Cox Communications plans to cut 460 jobs

Atlanta-based Cox Communications on Monday told employees that it plans to cut its work force by about 460 jobs, or 2 percent, using a mix of early retirement, attrition and possibly layoffs.

It is unclear what the mix will be, said spokesman David Grabert. “There could be a small number of involuntary actions, but things have not happened yet and we are very early in the process.”

Cox Communications, which last year had revenues of $8.3 billion, has more than 6.2 million residential and commercial customers.

It is the nation’s third-largest cable television company, offering cable television, high-speed Internet access and phone service. The company has also announced plans to offer wireless phone service next year.

The reductions are aimed at increasing efficiency, Grabert said. “Essentially we are operating our business to position for future growth.”

The telecommunications company has about 23,000 employees.

Fewer than 2,000 of the company’s jobs are in Atlanta, but the number of positions affected here is not certain, Grabert said. “It will be 2 percent company-wide. But you can’t take 2 percent and apply it and say that in Atlanta you get ‘x.’”

Cox Communications is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, which also owns the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.