Cisco Systems announces further job cuts

Cisco has been hit hard by the recession

Network infrastructure giant Cisco Systems has made yet more job cuts, laying off between 600 and 700 workers at its headquarters and an undisclosed number at other locations, according to reports.

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that the firm made the cuts in its San Jose headquarters and other locations in the US as part of a long-term goal to reduce headcount by 2,000, as it seeks, like many other tech companies, to cope with the recession.

A Cisco spokesman told The Wall Street Journal that the company was "doing everything possible to minimise the impact on employees affected by the limited restructuring".

The cuts are expected to be completed by the end of the month, followed by an eagerly awaited earnings call when shareholders will be keen to see whether the cuts have had any impact on the business.

Cisco cut around 250 jobs at its San Jose headquarters in February. At the time, a spokesman for the firm said: "Cisco is constantly evaluating its business priorities, resources and overall employee alignment as part of our business management process. This limited restructuring is part of our ongoing, targeted realignment of resources."

Cisco chief executive John Chambers has told analysts in the past that "the odds are reasonable" that the firm's cost-cutting and redundancy plans would be sufficient to avoid any further loss of headcount, according to an Associated Press report.