Meta begins latest round of layoffs, technical roles affected

What’s happening at Meta?

Roughly a month after announcing plans to eliminate approximately 10,000 jobs, Meta has begun to scale back its staffing levels.

On April 19, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp confirmed to multiple news outlets, including CNN, that layoffs have begun.

While it remains unclear how many employees are affected, members of the tech giant’s sustainability, well-being, user experience, news feed, and messaging teams, shared on social media that they had been let go.

“I woke up this morning to the unfortunate news that I was one of the many laid-off from Meta today,” Teresa Jimenez, a business program manager at Facebook, wrote on Linkedin.

“While I am certainly disappointed, I’m also feeling extremely grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside some of the most talented individuals for almost three years!”

The latest round of job cuts comes just months after the company laid off more than 11,000 workers in November.

According to reports, Meta employed a global workforce of approximately 86,000 people at the end of 2022.

Impact on Canadian staff

Meta didn’t disclose how many Canadian employees are affected by the latest round of cuts.

During the tech giant’s mass layoff in November, several staff members shared on social media that they had been let go.

According to LinkedIn, the company has more than 1,000 workers in Canada.

Employee support and next steps

Non-unionized employees in Canada affected by layoffs may be eligible for severance pay, which is determined by several factors, including role, tenure, and age.

Key facts about severance:

• Severance Pay: Can include up to 24 months’ pay in some cases, depending on specific circumstances.
• Components: Severance packages may include salary, bonuses, commissions, and other forms of compensation. Use our free Severance Pay Calculator to estimate what your package should look like.
• Deadlines: Employees have up to two years from their termination date to review and negotiate severance entitlements. Deadlines set by employers for accepting severance offers are not legally enforceable.
• Need guidance? Contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP for a severance review and expert advice.

Employees affected by the layoffs at Manulife can find additional details about their rights and options in our Manulife Layoffs resource.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains general severance rights on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

Major tech layoffs continue

The latest reduction at Meta comes after several major North American tech companies announced sweeping layoffs in 2023.

Big names, including Amazon, Kyndryl, Electronic Arts, Alphabet, Dell, Clearco, Hootsuite, and Microsoft, are significantly scaling back their staffing levels as they continue to navigate challenging economic conditions.

SEE ALSO
• Tech firm F5 cuts 620 jobs, office spending and executive bonus
• Employment lawyer on recent tech layoffs and severance

Lost your job? Talk to an employment lawyer

If you have been fired or let go for any reason, contact the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. have successfully represented tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals.

In addition to severance package negotiations, we can assist you on a broad range of employment matters, including:

If you are a non-unionized employee who needs help with a workplace issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and should not be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.