Meta to begin company-wide layoffs next week, internal memo reveals
Meta Platforms is preparing to implement company-wide layoffs next week while simultaneously expediting the recruitment of machine learning engineers, as detailed in internal communications obtained by Reuters. Affected employees will commence receiving notifications at 5 a.m. local time on Monday in various countries, including the U.S., as reported by Reuters referencing a memo from Janelle Gale, Meta’s Head of People.
Exemptions and Notifications
Notably, employees in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be spared from these layoffs due to local regulations. Those in numerous other countries spanning Europe, Asia, and Africa can anticipate receiving their notifications between February 11 and February 18. Upon reaching out for comment, a Meta spokesperson chose not to provide a statement regarding the internal memos.
Performance Terminations and Recruitment Drive
Earlier in January, Meta affirmed its intention to eliminate approximately 5% of its underperforming workforce, with plans to fill certain positions anew. Gale characterized these actions as "performance terminations" in the memo, which was initially disclosed by The Information. In a departure from past layoff practices, Meta will keep its offices operational on Monday without releasing further updates on the matter, according to Gale.
In a separate communication, Peng Fan, the VP of Engineering for Monetization, urged employees to back an expedited hiring initiative concentrated on machine learning engineers and other pivotal positions essential for the business. This intensive hiring phase is scheduled to unfold from February 11 to March 13. Fan expressed gratitude for the ongoing support in achieving the company's accelerated hiring objectives and bolstering alignment with Meta's 2025 corporate priorities.
AI Unit Strengthening Efforts
The emphasis on AI recruitment may form part of a broader drive within the company to fortify its AI division. Recently, an anonymous Meta employee conveyed frustration on the professional platform Blind, underscoring concerns about the 'Meta GenAI Org [being] in Panic Mode' in light of the rising prominence of the free open-source DeepSeek technology, which has demonstrated superior performance relative to OpenAI and Meta's latest models at a fraction of the cost.
Industry Trend in Workforce Reduction
By initiating these layoffs, Meta joins a growing cohort of technology enterprises streamlining their workforces. Concurrently, Amazon declared its own job cuts last week. Data from Layoffs.FYI, a platform monitoring workforce reductions in the tech sector, indicates that 42 tech firms have collectively laid off 10,833 employees since the commencement of the year.
