Recent layoffs of approximately 3,600 employees have caused controversy following Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, warning his employees in mid-January about raising performance standards and reducing 5% from the workforce.
Some of the affected employees dispute the company’s claim that the cuts were only targeted at low performers. They claim they received positive performance reviews.
Zuckerberg’s warning – raising the bar for performance
In an internal memo obtained from Bloomberg, Zuckerberg stated that the plan was to “manage people who don’t meet expectations over a year” and “do more substantial performance-based cutting during this cycle.”
At the time, Zuckerberg sounded as if layoffs would only affect low performers.
Some workers, who claimed they had received positive performance reviews, but were not the worst performers, have been caught up in the reductions, which began on Monday and affected about 3,600 employees.
Kaila Curry, a former Meta employee, posted on LinkedIn about being laid off, despite receiving a “exceeds expectation” rating in her midyear review.
Curry wrote: “I asked for feedback frequently and was always told that I was doing a great job.”
I was never put on a PIP (performance improvement plan), never given corrective comments, and never given clear expectations or mentored properly. I put in the effort… I am not a poor performer.
Steven S., another laid-off former Meta employee and LinkedIn user, who was a former Instagram product designer, said that the company’s claim it is cutting the deadwood is “flat-out incorrect,” noting the “label” is misleading and for many, it is flat-out false.
This user did not mention or show the rating he received for his performance review.
Meta’s definition for “low performer: unclear metrics
Meta’s definition of a “low-performer” is not clear.
Fortune’s comment request was not immediately answered by the company.
Business Insider spoke to several Meta employees affected by the layoffs, who spoke under the condition of anonymity.
They claimed they received a “at or above expectation” rating on their 2024 assessment, which would rank as mid-tier Meta employees, not low performers.
One employee told Business Insider that “the hardest part is Meta publicly declaring they’re cutting the low performers. It feels like we have a scarlet letter on our shoulders.”
We need to show that we are not underperforming.
Criticism of Meta’s Messaging
Diane Brady, executive Director of Fortune Live Media criticized Zuckerberg for labeling Meta’s recently laid-off employees low-performing.
Brady wrote Tuesday in her CEO Daily newsletter that it was better to let people go with their dignity intact than to label them as subpar performers.
“Companies who celebrate and support their former employees tend to create a lot more fans than enemies.”
A year of efficiency
These layoffs are in response to Zuckerberg’s “year of efficiency”, which he declared for 2023 and included the elimination of 10,000 jobs.
Reuters reported that while Zuckerberg claimed the latest round would only affect the lowest-performing workers, the company had also expedited the hiring of machine-learning engineers. This reflects a strategic focus in AI development.
Susan Li, Meta’s chief financial officer said in a call with investors on January 29, “Our focus remains on adding technical talent that supports our strategic priorities.”
Meta employees affected by the layoffs will continue to ask why they were terminated.
Curry wrote: “Maybe I was lacking masculine energy (to quote Mark Zuckerberg).” “Who knows?”
This post Meta layoffs : workers challenge Zuckerberg’s ‘low performers’ justification might be modified as new updates unfold
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