Meta’s latest round of layoffs has triggered widespread dissatisfaction among employees, with many publicly challenging the company’s justification for job cuts. While Meta claims the layoffs were based on employee performance, several affected workers insist they had strong track records and met company expectations. The layoffs, which impacted over 3,000 employees, have raised concerns about transparency, fairness, and corporate ethics. Employees have taken to anonymous platforms and media outlets to express their frustration, arguing that financial motives, rather than performance, were the primary driving force behind the decision. As Meta continues to navigate financial challenges and invest in AI and metaverse projects, the controversy surrounding its workforce reductions highlights the difficulties faced by even the biggest tech firms in maintaining profitability.
Meta layoffs face employee backlash over justification
Meta’s leadership, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has repeatedly emphasized the need to “raise the bar on performance” and eliminate underperforming employees. However, numerous affected workers dispute this narrative, arguing that their performance ratings were satisfactory or even exceptional.
An anonymous former Meta employee told Business Insider, “The hardest part is Meta publicly stating they’re cutting low performers, so it feels like we have the scarlet letter on our backs. People need to know we’re not underperformers.”
On Blind, a platform where verified tech employees discuss workplace issues anonymously, a recently laid-off Meta worker revealed that even individuals with nearly a decade of experience were among those terminated. The post alleged that “dozens of people with pristine history and ‘exceeds expectations’ ratings” were laid off, including those who had recently taken parental or medical leave.
Another former employee called the layoffs “cruel” and “ruthless,” stating that many long-tenured workers, some with eight to ten years of experience, were suddenly removed despite their strong performance history. Some employees claimed that the selection criteria for layoffs seemed arbitrary, leading to speculation that cost-cutting measures, rather than merit-based assessments, were the true motivation behind the job cuts.
Concerns over workplace culture and family-friendliness
Adding to the controversy, employees from other major tech firms have criticized Meta’s corporate culture post-layoffs. One Amazon employee commented that Meta now appears to prioritize younger workers without families—those who can fully commit to demanding schedules and corporate expectations without external obligations.
Another laid-off Meta employee described the company as “the cruelest tech company out there,” reinforcing the perception that the organization is shifting toward a more aggressive, high-pressure work environment.
Scale and impact of the Meta layoffs
Earlier this month, Meta announced its plans to cut over 3,000 jobs, affecting nearly 5% of its global workforce. Before the layoffs, Meta employed around 72,400 people as of September 2024. The cuts were primarily directed at employees who had received lower performance ratings, according to official company statements.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has warned that 2024 and 2025 will be “challenging years” for Meta, as the company continues to navigate economic uncertainty, competition in the AI space, and its long-term metaverse ambitions. While the company remains committed to these projects, the workforce reductions reflect the increasing pressure on even the most successful tech firms to streamline operations and remain profitable.
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