Meta’s latest round of layoffs has sparked backlash from former employees who claim they were unfairly labeled as “low performers” despite receiving positive performance reviews.
In mid-January, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to cut around 5% of Meta’s workforce, stating the company would “move out low performers faster.” The layoffs, which began Monday, affected approximately 3,600 employees. However, some workers who were let go are now speaking out, arguing that Meta’s criteria for “low performance” are unclear.
One former content manager, Kaila Curry, took to LinkedIn, writing, “I was never placed on a PIP, never given corrective feedback, and never properly mentored or provided clear expectations… I am not a low performer.” Another ex-employee, a former Instagram product designer, called the label “flat-out wrong.”
Reports from Business Insider also suggest that several impacted employees had received “at or above expectations” ratings in their 2024 assessments, making them mid-tier performers rather than the underperformers Meta claims to be targeting.
Zuckerberg initially framed the cuts as part of an effort to retain “strongest talent” and boost efficiency, following last year’s 10,000-job reduction. Meanwhile, Meta continues hiring aggressively for AI-focused roles, further raising questions among those laid off.
Meta has yet to respond to the criticism, but as frustration mounts, many former employees are left wondering why they were really let go.
