Meta Layoffs Spark Outrage - Employees on Leave Feel Targeted

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is facing backlash after its latest layoffs. Employees claim the company is disproportionately targeting those who have taken extended leaves, including maternity leave. The layoffs, which aim to cut 5% of Meta’s global workforce—approximately 3,600 employees—have been framed as “performance-based terminations.” However, several affected employees, including those with strong performance records, say the cuts feel personal and discriminatory, particularly for those who recently returned from paid leave246.

Maternity Leave and Layoffs: A Troubling Pattern

One of the most vocal critics is Elana Reman Safner, a former product counsel at MetaWorks, who was laid off just weeks after returning from a six-month maternity leave. 

In a LinkedIn post, Safner revealed that during her three years at Meta, he had never received a performance review below “Meets All.” ”She expressed disbelief at being labeled a low performer, especially since her expectations were prorated during her leave.

“It is very hard to believe that—despite Meta indicating my expectations are prorated—I did not do enough,” she wrote. “Many laid off today have similar stories: a history of good performance and a recent leave of absence.”

Safner’s experience is not isolated. 

Like Safner, hundreds of other employees have also come forward with similar stories, suggesting that Meta’s layoffs may disproportionately affect those who have taken extended leaves. They feel the leaves have done them in, whether for medical reasons, caregiving, or other personal matters. Indeed, this has raised concerns about whether Meta unfairly targets employees perceived as a “burden” due to their time away from work.

Meta’s Defense: Performance-Based Cuts

Meta has defended the layoffs as part of a broader effort to “raise the bar on performance management.” In an internal memo, CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the need to “exit low performers faster” to maintain a lean and efficient workforce. The company has stated that the cuts are based on performance reviews, with employees receiving “met some” or “did not meet” ratings being the primary targets.

However, critics argue that the performance review process may be flawed or biased, particularly for employees who have taken extended leave. “It’s hard to shake the feeling that taking leave put a target on my back,” one affected employee said anonymously. “I was a top performer before my leave, and now I’m being let go. It doesn’t add up”.

Severance Packages and Employee Anxiety

Meta is offering severance packages to affected employees, including 16 weeks of base pay and an additional two weeks for each year of service. While the financial support is appreciated, many employees are worried about the stigma of being labeled as low performers. “Now I have to go back into the job market with this label, and it’s incredibly unfair,” one employee said.

The layoffs have also created a culture of fear and anxiety among remaining employees. “It feels like living in a George Orwell novel,” one Meta employee told Business Insider. “People are disappearing, and no one knows who’s next.”

A Broader Trend in The Tech World

Meta’s layoffs are part of a recent, more significant trend in the tech industry. Numerous tech giants are slashing jobs to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. TThesegiants seem to primarily focus on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). However, targeting employees on leave has sparked a broader conversation about workplace equity and the treatment of caregivers, particularly women returning from maternity leave.

What’s Next for Meta?

As Meta continues ito pursueAI and other high-priority technologies, the company faces growing scrutiny over its treatment of employees. While the layoffs may help Meta achieve its efficiency goals, the human cost——and the potential damage to its reputation——could have long-term consequences.