3Com Lays Off 12 Percent Of Its Workforce

3Com is laying off about 220 employees in the United States and Europe, or roughly 12 percent of its workforce.

The Marlborough, Mass.-based networking company earlier this month notified approximately 100 employees in the United States, 90 employees in the United Kingdom and 30 employees in Ireland that their positions would be eliminated, according to a statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Friday.

The layoffs are paired with a reduction in facility space in Edinburgh and Dublin, Ireland, and include a realignment of 3Com's product teams and a cutback in some research-and-development efforts, according to the statement.

3Com said the cost of the moves would total roughly $15 million, charges it expects to take during the current fiscal third quarter, which closes today, through the second quarter of fiscal 2006.

3Com had 1,825 employees at the close of its fiscal second quarter, which ended Nov. 26. The company reported a loss of nearly $49 million for that quarter.Shares of 3Com traded down one penny at $3.57 Monday morning.