"Meta plans to cut about 10 percent of its workforce, or nearly 8,000 people, "to run the company more efficiently" and "offset the other investments" it's making, according to a human resources leader. But the layoffs, which will add to the roughly 25,000 cuts Meta has announced over the past four years, are far from the only cause of rock-bottom morale."
"Yet another issue has been the recent installation of corporate software on employees' computers to track their activity solely in the name of training AI, according to 16 current and former employees from a variety of roles who spoke with WIRED. They declined to be named because of company policies barring unsanctioned conversations with journalists."
""I don't know anyone having a good time," says a policy staffer. "The vibe is a bit 'over it'-lack of connection to the mission, upcoming layoffs, American employees being used to train the AI models that will replace them.""
"Anyone who can afford to leave is hoping to be laid off and receive the 16 weeks minimum of severance and 18 months of paid health care that come with it, several people say. As the Instagram employee put it, "Everyone is just like, do it now, jesus fucking christ." Only the individuals with the best pay packages and involved in the core development of AI seem to be thriving."
Meta plans to cut about 10% of its workforce, nearly 8,000 people, to run the company more efficiently and offset other investments. The layoffs add to roughly 25,000 cuts announced over the past four years. Employees report widening pay gaps, courtroom losses, and mandatory role changes for hundreds of top engineers. Morale is further affected by corporate software installed on employees’ computers to track activity for AI training, according to current and former employees. Some employees describe a lack of connection to the mission and frustration with upcoming layoffs. Workers who can afford to leave hope to be laid off to receive 16 weeks minimum severance and 18 months of paid health care. In the UK, some employees are registering signatures to form a labor union.
#workplace-layoffs #employee-morale #ai-training-surveillance #severance-and-benefits #labor-union-organizing
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