Meta Layoffs: Even Top Performers Got the Axe

The latest round of layoffs at Meta really stung. Almost 4,000 people lost their jobs. But it’s not just the numbers. It’s who got cut and how it happened. Meta said they were cutting underperformers. But stories from inside the company paint a different picture. It looks like good workers, even top-rated ones, were also let go.

Good Reviews, Sudden Layoff

Business Insider talked to eight ex-Meta employees. They all said they got “At or Above Expectations” on their mid-year reviews in 2024. That’s a solid middle ranking, showing they were doing well. They were shocked to be on the layoff list.

Then, it got worse. These employees said Meta suddenly downgraded their reviews to “Meets Most.” That’s a lower rating, making them eligible for Monday’s cuts. This felt sudden and unfair. They asked to stay anonymous, fearing company retaliation.

The Real Plan: Cut Anyone to Hit Targets

Meta wanted to cut around 5% of staff, announced back in January. Officially, it was about getting rid of “low performers.” But an internal memo tells a different story. Hillary Champion, a top HR person at Meta, told managers they could cut anyone, even top performers, if they couldn’t hit their layoff targets just with low-rated staff.

This memo was secret, just for managers. So, many employees were blindsided when they got laid off. One told Business Insider, “I was surprised by the email, mostly because I have a very solid performance history. No signs of problems in the last six months.”

Meta’s Paradox: Cutting Jobs to Invest in AI

Zuckerberg wants to slim down Meta. They’re pouring billions into AI and virtual reality. These layoffs might become yearly events. Meta wants to regularly “trim” the people they see as lowest performers. At the same time, they plan to hire more AI engineers. Is the AI axing human workers? Or are greed and finance the ones firing the workforce?

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Frustration and Fear for the Future

Many ex-Meta employees feel betrayed. Meta publicly said they were only cutting low performers. The reality is different. Good employees got caught in the net too. This is causing anger and frustration.

Some employees shared screenshots of their past reviews on Meta’s internal platform, Workplace. They showed years of good performance before the sudden downgrade. One employee, laid off after returning from parental leave, showed an “Above Expectations” review from early 2024. “I am super confused how I got terminated,” they wrote. “I still think this is an error.”

Employees feel used and worried about their reputation. Meta is painting them as “low performers.” “The hardest part is Meta publicly stating they’re cutting low performers, so it feels like we have the scarlet letter on our backs,” one said. “People need to know we’re not underperformers.”

Another added, “I challenge Meta’s story of only cutting low performers. I find it really hard to believe I was a low performer based on past feedback.” One more employee said their manager gave no warning their job was at risk.

Meta employees are left feeling bitter. Despite good reviews and hard work, they’re jobless. It seems Meta values numbers and budgets more than its people.