Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is set to reduce its global workforce by approximately 5% to address “low performers” more quickly.
In a memo to employees, CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained that accelerating performance-based job cuts aligns with the company’s anticipation of an “intense year.”
Zuckerberg stated that the affected roles would be “backfilled” later in 2025.
Meta, which employs roughly 72,000 people worldwide, did not specify how the reductions would be distributed across its global operations.
U.S.-based employees impacted by the cuts will be informed by February 10, while those outside the U.S. will receive updates “at a later date,” according to the memo.
“This is going to be an intense year, and I want to make sure we have the best people on our teams,” he wrote.
“I’ve decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low performers faster.”
This decision follows other significant moves by Mark Zuckerberg, including the discontinuation of Meta’s fact-checking and diversity programs.
While performance-based job cuts are standard in corporate America, Zuckerberg explained that Meta’s usual year-long process is being expedited this time around.
Approximately 3,600 employees could be affected by the cuts, with Zuckerberg assuring “generous severance” packages for those impacted.
Meta previously undertook major layoffs in 2023, eliminating around 10,000 positions during a cost-cutting initiative after Zuckerberg declared it the “year of efficiency.” This came a year after the company cut about 11,000 roles in 2022.
Zuckerberg also seems to be reshaping his public persona alongside these corporate adjustments.
On a recent podcast with Joe Rogan, Mr Zuckerberg said he thought companies needed more “masculine energy” and discussed taking up martial arts, which he said he enjoyed because he felt he could more fully express himself, than in his corporate role.
“When you’re running a company, people typically don’t wanna see you being like this ruthless person who’s just like I’m gonna crush the people I’m competing with,” he said. “But when you’re fighting, it’s like no.”
“I think in some ways when people see me competing in the sport they’re like oh no, ‘That’s the real Mark.”