Meta plans to reduce its global workforce by 5%, impacting around 3,600 employees. The company intends to “backfill” these positions later in 2025. The decision aims to accelerate regular performance-based layoffs, targeting what CEO Mark Zuckerberg described as “low performers.”
In a memo to staff, Zuckerberg outlined his plan for an “intense year” and emphasized raising performance standards. “We need the best people on our teams,” he stated. U.S.-based employees will learn their status by February 10, while those abroad will receive updates later.
Accelerated Cuts and Severance Plans
Meta, which employs about 72,000 globally, did not detail how the cuts would be distributed. Severance packages will be “generous,” Zuckerberg assured. Performance-based cuts, a standard practice in corporate America, usually take a year at Meta. However, the process will be expedited this time.
Previous layoffs include 10,000 roles cut in 2023 and 11,000 in 2022. The 2023 reductions marked the “year of efficiency,” a cost-cutting initiative spearheaded by Zuckerberg.
Shifting Priorities and Public Persona
Zuckerberg has also made significant organizational changes, including ending Meta’s fact-checking and diversity programs. In public, he appears to be reshaping his image, emphasizing “masculine energy” and physical pursuits like martial arts.
On a podcast with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg explained how martial arts allows him to express his competitive side, contrasting with the restraint expected in corporate leadership. “When you’re fighting, it’s like no,” he said, describing how the sport reveals his true nature.
Meta’s ongoing changes reflect its drive to streamline operations while navigating an evolving corporate and cultural landscape.
