Meta has recently laid off 3,600 employees in another round of workforce reductions, citing “low performance” as the primary reason. However, many affected workers, particularly those in Meta’s data centers, are pushing back, arguing that they had received positive performance reviews before being let go. This move, impacting 5% of the company’s total workforce, has sparked considerable backlash, especially from long-time employees in Meta’s data center division.
In a memo seen by Business Insider, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg informed employees in January that the company would be tightening its performance standards and acting swiftly to remove underperformers. However, many of the employees affected by this latest round of layoffs had been with the company for years and received top ratings in their performance reviews. This has led some to question whether performance truly was the main factor behind the job cuts.
Data center employees, who had previously been insulated from layoffs, were significantly affected this time around. One former employee, who had worked at Meta’s Prineville data center for over 14 years, described the layoffs as “the end of an era” for them.
Cost-Cutting Concerns Amid Hiring
Another point of contention is Meta’s ongoing hiring efforts. Despite the layoffs, the company continues to hire for various roles within its data centers and critical infrastructure, suggesting that these layoffs might be part of a broader cost-cutting strategy. This has raised concerns among workers who feel the layoffs may not be entirely performance-based.
Employees have voiced their frustrations on platforms like LinkedIn and Blind, disputing Meta’s claims that the layoffs were due to low performance. One former worker told Business Insider that the public narrative about cutting low performers made it feel like those laid off had received a “scarlet letter.” Another employee pointed out that many of the people let go had excellent performance records and had recently taken parental or medical leave.
One anonymous employee wrote on Blind, “Dozens of people with pristine history and ‘exceeds’ ratings were laid off. I didn’t even know this was legal. People who devoted 8-10 years to the company with multiple accolades were ruthlessly axed! It seems more about saving money than performance.”
This round of layoffs follows a previous incident in October when Meta fired a group of employees from its Los Angeles office for misusing small meal vouchers to buy household items like detergent and toothpaste. This occurred alongside job cuts that affected teams from WhatsApp and Instagram, adding to the controversy surrounding the company’s decision to trim its workforce.
Conclusion
The recent layoffs at Meta have ignited a wave of criticism, particularly among long-time employees who feel unfairly targeted despite strong performance reviews. With Meta still hiring in certain departments, the move has led many to question whether the company’s primary motivation is cost-cutting rather than improving performance. As Meta continues to navigate these changes, it’s clear that many employees are left wondering if their years of dedication and hard work are truly valued.
