Laid-off employees from Meta have expressed their frustration towards CEO Mark Zuckerberg after the company implemented what it termed “performance-based layoffs,” affecting approximately 3,600 positions, or about 5% of its workforce.
Many of the impacted workers, speaking anonymously on the forum Blind, reported feeling blindsided by the cuts, particularly those who had recently taken parental or medical leave. One employee claimed to have “consistently exceeded expectations” and was laid off shortly after giving birth.
Another shared their experience of being on maternity leave for six months before receiving a termination notice, asserting they had no history of underperformance.
Ex-employees say Meta layoffs were unfair
Several former employees described the Meta layoffs as cruel, with accusations that some were rated as “low performers” while on medical leave. One employee expressed concern that the layoffs prioritized financial considerations over performance. “Seems it was more about money than performance,” they stated, highlighting that experienced staff members were among those let go.
Comments on Blind condemned the working environment at Meta, with one worker labeling it the “cruelest tech company out there,” while another noted that the company appears to cater primarily to young, childless employees focused solely on profit. Discussions in the tech sector reflected a growing sense of distrust toward corporate leadership and uncertainties about job stability.
Broader trends in Silicon Valley have also come under scrutiny, with layoffs and reduced workplace flexibility both noted as contributing to a culture shift. The removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by some tech leaders coincided with a noted return to more traditional corporate management styles.
One Microsoft employee reported a friend at Meta was instructed to identify colleagues to be let go, despite everyone meeting or exceeding performance expectations. They suggested that current layoffs are retribution for the worker power demonstrated during 2021 and 2022, aimed at instilling fear in employees.
As former employees face the aftermath of these layoffs, many are seeking legal advice, while others express confusion about trust within the company. A Meta employee remarked on the unsettling nature of the current workplace climate, especially since some colleagues with long histories of high performance have lost their jobs, suggesting potential abuses of the system by management.
