Facebook owner Meta prepares for layoffs starting from Feb 10: Internal memo

NEW YORK – Facebook owner Meta Platforms plans to carry out its expected company-wide layoffs this week while pushing ahead with the expedited hiring of machine-learning engineers, it told staff in internal memos seen by Reuters on Feb 7.

Australia’s ChannelNews website reported on Feb 10 that Meta is cutting about 3,600 employees or about 5 per cent of its workforce.

Notices were expected to go out to employees losing their jobs starting at 5am Pacific Standard Time (9pm Singapore time) on Feb 10 in most countries, including in the US, according to one of the posts, authored by Meta’s Head of People Janelle Gale.

Employees in Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands will be exempt from the cuts “due to local regulations”.

Those in more than a dozen other countries across Europe, Asia and Africa will receive their notifications between Feb 11 and 18, it said.

A Meta spokesperson declined to comment on the posts.

The company confirmed in January that it was planning to trim about 5 per cent of its “lowest performers” and backfill at least some of the positions.

The Feb 7 memo, in which Ms Gale referred to the cuts as “performance terminations”, was first reported by The Information, a technology news website.

Unlike with previous company-wide layoffs, Meta was planning to keep its offices open on Feb 10 and would not issue any updates giving further details on the decisions, she said in her post.

A separate memo, posted by vice-president of engineering for monetisation Peng Fan also on Feb 10, asked staff to assist with an expedited hiring process for machine-learning engineers and other “business critical” engineering roles.

That process would take place between Feb 11 and March 13, he said in that post.

“Thank you for your continued support in helping us achieve our accelerated hiring goals and better align with our company’s priorities for 2025.” REUTERS