RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – The old IBM layoff wounds have been reopened with, we are told, numerous former Big Blue workers being hit by the layoffs that sources say are cutting 20 percent of the workforce at Lenovo’s Data Center Group in RTP . Some 500 workers across the tech giant’s workforce, including positions at its Morrisville headquarters.

“Le No Go” posted a worker at Layoff.com.

That DCG group is built in large part around the IBM x86 server workforce which became part of Lenovo in a 2014 deal.

We’re told by an internal source that a good number of ex-IBMers are among those being let do.

Reaction, as one would expect, from posters at Layoff.com was very strong.

“What happened to all that positive news the execs were promoting,” wrote one.

“Fake news!”

Lenovo lays off 500 workers, including jobs in RTP, Morrisville

Lenovo does rate a 3.5 out of a 5 at Glassdoor’s ratings based on employee surveys. Will that rating dip?

“500 layoffs are being reported by WRAL. No breakdowns provided as it relates to location, business unit or function. DCG (Data Center Group) is estimated to have lost about 200 people (out of 1000, approximately 20%). The head of PR in RTP confirmed this – anyhow, for now it’s all mostly guessing but at least we have some initial numbers to work with,” a poster wrote.

“I feel the number is a bit bigger than what they are reporting but we’ll know soon enough (or not)!”

And fear was expressed more cuts could come.

“The press release says it all ‘Lenovo will continue to make adjustments as needed as part of our ongoing management of the business.’ Loosely translated- MORE ARE COMING!”

Sounds like many of the IBMers’ reactions in previous years.

Lenovo wouldn’t provide a breakdopwn of layoffs by location or business group So speculation continues.

“I heard 380 DCGers laid off in RTP, which sounds closer to 40%,” said one poster. “The other 120 from overseas, so US hit disproportionately hard.”

To some, rings like IBM offshoring jobs to India and elsewhere.

Sources: Lenovo laying off 20% of server group employees in RTP

In a serious case of sad association, the cuts are being called a “Resource Action” – an old IBM term that for years struck fear and loathing across IBM as the company rebooted and, over time, sharply reduced its RTP headcount. Interestingly, the Lenovo cuts have been rumored for months even as the Data Center Group was reporting increasing shipments and revenues.

Computer industry news site CRN points out that the cuts come even as the “Data Center Group has been the company’s fastest-growing business, with revenue increasing 12.5 percent year-over-year to $6 billion in 2019.”

As was the case with IBM’s “RA’s” over the years, a variety of other jobs were available and laid-off workers were told they could apply. But many complained they didn’t really have a chance to move to a new spot.

Lenovo didn’t respond to a question from TechWire about whether the 500 people being cut could apply for other jobs.

CRN notes that Lenovo lists “more than 200 job openings in the U.S. alone, with more than 1,000 positions total listed across the world.”