SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ______________________

                                   FORM 8-K
                                CURRENT REPORT
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): February 8, 2001

                        PERITUS SOFTWARE SERVICES, INC.
                        ------------------------------
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

                       COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 000-22647
                       --------------------------------

    MASSACHUSETTS                                        04-3126919
- ------------------------                                 ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction                             (IRS Employer
   of Incorporation)                                 Identification No.)

112 Turnpike Road, Westborough, Massachusetts               01581
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                  (Zip Code)


                                 (508) 870-0963
                              -------------------
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                Not Applicable
                               ---------------
                        (Former Name or Former Address,
                         if Changed Since Last Report)


Item 5.  Other Events.

On February 8, 2001, Peritus Software Services, Inc. (the "Company") announced a
workforce reduction effective February 23, 2001. The details of the announcement
are set forth in the Company's Press Release dated February 8, 2001, a copy of
which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 99.

From time to time, information provided by the Company or statements made by its
employees may contain "forward-looking" statements, as that term is defined in
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any
statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be
deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the
words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements.

This Current Report on Form 8-K may contain forward-looking statements which
involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ
materially from the results discussed in such statements. Certain factors that
could cause such a difference include, without limitation, the risks
specifically described in the Company's Annual Report of Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1999 and other public documents filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, which factors are incorporated herein by
reference and other factors such as product of services demand and market
acceptance risks, product development and services capacity, commercialization
and technological difficulties, capacity and supply constraints or difficulties,
and the effect of general business or economic conditions. The Company's
forward-looking statements do not reflect the impact of any future transactions
or strategic alliances or alternatives. From time to time, the Company may also
provide oral or written forward-looking statements in other materials it
releases to the public. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any
of the forward-looking statements it makes.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information, and Exhibits.

         (a)  Financial Statements.
              None.

         (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information.
              None.

         (c)  Exhibits.
              99.  Press Release dated February 8, 2001.


                                  SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  February 12, 2001

                                PERITUS SOFTWARE SERVICES, INC.

                                BY:     /s/  John Giordano
                                        --------------------------
                                Name:   John Giordano
                                Title:  President, Chief Executive Officer
                                        And Chief Financial Officer


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.                      DESCRIPTION
- -----------                      -----------
99                               Press Release dated February 8, 2001.