Employees Call Meta’s Mass Layoffs ‘Cruel’

Meta’s recent layoffs have sparked widespread outrage, with employees calling the company’s actions harsh and unfair. Many workers claim they were let go while on maternity or medical leave, leading to accusations that the tech giant prioritized cost-cutting over ethical treatment of its workforce.

Layoff Notices While on Leave

On February 10, Meta laid off nearly 4,000 employees, about 5% of its workforce, citing low performance as the main reason. However, reports from Fortune and discussions on Blind, an anonymous platform for tech workers, suggest a different story—one filled with misjudged evaluations, frustration, and anger.

“I consistently outperformed expectations for years, had a baby in 2024, and then got laid off while on maternity leave.” — A former Meta employee.

One worker, who was six months into maternity leave and preparing to return to work, received a termination notice despite having no record of underperformance. She is now seeking legal advice and is considering suing Meta.

Another long-time employee accused Meta of deliberately lowering ratings for those on medical leave.

“It seems to be more about money than performance. I worked here for more than 10 years, and now I realize Zuckerberg doesn’t care about his employees—only his company.”

Claims of Retaliation and Cost-Cutting

Some industry insiders believe Meta’s layoffs were less about performance and more about reducing costs and controlling employee power.

A Microsoft employee with connections at Meta claimed the layoffs were “revenge” for the 2021–2022 hiring spree, during which Meta hired aggressively and offered high salaries.

“Meta’s directors were afraid of how much power workers had. Now they think salaries aren’t sustainable, so they’re putting the fear back into employees.”

A former Meta employee, now working at Amazon, suggested that the company culture is shifting toward favoring young, single workers who have “nothing else to focus on but making money.”

Sudden Changes in Performance Ratings

Reports also indicate that several employees initially received “Met” or “Above Expectations” ratings in mid-2024 but later found their evaluations had been changed to “Meets Mostly”, marking them as underperformers and leading to their termination.

After Business Insider published its investigation, Meta responded with a vague statement:

“Just because someone has met or exceeded expectations doesn’t mean they will continue to meet them consistently. Meta employees are held accountable to a high-performance culture based on goals.”

However, the company did not address concerns about employees being laid off while on leave or having their performance evaluations mysteriously downgraded before termination.

Meta’s Workforce Strategy: AI Over Employees

This latest round of layoffs aligns with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s long-term vision to streamline Meta’s workforce while investing billions in AI and virtual reality.

In 2022 and 2023, Meta had what it called a “Year of Efficiency”, laying off more than 20,000 employees in two major waves. The move helped the company achieve:

– 16% revenue growth

– 69% profit growth

Some analysts now believe that annual layoffs may become a standard practice at Meta.

At the same time, Meta is increasing its hiring of machine learning engineers—a key part of its AI strategy.

Zuckerberg: AI Can Replace Mid-Level Engineers

In January 2025, Zuckerberg suggested that AI is becoming so advanced that it could soon replace mid-level engineers.

“Maybe in 2025, Meta and other companies will have AI strong enough to do this work.”

This statement raises concerns about the future of Meta’s workforce, as the company appears to be cutting traditional roles while expanding its AI division.

A Company in Transition—But at What Cost?

As Meta reshapes its workforce, the company faces growing criticism over its treatment of employees.

– Layoffs are happening yearly, affecting thousands of workers.

– Employees on leave are being dismissed, raising ethical and legal concerns.

– Meta prioritizes AI investment, signaling that job security for non-AI roles is at risk.

While Meta remains profitable and innovative, the cost-cutting approach and harsh layoff tactics may damage its reputation—both among employees and the wider tech industry.

For now, it’s clear that Meta’s workforce strategy is evolving—but not everyone is happy with the direction it’s taking.