As it prepares to spin off from Time-Warner, AOL is asking for 2,500 volunteers to accept buyouts.  If they don't get enough volunteers...

From Yahoo:

AOL LLC, an Internet company struggling to adapt to an advertising-driven economy, is looking to shed more than a third of its work force as it prepares to spin off from Time Warner Inc. next month.

Major job cuts had been expected, but the magnitude hadn't been known until Thursday. AOL, which now employs 6,900 workers, is asking for 2,500 volunteers to accept buyouts and plans to resort to layoffs if it does not get enough people.