Meta to Implement “Performance Terminations,” Cutting 5% of Staff
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is expected to conduct “performance terminations” this week, reducing its workforce by approximately 5%, according to company sources and multiple reports. The job cuts will primarily affect employees in over a dozen countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa, while staff in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be exempt due to local labor regulations.
Focus on Efficiency and Performance Management
According to an internal memo authored by Meta’s Head of People, Janelle Gale, and cited by Reuters, employees set to be impacted will receive termination notifications between February 11 and February 18. The move aligns with the company’s increased focus on efficiency and performance management, a stance emphasized by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The layoffs follow a January announcement in which Zuckerberg outlined his plan to “raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster.” According to Bloomberg, which reviewed an internal memo, Zuckerberg explained that while Meta typically manages out underperforming employees over a year, the company is now opting for more extensive performance-based cuts during this cycle.
Generous Severance Packages Offered
Zuckerberg also assured affected employees that they would receive a “generous severance” package, consistent with past layoffs at the company. The CEO emphasized that these performance-based cuts are designed to ensure Meta retains top talent while making room for new hires, particularly in high-priority areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and smart technology.
AI Focus and Hiring Plans
The restructuring is part of a broader initiative to bolster Meta’s AI capabilities and advance its work in smart glasses and the evolving landscape of social media. As the company navigates an increasingly competitive and innovation-driven tech sector, AI and machine learning have become central to its strategy.
In a separate internal memo, Meta’s VP of Engineering for Monetization, Peng Fan, called on employees to support the hiring of machine learning engineers and other “business-critical engineering roles.” The hiring process for these positions is set to begin on February 11 and continue through March 13, Reuters reported.
While the exact number of employees impacted remains unclear, Bloomberg estimates that Meta, which employed around 72,000 people as of September 2024, could see a reduction of approximately 3,600 jobs based on the projected 5% cut.
Industry Trends and Future of Work
These layoffs come amid a broader trend in the tech industry. Companies are increasingly prioritizing AI and automation, sometimes at the expense of traditional roles. As Meta continues to shift its focus, the company’s restructuring efforts highlight AI’s growing influence on shaping the future of work.
