I don't recall Lex saying he worked *for* Cisco, but that he worked on Cisco equipment (I might have missed something).
And these layoffs were part of a cost reduction plan they originally announced in May, so I don't think anyone affected should be too surprised.
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Infrastruct ... es-117598/eWeek.com wrote:
Soon after, Cisco restructured its consumer business, including shuttering its profitable Flip video camera unit, a move that cost about 550 jobs. In May, Cisco reorganized its sales, services and management units. Later that month, Chambers, while talking with journalists and analysts about the quarterly financial numbers, said more streamlining was needed, and that that would include job cuts. The reductions are part of a larger plan to save $1 billion in operating expenses this year.
(emphasis mine)
That said, anyone affected by any layoff has my sincerest sympathy.
My company is facing down a merger with a much larger company, and I know what that uncertainty feels like (not fun).