It’s going to be a rough Super Bowl weekend for a lot of Meta employees who have taken to forums to express their frustration and anxiety over the upcoming workforce reduction. In a memo that leaked to BusinessInsider, Meta laid out its plan for this Monday, February 10th, that will impact approximately 3,600 employees – 5% of it’s 72,000 person workforce.
The tech giant will notify affected staff in the US of their termination via an early morning email at 5:00 AM PT. This marks another significant restructuring effort in a year that could see additional moves to make the company more ‘lean’ down the road. The reduction comes despite Meta announcing record profits in recent quarters, pledging substantial financial commitments to investing in AI ($60-$65 Billion), and having its stock hovering near all-time highs.
The situation has raised many questions regarding the decision to proceed with the layoffs, but Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg has openly stated that he intends to “raise the bar on performance management” and part with employees who rate poorly on company metrics more quickly and routinely.
The uncertainty of potentially receiving layoff notifications this Monday morning will undoubtedly weigh heavily on the entire staff, especially over a weekend that would typically be filled with celebrations and gatherings with friends and family. The layoffs are anticipated to impact about 5% of Meta’s workforce and will reverberate around the world as Meta maintains offices in several countries.
From the memo:
Impacted employees in NORAM and the majority of impacted international employees will be notified by email, through both @meta.com and personal email addresses, and from that point will no longer be expected to work for Meta. Guidance will be provided where different country processes apply.
Source: BusinessInsider
Employees who receive the email will have their access cut off from all Meta systems within an hour after receiving the message. Additionally, Meta did announce that a severance package will be detailed in the email, but nothing has been made public on that front yet. In prior layoffs Meta has offered package in the range of 16 weeks of base pay plus an additional two weeks for every year of service with no cap. At other times, they’ve offered a flat 3-months of pay. It’s difficult to guess what this round will be like because these are “performance” based eliminations.
These staff reductions align with Meta’s ongoing strategy to streamline operations and maintain competitiveness in the social media landscape. The company plans to hire new workers to replace some of the terminated positions, suggesting a targeted restructuring rather than purely cost-cutting measures.
Some have suggested that the staff reductions in recent years, along with Meta’s significant investments in research and development, are aimed at preparing the company for Zuckerberg’s vision of using AI agents and automation. In a recent interview with Joe Rogan, he stated that he expects AI to replace mid-level engineers by 2025 and was actively working toward developing that technology for Meta.
Ultimately, Zuckerberg believes that AI will take over most coding tasks, allowing human engineers to concentrate on higher-level problem-solving and creativity. As a result, the performance-based job cuts will likely be for positions that may never return and going forward we could see a shift in the makeup of the workforce at Meta.
Meta Employees on Edge
A leaked internal memo from Meta’s VP of Human Resources, Janelle Gale, is causing unease among employees as it outlines the process for upcoming performance-based layoffs. The memo, obtained by Business Insider, details a “layoff by email” plan where affected employees will be notified electronically and lose access to company systems within an hour.
Notification and Timing
Employees will receive an email at both their work and personal addresses informing them of their termination. This email will also include details about their severance package. For those in the US, this notification will arrive as early as 5:00 AM PT on Monday, February 10th. International employees will receive notifications on a staggered schedule, with some as late as February 18th.
Notification Schedule by Region:
| Region | Notification Date & Time |
|---|---|
| APAC (Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore) | February 9th, 1:00 PM PT |
| EMEA (Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Ireland, Israel, Poland, Switzerland, UAE, UK) | February 9th, 9:00 PM PT |
| NORAM and LATAM (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, United States) | February 10th, 5:00 AM PT |
| Select International (Czech Republic, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand) | February 11th-18th |
| Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands) | Exempt |
“A Difficult Day”
Gale acknowledges in the memo that this will be “a difficult day” and that there may be disruptions to workflow. She encourages employees to work from home if possible and assures them that managers will be working with leadership to answer questions and provide clarity.
Focus on AI
These performance-based layoffs, coupled with Meta’s recent announcement of expedited hiring for AI engineers, suggest a strategic shift within the company. Meta appears to be streamlining its workforce while simultaneously investing in areas crucial for its future, particularly artificial intelligence.
Employee Concerns
The abrupt nature of the layoffs and the lack of direct communication are likely contributing to employee anxiety. The memo states that there will be no company-wide communication following the individual notifications, leaving many to speculate about the extent of the cuts and the future direction of the company.
Key Takeaways
- Meta will reduce its workforce by 3,600 employees through email notifications on Monday morning
- The company uses performance metrics to select affected positions while planning strategic new hires
- Employees will receive immediate notification about their status at 5 a.m. PT on Monday
Impact of Layoffs on Meta’s Operations
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, recently announced that 2025 will focus on “efficiency” for the company. An internal memo detailing layoff plans appears to be the first major move in this direction. While Meta describes these layoffs as based on performance rather than financial reasons, employees feel anxious about their future at the company. The tech industry has been facing many layoffs, and Meta’s actions indicate that this trend may continue.
Meta’s latest round of layoffs aims to boost efficiency and streamline operations through targeted performance-based cuts and strategic reorganization of key business units.
Performance-Based Cuts and Reviews
Low-performing employees will face the highest risk of job cuts as Meta implements its new workforce reduction strategy. The company plans to remove approximately 5% of staff based on performance metrics and reviews.
Meta will send notifications to affected employees through both work and personal email accounts starting at 5 AM PT on Monday. This systematic approach targets underperforming team members to maintain productivity standards.
The performance management system evaluates employee contributions, project completion rates, and alignment with company goals. These metrics help identify staff members who fall below expected benchmarks.
Strategic Shifts in Business Divisions
Meta’s Reality Labs division may see significant changes as the company refocuses resources on core revenue-generating products. Instagram and other established platforms remain priority areas for maintaining market position.
Key Business Changes:
- Redistribution of workload among remaining team members
- Increased focus on AI and machine learning initiatives
- Enhanced resource allocation to profitable divisions
The restructuring aims to create leaner teams while maintaining development speed. Teams will merge where necessary to eliminate redundancies and improve collaboration efficiency.
Future Outlook for Meta and Employees
Meta faces significant changes in its workforce structure as it adapts to new market realities. The company’s focus on artificial intelligence and the metaverse shapes its employment decisions and future direction.
Adaptation to the Changing Social Media Landscape
Meta plans to intensify its AI development while maintaining its social media platforms. The company will shift resources from traditional roles to AI-focused positions.
Remote work remains central to Meta’s operations. Teams will collaborate across multiple time zones and countries using digital tools.
The Reality Labs division continues to receive substantial investment despite mixed financial results. This signals Meta’s commitment to virtual and augmented reality technologies.
Remote Work and Employee Support
Meta provides transition support for affected employees. This includes:
- Career counseling services
- Resume writing assistance
- Job placement support
- Extended healthcare benefits
- Severance packages based on tenure
Displaced workers receive access to professional coaching to help with their next career steps.
Hiring and Growth Prospects
Meta maintains selective hiring for strategic positions. Priority areas include:
- AI engineers
- Machine learning specialists
- Virtual reality developers
- Security experts
The company expects to add roles in European operations centers. This expansion aligns with regional data privacy requirements and market growth.
Performance-based evaluations will guide future hiring decisions. Meta aims to maintain a smaller but more efficient workforce.
