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- It’s reckoning week for Meta employees in layoff limbo (businessinsider.com)
Meta Prepares for Major Layoffs as Employees Face Uncertainty
Meta is gearing up to reduce its workforce by approximately 10%, with the layoffs expected to take place this Wednesday. The announcement, first made on April 23, has left many of the company’s 78,000 employees in a state of uncertainty as they await confirmation of who will be affected.
In an internal memo, Meta explained that the cuts are intended to help the company operate more efficiently and balance significant investments. Janelle Gale, Meta’s chief people officer, acknowledged the difficult situation, stating, “I know this leaves everyone with nearly a month of ambiguity, which is incredibly unsettling.”
Employees have described the atmosphere as surreal, with one worker telling Business Insider that there is a pervasive feeling of being “in a holding pattern,” as staff await Wednesday’s announcements. Some employees are reportedly pursuing job opportunities elsewhere but are hesitant to move forward, hoping to qualify for severance if laid off. The ongoing uncertainty has fostered a sense that such layoffs may become a recurring aspect of work life at Meta.
Former employee Adel Wu echoed these sentiments on social media, noting that friends still at the company are either anxiously hoping to be laid off or deeply worried due to their financial dependence on their jobs.
Signs of the impending changes have appeared within Meta’s Menlo Park offices, where large empty boxes have been spotted, possibly intended for packing personal belongings after the layoffs.
Meta’s move comes amid a broader trend in the tech industry, with companies like Amazon, Coinbase, and Block also announcing job cuts recently. Some firms, such as GitLab and ASML, have similarly placed employees in limbo ahead of layoffs.
At the same time, Meta is heavily investing in artificial intelligence, forecasting capital expenditures between $115 billion and $135 billion by 2026. The company has made strategic acquisitions, including a significant stake in Scale AI, led by CEO Alexandr Wang, who now heads Meta’s Superintelligence Lab. This focus on AI has also led to internal shifts, with some departments losing staff to new AI initiatives.
Adding to workplace tensions, Meta recently introduced software to monitor employees’ keystrokes and mouse movements as part of AI training efforts. This policy has sparked protests within the company, with employees distributing flyers expressing their concerns.
As Meta approaches this pivotal moment, its workforce remains caught between the uncertainty of layoffs and the pressures of a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
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- It’s reckoning week for Meta employees in layoff limbo (businessinsider.com)