Despite Meta’s claim that recent job cuts were based on performance, employees allege the layoffs targeted long-tenured staff and those on parental or medical leave.
February 18, 2025: Meta’s Layoffs Spark Backlash from Employees
Meta’s latest round of layoffs, affecting over 3,000 employees, has sparked widespread criticism from current and former workers. While the company claimed the move was performance-based, many employees insist they were let go despite having strong track records and positive performance ratings.
“The hardest part is Meta publicly stating they’re cutting low performers, so it feels like we have the scarlet letter on our backs,” an anonymous employee told Business Insider.
Several employees have taken to Blind, an anonymous platform for tech workers, to air their grievances. One user claimed that even workers with a decade of experience and ‘exceeds expectations’ ratings were fired.
The post alleged that the layoffs disproportionately affected employees who had taken parental or medical leave, raising questions about the legality of Meta’s decision.
“Meta is now the cruelest tech company out there,” wrote a former employee.
Employees Call Out CEO Mark Zuckerberg
Some disgruntled workers went as far as accusing CEO Mark Zuckerberg of prioritizing profit over people.
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One former employee warned against joining Meta, writing:
“Zuckerberg doesn’t care about his employees. Only the company.”
Another commenter, reportedly an Amazon employee, speculated that Meta now only wants young employees without families, suggesting that the company prefers workers who can focus solely on making money without personal obligations.
Meta’s Justification for Layoffs
Earlier this month, Meta announced plans to cut thousands of jobs, particularly targeting employees with low performance ratings.
Zuckerberg defended the move, stating that the company needs to “raise the bar on performance” and quickly remove underperformers.
- The job cuts impacted around 5% of Meta’s workforce, which stood at 72,400 employees as of September.
- Despite its focus on AI and metaverse expansion, Zuckerberg warned that 2024 and 2025 will be “challenging years” for Meta.
Employees Question Company Culture
Meta’s decision has raised concerns about workplace culture, with some employees expressing distrust toward leadership.
The layoffs also indicate the growing financial pressure on Silicon Valley tech giants, forcing them to balance expansion efforts with workforce reductions.
While Meta continues its push into AI and the metaverse, these mass layoffs signal a major shift in the company’s internal strategy—one that may reshape its workforce culture for years to come.
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Meta layoffs, Mark Zuckerberg, Tech Industry, Silicon Valley, Job Cuts, Tech Jobs, Meta Performance Reviews, AI and Metaverse, Workplace Culture