Meta employees took to public forums to criticize management after the latest round of layoffs. On February 10, the Facebook parent company carried out the cuts based on performance reviews.

In an internal memo sent out in January, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he planned to lay off about 3,600 positions — about 5% of the workforce. However, many of those affected said they had never been on the list of underperformers before.

“The hardest part is that Meta openly says they’re cutting low performers, so it feels like we’re carrying a ‘criminal stigma’ on our backs,” an anonymous employee told Business Insider. “People need to know that we’re not underperforming.”

Meta declined to comment on the matter.

meta layoff exhibit
About 3,600 Meta employees lost their jobs in the latest round of layoffs. Photo: exhibit.tech

On Blind, an anonymous forum for verified employees, often in the tech industry, people say an “unseasonable chill” is sweeping Silicon Valley. In addition to accusations of Meta abusing the “non-performance” label, some claim they were fired while on leave.

“I consistently outperformed expectations for years, had a baby in 2024, and was fired,” one former employee wrote. Dozens of people with “clean” or above-expected records who were on maternity or sick leave lost their jobs, according to comments on Blind.

Another employee, who is on six months of maternity leave, said she had never received a performance review and was seeking legal advice. Another called the cuts “cruel” and said some were pushed to the lowest rank while on sick leave.

“They seem to care more about money than efficiency. Be cautious when joining this company. Zuck doesn’t care about his employees, only the company,” they wrote.

“Meta is the most ruthless tech company out there,” wrote one Meta employee. An Amazon employee said Meta only wants young, family-less employees who focus on nothing but making money.

After a long time living in paradise, tech workers are facing the harsh reality that their jobs are no longer safe. Layoffs, working from home, ending remote work, cutting back on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and openly supporting US President Donald Trump… these are the changes taking place in Silicon Valley.

Meta's culture — once synonymous with CEO Sheryl Sandberg and the “feminine” icon — turned a page when Zuckerberg declared businesses needed more “masculine energy.”

A Microsoft employee said his friend at Meta was told to “find someone” to fire even if everyone was doing a good job or excelling. This year’s round of layoffs, he said, was about taking power back from employees by instilling fear.

“It’s so sad. I don’t know who to trust right now,” said one Meta employee. Another shared that an acquaintance with five years of good ratings was also fired, accusing managers of abusing the system to fire people they didn’t like.

(According to Fortune)