• Meta is set to lay off approximately 3,600 employees, representing about 5% of its workforce.
• The layoffs target low performers as part of a strategy to "raise the bar" on performance management.
• Employees in the U.S. will be notified by February 10, while international employees will learn their status later.
• The decision follows previous layoffs of over 11,000 employees in November 2022 and an additional 10,000 shortly thereafter.
• Mark Zuckerberg also announced changes affecting diversity and content moderation policies at Meta.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has confirmed plans to lay off around 3,600 employees, targeting those identified as low performers. This decision was outlined in an internal memo from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who described these layoffs as part of a commitment to "raise the bar on performance management." In the memo—as first reported by Bloomberg and later confirmed by The Hill—Zuckerberg indicated that the company is preparing for an "intense year."

The layoffs, which account for about 5% of Meta's workforce as of September, signal a shift in how the company manages performance, with the CEO stating that he intends to implement more rapid performance-based cuts during this evaluation cycle. Though some employees who previously did not meet expectations may be retained if there is optimism about their future performance, those laid off will receive a "generous severance," according to Zuckerberg. As previously indicated, U.S.-based employees will receive notifications by February 10, while international employees will learn their fate subsequently.

This upcoming round of layoffs follows significant job cuts made by Meta in recent years, including more than 11,000 employees in November 2022 and an additional 10,000 in 2023. The announcement aligns with broader changes within the company, particularly regarding content moderation and diversity policies. Notably, Zuckerberg has recently revealed plans to eliminate Meta's U.S. fact-checking program, a move criticized by many as a step towards endorsing free speech. Additionally, the company has been relaxing restrictions on contentious subjects such as immigration and gender while revising its stance on hate speech.

The policy shifts have been met with mixed reactions, receiving approval from several Republican figures while drawing criticism from Democrats, with accusations of catering to right-leaning agendas ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. In a recent podcast appearance, Zuckerberg also indicated that Meta is exploring the potential for artificial intelligence to take over coding tasks currently performed by human engineers, adding a layer to the transformative journey of the tech giant.

As a direct consequence of the posted layoffs and a tumultuous environment, Meta's shares fell on Tuesday, reflecting investor worries about the company's direction and stability moving forward. This latest development underscores the ongoing challenges facing Meta in the current economic and political climate. For more details, you can read the original articles from India Times and The Hill.