Thomson Reuters Corp. will eliminate as many as 70 jobs, many in Eagan, as a result of shifting some work to India and the Philippines, where it can hire more employees for the same cost.
The cuts include support staff for Thomson Reuters legal publishing, which summarizes laws and legal decisions in print and through its Westlaw online service. Previously, the company hired contract support workers in India and the Philippines, but now it expects to hire 300 to 500 employees there.
The U.S. reductions, through buyouts, layoffs and attrition, will continue through 2009, spokesman John Shaughnessy said. Those laid off will get six months' advance notice, plus severance pay.
Thomson's legal publishing business has 6,800 employees in Eagan, including hundreds of support workers, Shaughnessy said.
It also has 750 employees in Rochester, N.Y., and 200 in Cleveland.
Attorneys in the legal group aren't affected by the shift to Asia, Shaughnessy said. The firm experimented with basing some lawyers in Asia several years ago, but dropped the plan.
STEVE ALEXANDER
