CompuServe Cuts Work Force by 14%

CompuServe Corp. quietly cut 500 jobs, or 14% of its work force, over the last nine months in a bid to reverse losses in its flagship online computer service. The cuts leave the Columbus, Ohio-based company with about 3,200 employees. They include 17 jobs creating content for WOW, a family-oriented online service that CompuServe scrapped last month--just 10 months after its launch. The disclosure comes one day after CompuServe posted a $14-million third-quarter loss and three days after the resignation of its president and chief executive, Robert J. Massey. In the year-ago quarter the company earned $9.4 million. A company spokesman said the staff left through resignations and other voluntary means, not layoffs. CompuServe shares fell 12.5 cents to close at $10.625 in Nasdaq trading.