Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, is preparing for company-wide layoffs next Monday, as indicated in internal memos reviewed by Reuters. The layoffs, affecting around 5% of employees deemed “lowest performers,” will begin at 5 a.m. local time in many regions, including the U.S. However, workers in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be exempt from the cuts due to local regulations. Notifications for employees in other countries, including those across Europe, Asia, and Africa, will be issued between February 11 and February 18.
Meta has confirmed that it intends to backfill some of the positions lost during the layoffs, particularly in critical areas such as machine learning engineering. This push for hiring new talent aligns with Meta’s 2025 priorities. Despite the layoffs, Meta plans to keep its offices open on Monday, without issuing further updates on the decisions, according to a memo from Head of People, Janelle Gale.
The expedited hiring process for machine learning engineers and other vital roles will take place between February 11 and March 13. VP of Engineering for Monetization Peng Fan emphasized the importance of staff support in meeting these hiring goals.