4,000 people at its campus in Research Triangle Park. It's the largest concentration of Cisco employees outside the corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley.

The impact on North Carolina operations is not yet known.

Karen Tillman, a spokesperson for Cisco, said in an interview Monday evening that the company would not discuss cuts at specific locations.

"We don't have a breakdown by location or geography," she said.

Asked if that information might be provided in the near future, she replied: "That's possible."

Worldwide, Cisco employs some 73,400 people. That total included the Mexico workers, Tillman said.

Cisco said that the employees it is letting go include 2,100 who chose to take part in an early-retirement program.

The company also has sold a manufacturing firm for set-top boxes in Mexico to Foxconn Technology Group.

While Cisco said there will be no job losses, the 5,000 employees will become Foxconn workers in the near future.

“This figure is in addition to the approximately 6,500 employees impacted by the reduction in workforce and the voluntary early retirement program,” Cisco added.

The company said it will cut 15 percent of its employees at and above the level of vice president.

A portion of Cisco's announcement:

“As part of the company's $1 billion annual operating expense reduction, Cisco will reduce its global workforce across all functions by approximately 6,500 employees, which includes approximately 2,100 employees who elected to participate in a voluntary early retirement program. This also includes a reduction totaling approximately 15 percent of vice president level and above employees. This represents a reduction of approximately 9 percent of Cisco's regular full-time workforce. All affected employees will receive severance pay and outplacement assistance.

“Impacted employees in the United States, Canada and select countries will be notified during the first week of August. The remainder of the global workforce reductions are expected to occur at a later date in compliance with local laws and regulations.”

Cisco said it will take a restructuring charge of $1.3 billion “over several quarters” to cover the costs of the layoffs.

The company will offer severance pay and assistance finding new employment to those laid off.

Cisco will inform employees who have been cut in the U.S., Canada and some other countries during the first week of August.