Symantec clams up on Aussie cuts

Security giant Symantec has refused to detail how its global plans to slim down its workforce will affect its Australian operation.

Internationally the company has said it would lay off an undetermined number of workers before the end of the year, as part of a cost-cutting move in the economic downturn.

However late last week, Australian managing director Craig Scroggie refused to be pinned down on local figures. "There's nothing I can add which can give you any flavour," he said. Scroggie pointed out that the company was still hiring in areas like sales and support, saying it was putting a basis back on the customer and investing in customer-facing roles.

Despite this, when asked which, if any, areas the company was cutting back on locally, Scroggie would not elaborate. He would also not answer whether the company was currently firing or hiring in Australia.

The company had tried to keep employees in the company, but it sometimes wasn't possible, he said. "Where we can, we move employees to roles that suit their skills," he said. "From time to time you are unable to find a decent fit."

Symantec has recently acquired Message Labs and PC Tools, which both have Australian presences. Scroggie said these companies were still operating as separate business units, so no reductions in staff were due to integration efforts.

Symantec counts local organisations like MBF Australia, the Australian Federal Police, Henry Davis York Lawyers, the NSW Department of Lands and Ferrier Hodgson Group among its customer roster.

Symantec's last published Australian financial results filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission had the company pulling in revenues of $130 million for the year to 31 December 2006.

For an overview of Australian IT redundancies, see ZDNet.com.au's list.