Meta Reports Record Profits Amid Employee Morale Crisis
Original: Meta’s New Reality: Record High Profits. Record Low Morale
Why This Matters
Shows growing disconnect between Big Tech financial success and employee satisfaction.
Meta plans to cut 10% of workforce (8,000 employees) on May 20, adding to 25,000 layoffs over four years. Current employees report historically low morale despite record profits, with mandatory AI tracking software and widening pay gaps contributing to workplace dissatisfaction.
Meta employees face layoffs next week as the company cuts approximately 8,000 positions to 'run more efficiently' and 'offset investments,' according to HR leadership. This adds to roughly 25,000 cuts announced over four years. Beyond layoffs, employee morale has plummeted due to widening pay gaps, courtroom losses, mandatory role changes for top engineers, and installation of activity-tracking software to train AI models. Current employees across Instagram, policy, and legal teams report widespread unhappiness, with many hoping to be laid off for 16-week severance packages. UK workers are organizing with United Tech & Allied Workers union over 'cruel and short-sighted behaviors.' Only executives and core AI developers appear satisfied. The situation reportedly affects recruiting efforts despite Meta's strong ad business performance.