Mark Zuckerberg’s Firm to Fire over 3,000 ‘Lowest Performers’ Next Week in the Biggest
Meta is preparing for another round of mass layoffs, targeting 3,600 employees globally. The move, part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s ongoing cost-cutting strategy, will affect workers across multiple countries, with the majority receiving their termination notices as early as Monday at 5 AM local time. The decision comes as the company doubles down on AI and machine learning, pushing ahead with its plan to prioritize hiring in business-critical engineering roles. (Reuters)
A Calculated Move: Meta Targets “Lowest Performers”
Meta is adopting a performance-based layoff strategy, focusing on the “lowest 5%” of employees, as confirmed in an internal memo. Rather than cutting entire teams or departments, Meta’s approach this time is to eliminate employees who received low performance ratings.
This decision aligns with Meta’s larger business shift toward artificial intelligence and machine learning. Peng Fan, Meta’s VP of Engineering for Monetization, revealed in a separate memo that the company is accelerating hiring for machine learning engineers and other critical tech roles.
This expedited hiring process will run between February 11 and March 13, suggesting that while thousands are being laid off, Meta is still aggressively recruiting in key growth areas. (Reuters)
Who’s Affected? Exemptions and Global Impact
Layoffs will primarily affect employees in the United States, Asia, and Africa, with notices starting on Monday at 5 AM local time. In contrast, employees in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands are reportedly exempt due to local labor regulations. Other European nations will see job cuts between February 11 and February 18.
Unlike in previous rounds of layoffs, Meta’s offices will remain open on Monday, and no company-wide updates will be issued. Janelle Gale, Meta’s Head of People, indicated that affected employees will be contacted individually. Internally, reports suggest a growing sense of unease among employees as they await further clarity. (Reuters)
A Broader Industry Trend: The Tightening Labor Market
Meta’s layoffs are part of a larger wave of job cuts across the tech sector. In recent weeks, Microsoft announced job reductions targeting underperforming employees, and Infosys laid off 300 workers after they failed an internal assessment test.
Meanwhile, new economic data highlights a cooling job market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, US job openings fell to a three-month low in December, dropping from 8.16 million to 7.60 million. This decline reflects a broader slowdown in hiring, suggesting that even outside the tech sector, companies are becoming more cautious about expansion. (Business Insider)
What’s Next for Meta?
Despite these layoffs, Meta is not slowing down in AI recruitment. The company is prioritizing AI and machine learning roles, aiming to fill critical engineering positions between February 11 and March 13. This indicates a strategic shift away from general workforce expansion and toward specialized talent acquisition.
Meta insists that these layoffs are part of a long-term restructuring plan, designed to align with its 2025 priorities. However, as the tech industry faces increasing instability, many are questioning whether this marks the beginning of a new era of recurring mass layoffs in Silicon Valley.
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