FORT WORTH, Texas -- Where is the spam filter when you need it?

Tuesday morning about 400 workers at RadioShack Corp.'s headquarters received one of those mass e-mail notifications that companies use to let workers know about everything from picnics to promotions.

But this e-mail was Radio-Shack's way of cutting jobs: "The work force reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated."

Company spokeswoman Kay Jackson defended the electronic pink slips by noting that Radio-Shack had told employees in a series of meetings that layoff notices would be delivered by e-mail. She said employees were invited to ask questions before Tuesday's notification -- provided they did so electronically.

Derrick D'Souza, a management professor at the University of North Texas, said he had never heard of such a large number of terminated employees being notified electronically.

"If I put myself in their shoes, I'd say, 'Didn't they have a few minutes to tell me?' " Mr. D'Souza said.

Laid-off workers got one to three weeks' pay for each year of service, up to 16 weeks for hourly employees and 36 weeks for those with base bay of at least $90,000, the company said.

The company announced Aug. 10 that it would cut 400 to 450 jobs, mostly at headquarters, to cut expenses and "improve its long-term competitive position."