Meta Announces Layoffs Targeting 'Low Performers' Amidst Corporate Restructuring

CEO Mark Zuckerberg outlines plans for a 5% reduction in Meta's global workforce to expedite the removal of low performers, indicating a commitment to strengthen the company's performance culture in anticipation of a challenging year ahead.

Meta Platforms, the parent company of popular social networks Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is set to implement a workforce reduction of about 5%. This decision, driven by an emphasis on enhancing performance management, aims to expedite the departure of "low performers" within the company. In an internal memo, CEO Mark Zuckerberg indicated that the action is geared towards preparing for what he described as an "intense year," suggesting that the company must be equipped with top-tier talent to navigate upcoming challenges.

With approximately 72,000 employees globally, the impending job cuts could see around 3,600 individuals affected. U.S.-based employees are expected to learn their fates no later than February 10, while those overseas will receive communication at a later date. Zuckerberg expressed that although these performance-driven layoffs are a regular feature of corporate practices, this year, Meta is moving quickly to implement these changes, rather than allowing them to unfold over the usual annual cycle.

This announcement follows Zuckerberg's recent decisions to step away from certain diversity initiatives and the discontinuation of fact-checking programs on the platforms. The company aims to reestablish its focus on efficiency, post a significant reduction of 10,000 roles in 2023 and nearly 11,000 in 2022.

Alongside corporate changes, Zuckerberg has recently sought to revamp his public persona. During a podcast with host Joe Rogan, he articulated a philosophy that resonated with displaying "masculine energy," relating it to his personal interests, such as martial arts. He reflected on the dichotomy between his corporate responsibility and how competitive sports allows him to express a more assertive side of himself, suggesting that for many, this competitive spirit serves as a window into his authentic character.