Meta Cuts 3,600 Jobs, Raises Performance Standards

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has revealed plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 5%, targeting underperforming employees to enhance productivity and operations. 

This decision, communicated through an internal memo by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is expected to impact around 3,600 of the company’s 72,000 employees.

With Meta currently preparing for what Zuckerberg described as an “intense year”, the company is focused on advancing cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence and augmented reality. 

He explained that the company is raising performance standards and accelerating the process of removing employees who fail to meet expectations, a departure from its usual practice of gradual performance-based cuts over a year.

“We’re working on some of the world’s most important technologies, and I want to ensure our teams consist of the best talent,” Zuckerberg stated. While affected employees will be replaced later in 2025, those let go will receive severance packages aligned with the company’s previous policies.

This development is part of organisational adjustments at Meta, which has been making changes in its policies and strategies. Recently, the company discontinued its third-party fact-checking programme, opting for a community-driven approach to content moderation. 

Again, Meta has ended its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, aligning with a trend observed among other major corporations.

These changes follow previous rounds of layoffs, including the elimination of 11,000 roles in 2022 and additional cuts in 2023. The latest decision reflects Meta’s focus on efficiency and preparation for a competitive and challenging operational environment.

Zuckerberg’s leadership has drawn attention for its evolving focus, with critics and supporters debating the impact of these moves on Meta’s culture and future. The company is replacing roles affected by the layoffs with what Zuckerberg termed “higher-calibre talent” in the coming year.

Workers in the United States will be notified of their status by February 2025, while those in other regions will receive updates at a later date. Meta aims to maintain a competitive edge while balancing the needs of its workforce during this period.

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