A former employee of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, recently shared his experience of being laid off during the company’s second round of layoffs. The employee described the experience as an “emotional rollercoaster,” stating that he was not prepared for the profound impact that it would have on him.
Meta recently announced its intention to lay off another 10,000 workers, following the cut of 11,000 jobs in 2022. This move was made in response to the current economic climate, as the company acknowledged that it had hired too many people during the pandemic. The layoffs have impacted people from all walks of life, with some receiving their cutback notices as early as 4:00 am and others being laid off while on maternity leave.
One of these affected employees, Chris Bowler, took to LinkedIn to share his experience. Bowler, who was laid off in August 2021, wrote that he was one of many who had been impacted by the Meta layoffs. He described the “emotional rollercoaster” that he had experienced since being notified of his layoff, stating that nothing could have prepared him for it.
Reflecting on his time at Meta, Bowler spoke fondly of the people he had worked with and the opportunities he had contributed to. He expressed pride in having played a role in expanding the company’s capacity and shaping its overall direction.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged the difficulty of the layoffs in an email to employees. He stated that the company would be reducing its team size by around 10,000 people and closing around 5,000 open jobs that had not yet been filled. He recognized the contributions of the affected employees and vowed to treat them with respect and offer them assistance in the same way as in the past.
During an internal meeting earlier this year, Zuckerberg announced the company’s plans to “remove some layers of management to boost efficiency” and make 2023 the “year of efficiency.”
The emotional impact of being laid off can be profound, as Chris Bowler’s experience demonstrates. While companies may have valid reasons for making cutbacks, it is important to recognize and support the individuals affected by them. By sharing their experiences, employees like Bowler can help others going through similar situations feel less alone and more supported.
