Meta, the owner of Facebook, has informed its staff that it plans to cut 5% from its global workforce. The company will do this using their performance management system.
In a memo sent to employees, Mark Zuckerberg stated that he will “move low performers out faster” and accelerate the use of Meta’s performance management system.
Around 3,600 employees will be affected by the decision, but the company says it will hire more people to fill those positions later in the year.
Zuckerberg said that he usually manages out those who don’t meet expectations over the course a year, but now we will make more significant performance-based reductions during this cycle.
Bloomberg has seen a memo that states US employees will receive notification in early February, while the rest of staff will learn later. He said that those who lose their job could receive “generous severance”.
Zuckerberg stated that the plans to improve worker performance were made ahead of a “intense” year which will be focused on technology, such as artificial intelligent and smart glasses.
Meta announced earlier this week that it will roll back DEI programs, ahead of Donald Trump’s return to office as US President-elect later this month. Trump is a critic for “woke” DEI programs.
Zuckerberg announced that Meta will stop using fact-checking at Facebook, and instead introduce a Community Notes System similar to that of X (formerly Twitter).
In the past, critics have criticized using performance management systems for identifying groups of employees who are underperforming and recommending their dismissal.
In recent years, the so-called “rank and yank” method, popularized by General Electric CEO Jack Welch back in 1980s, has been criticized for being too subjective, and having a negative impact on employee motivation.
Subscribe to our weekly HR news and guidance
Every Wednesday, receive the Personnel Today Direct newsletter.
Personnel Today offers employee relations opportunities
Find more employee relations jobs
