Meta, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is set to implement significant changes by reducing its global workforce by approximately 5%. This move, impacting around 3,600 employees, aims to enhance the company's overall efficiency by targeting underperforming staff. Affected workers in the United States will receive notifications by February 10, while those outside the US will be informed at a later date. The company, which employs about 72,000 people worldwide, has not specified how the job cuts will be distributed across different regions.
The decision to accelerate the regular performance-based cuts comes amid a challenging year anticipated by Mr. Zuckerberg. He has redefined 2023 as the "year of efficiency," aligning with his strategy to streamline Meta's operations and public image. Previously, in 2023, Meta executed a substantial reduction of 10,000 positions, and prior to that, in 2022, the company cut about 11,000 roles. These new reductions are part of an ongoing effort to ensure that only the most effective team members remain.
"This is going to be an intense year, and I want to make sure we have the best people on our teams." – Mark Zuckerberg
Mr. Zuckerberg emphasized the importance of having a high-performance team, stating his intention to "raise the bar on performance management and move out low performers faster." This initiative reflects his commitment to maintaining a competitive edge by ensuring that only top-performing employees contribute to the company's goals.
"I've decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low performers faster." – Mark Zuckerberg
While the process of job cuts typically unfolds over a year, Meta is expediting this timeline. The company plans to "backfill" the roles later in 2025, indicating that positions may be refilled once strategic objectives are met. However, there has been no official announcement regarding how these cuts will be distributed globally.