Meta's Surprise Job Cuts: Zuckerberg Aims to Boost Team Performance

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is set to reduce its workforce by approximately 5% to accelerate the departure of what CEO Mark Zuckerberg refers to as “low performers.” In a memo to staff, Zuckerberg highlighted the need for heightened performance standards due to an anticipated challenging year ahead. The company, which has roughly 72,000 employees worldwide, plans to notify affected US workers by February 10, while global notifications will be staggered. This decision follows Meta’s previous layoffs of 10,000 jobs in 2023 and 11,000 in 2022, both part of broader cost-reduction strategies known as the “year of efficiency.”

Zuckerberg mentioned that around 3,600 employees could be impacted in this round of cuts but assured them they would receive a “generous severance” package. He indicated that the usual timeline for performance cuts would be expedited this year, aiming to quickly fill former roles with higher-performing candidates by 2025.

In a cultural shift, Zuckerberg has begun to reshape his public image and hinted at his belief that companies should embody more “masculine energy.” On a recent podcast with Joe Rogan, he discussed the benefits of martial arts for self-expression, contrasting his competitive nature in sports with the often restrained persona expected in corporate leadership. This move to reshape both company dynamics and his own image reflects a broader transformation at Meta amid increasing pressure and competition in the tech sector.