B of A Conference: At Qwest, More Revenue Equals Fewer Layoffs

SAN FRANCISCO -- The layoffs at Qwest Communications (Q Quote) may not be as big as originally anticipated -- if the company can generate more revenue.

Joe Nacchio, Qwest's president, told investors at the Banc of America Securities Investment Conference here Tuesday that the 11,000 employees the company expects to cut this year and next is a moving target. The ultimate number is tied to revenue and is based on a revenue-per-employee formula. Simply put, the more revenue the company produces, the fewer employees it'll cut. Nacchio didn't say whether the inverse was true. But he added that the company's revenue target is so ambitious that it'll probably have to stick with the 11,000 figure. ...