Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, is set to implement company-wide layoffs starting this week. According to a report from Reuters, the company will begin sending out notices to affected employees starting at 5AM PST. The layoffs are expected to impact multiple countries, including the US, but employees in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be exempt due to local labor laws. Layoff notifications for employees in several other countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa will be sent out between February 11 and February 18.
 

Meta had previously confirmed that it planned to reduce its workforce by around 5%, targeting "lowest performers" as part of its "performance terminations" initiative. Despite these cuts, some of the positions may be refilled. The company has decided to keep its offices open and refrain from providing additional details about the layoffs, as per a memo from Meta’s Head of People, Janelle Gale.In addition to the layoffs, Meta is accelerating its hiring of machine learning engineers and other “business-critical” positions, according to a separate memo posted by Peng Fan, Meta’s VP of Engineering for Monetization. This hiring push is scheduled to take place between February 11 and March 13.
 

The job cuts at Meta are part of a broader trend in the tech industry. In 2025, several major tech companies have also implemented layoffs. Google, for example, has introduced a voluntary exit program for employees in its US Platforms and Devices division, particularly those working on Android and Pixel teams. Microsoft has been ramping up performance-based layoffs, reportedly letting go of underperforming employees, some of whom did not receive severance or healthcare benefits. Amazon, on the other hand, has eliminated about 200 positions in its fashion and fitness divisions as part of a broader strategy to cut bureaucracy and improve efficiency within its North America Stores team.