Meta cutting 10,000 workers, second mass layoff in months

What’s happening at Meta?

Just months after laying off more than 11,000 employees, Meta Platforms (Meta) confirmed that it’s trimming its headcount even further.

In a message to staff on March 14, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the social media giant is planning to eliminate approximately 10,000 jobs and “close around 5,000 additional open roles that we haven’t yet hired.”

“We will let recruiting team members know [March 15] whether they’re impacted,” Zuckerberg said. “We expect to announce restructurings and layoffs in our tech groups in late April, and then our business groups in late May.”

The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp added that its timelines for international teams will look different. Local leaders will provide affected staff with more details.

The fresh round of job cuts comes after Zuckerberg claimed that 2023 was going to be the company’s “Year of Efficiency.”

“As I’ve talked about efficiency this year, I’ve said that part of our work will involve removing jobs — and that will be in service of both building a leaner, more technical company and improving our business performance to enable our long term vision.”

According to news outlets, including Reuters, Meta employed a global workforce of more than 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

Meta joins the growing list of major North American tech companies that have announced sweeping layoffs to kick off 2023.

Several big names, including Alphabet, Dell, Clearco, Hootsuite, Microsoft, Amazon, and Salesforce, are significantly scaling back their staffing levels as they continue to navigate challenging economic conditions.

SEE ALSO
• VerticalScope cutting 22% of staff amid economic uncertainty
• 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.