Meta to Cut 5% of Workforce in Performance-Based Layoffs
Meta has announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 5%, targeting what it describes as “low performers.” The move, which could affect around 3,600 employees based on Meta’s 72,000-strong workforce as of September, was confirmed on Tuesday.
In an internal memo first reported by Bloomberg, CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the rationale behind the decision: “I’ve decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster.” He added that while the company typically addresses underperformance over a year, the current cycle would involve more extensive cuts.
A Meta spokesperson corroborated the memo’s details, including Zuckerberg’s remarks about plans to backfill the eliminated roles later in 2025.
This announcement comes during a period of significant organizational and policy changes for Meta. The company recently made headlines for replacing its top policy executive with a prominent Republican figure and ending its third-party fact-checking programs in the United States.
Meta also revised its hateful conduct policies, permitting previously banned content, including references to “women as household objects or property” and derogatory language towards transgender or non-binary individuals.
Last week, Meta scrapped its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, a decision that coincided with Zuckerberg’s appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast. During the podcast, Zuckerberg acknowledged working on these changes for some time, expressing regret about excessive content moderation, which he claimed “destroyed trust” on the platform.
Critics argue that these shifts are aimed at aligning Meta with President-elect Donald Trump and the incoming administration.
Meta has been navigating a turbulent period since the pandemic, marked by substantial workforce reductions. The company laid off 11,000 employees in November 2022 and implemented additional layoffs in subsequent years.
These latest measures highlight Meta’s evolving strategy as it seeks to streamline operations and address challenges in the tech landscape.
