Meta has launched a new round of layoffs, affecting around 3,600 workers in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. Although the company states that these layoffs are based on performance, numerous ex-employees disagree. Some assert they had a strong performance history and were caught off guard by their termination.
Elana Reman Safner, a product counsel at MetaWorks, was dismissed shortly after she returned from a six-month maternity leave.
In a LinkedIn post, Safner expressed her shock and disappointment, hinting that Meta may have disproportionately targeted employees recently taking leaves.
“Meta laid me off yesterday in its ‘performance-based’ layoffs, and I was blindsided. I have never received a review below ‘Meets All’ in my 3+ years at Meta, and I was on maternity leave for six months until November. It is very hard to believe that – despite Meta indicating my expectations are prorated – I did not do enough. Many laid off today have similar stories – a history of good performance and a recent leave of absence,” she wrote.
Despite her disappointment, Safner acknowledged the skills and experiences she gained at Meta.
“At Meta, I learned to be nimble and resilient, provide business-focused, risk-calibrated advice, and how to be a great XFN partner. Even when I disagreed with product direction or was disappointed by Meta in the news, my clients and colleagues kept me energized,” she added.
However, she noted several aspects she won’t miss, including career uncertainty and the high-pressure environment. Additionally, she criticized Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s leadership approach, highlighting his tendency to abruptly discontinue products that failed to meet his ambitious “moonshot” expectations.
Meta’s Layoff Strategy
Meta’s decision to lay off thousands under the guise of performance-based evaluation has sparked criticism and debate. The company’s approach, particularly its alleged impact on employees returning from leave, has raised questions about fairness and transparency in its restructuring efforts.
