Digital Equipment Corp yesterday accompanied news that profits plunged 83% to $26.2m and sales slipped 1.3% in its fiscal first quarter (see page five) with announcement of a voluntary financial support option designed to encourage at least 5,000 of its employees to leave the company in the year to next June; its programme last year was accepted by only 3,000 people, and other hirings left its workforce of 124,000 down by only 1,800 people last fiscal. Another 500 net have gone since June 30. On its figures, DEC said that while business in Europe and other parts of the world had slowed, it was encouraged by some improvement in its US business. It says it has shipped 75 top-end VAX 9000s and orders in hand for the box will take it through to March 31.
