Meta Platforms Announces Job Cuts for Low-Performing Employees

Meta Platforms, the parent company behind Facebook, is preparing to distribute layoff notices effective from 5 a.m. local time on Monday. These job cuts, which have been referred to as ‘performance terminations,’ predominantly impact the bottom 5 per cent of employees in terms of performance. Unlike prior layoffs, Meta will maintain open offices on the day of the layoffs and has opted out of issuing a company-wide announcement regarding the job cuts. While the layoffs will be implemented globally, employees in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be exempt due to specific local regulations. Notifications will reach staff across more than a dozen countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa between February 11 and February 18.

Layoff Notifications and Criteria

As stated in a communication from Meta’s Head of People, Janelle Gale, notifications regarding job losses will commence at 5 a.m. local time on Monday in the majority of affected countries.

Ongoing Hiring Focus Amid Layoffs

Despite these layoffs, Meta remains committed to recruiting machine learning engineers and other essential roles. A memo from Peng Fan, the VP of Engineering for Monetization, indicates that the hiring process will be accelerated from February 11 to March 13, underscoring Meta’s strategic pivot towards AI development ahead of 2025.

Industry-Wide Job Reductions

This trend of workforce reductions is not limited to Meta. Other major technology firms, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Stripe, have similarly downsized their teams in 2025. Google has launched a voluntary exit program targeting employees within its U.S. Platforms and Devices team, which impacts divisions such as Android and Pixel. Microsoft has increased emphasis on performance-based layoffs, letting go of low-performing members in some cases without severance pay. Amazon has eliminated around 200 positions in its fashion and fitness units, shifting priorities within its North America Stores team. Stripe also undertook layoffs affecting approximately 300 employees across product, engineering, and operations, even as it aims to grow its workforce by 17% before the end of 2025. Additionally, Robinhood’s media division, Sherwood, has laid off staff as a part of a restructuring process.