New Delhi: Facebook’s parent company Meta is preparing to sack about 3,600 workers who it deems low performers in what will reduce its headcount by around 5%, Zuckerberg said in an internal memo, Meta had about 72,400 employees in September 2024. Another reason John has resorted to laying off employees is because enhancing performance is a key issue in the organisation.
In explaining the companies goals, Zuckerberg said it wants to “set the bar higher” and improve the process of firing people who don’t perform well enough and aren’t good enough. Recruitment strategies are focusing on retaining of the best employees while developing a policy aimed at freeing up new employees.
The layoffs fall under what Zuckerberg calls “non-regrettable attrition,” with a plan to cut this category by 10% by the end of the current performance cycle. Those affected will receive generous severance packages.
U.S. employees will start receiving notifications by February 10, while international staff will be informed later. Unlike in the past, when underperformers were managed out over time, this round will involve quicker decisions. However, there is some leeway, as employees showing potential may still be retained.
This isn’t the first time Meta has reduced its workforce. In November 2022, the company laid off over 11,000 employees, followed by another 10,000 in the following months. Zuckerberg has described this period as a particularly “intense year” for the company.
Along with the layoffs, Meta is making some major changes in its policies. Recently, it ended its U.S. fact-checking program, which was criticized by some conservative groups as being too controlling. Instead, the company plans to roll out a new feature that lets users add context to posts, similar to what X (formerly Twitter) does.
Meta has also scaled back its diversity programs and eased up on content moderation rules, especially concerning certain kinds of speech. These changes have drawn mixed reactions. Some Republicans have welcomed them, while critics on the Democratic side argue that Meta is leaning too far towards conservative values. Zuckerberg’s recent public appearances and leadership choices suggest a growing alignment with conservative viewpoints.
In the bigger picture, Meta and other tech companies are focusing heavily on artificial intelligence (AI). Zuckerberg has shared plans to replace mid-level software engineers with AI systems capable of handling advanced coding tasks by 2025. This shift could significantly change how Meta develops software and could lead to further job cuts.
