Cox to lay off 2 percent of its national work force

Cox Communications Inc., the cable company based in Atlanta, is laying off 2 percent of its national work force. Cox officials at its regional headquarters in Chesapeake said they will provide no information about the number of Hampton Roads workers who would lose their jobs.

Cox has about 2,000 employees in this region and about 23,000 nationwide, said Felicia Blow, the company’s local spokeswoman. She said the Chesapeake layoffs don’t necessarily amount to 2 percent of that total. The cuts occurred in “nonstrategic areas” as the company realigns its business to focus on future growth, Blow said.

Some workers volunteered to leave, mostly through retirement, and those who were terminated involuntarily received severance packages including continuation of their health care coverage and other benefits, she said.