Attachmate today laid off 10 percent of its staff, or 120 employees, as the software company adjusts to the growing economic problems. Company spokeswoman Melissa Liton did not immediately have information on the number of workers affected at the Seattle headquarters, though she said cuts occurred across most of the divisions and offices. “The reductions were necessary to ensure Attachmate maintains a healthy financial structure during this difficult and uncertain economic climate,” said Liton. 

With the economic storm clouds darkening, a number of technology companies have cut staff in recent weeks. In Seattle, The Cobalt Group, RealNetworks and Marchex have all scaled back operations. Rumors have also circulated that Microsoft -- the anchor of the Seattle tech community -- may be preparing for a layoff later this month.

Attachmate is one of the region's oldest and largest software companies, developing products that help organizations easily access information on mainframe computers. In 2005, Bellevue-based Attachmate and Seattle-based WRQ merged in a deal that brought the two rivals together after two decades of competition. At the time, the combined company had about 950 workers and $200 million in annual sales. A year later Attachmate (it dropped the WRQ name) paid $495 million for NetIQ.

In a strange episode last year, Attachmate Chief Executive Jeff Hawn pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and cruelty to animals charges for leading a hunt that killed 32 bison on and near his ranch land in Colorado.