Mark Zuckerberg is starting to slap some pretty harsh “Below Expectations” labels on employees who aren’t meeting the mark

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As a gamer, I’ve noticed Meta is getting more streamlined internally, particularly in employee evaluations, which is part of their broader strategy to be leaner and operate more efficiently. This comes after a period of extensive hiring during the pandemic followed by several rounds of layoffs that reduced the workforce by approximately 21,000 employees between 2022 and 2024. CEO Mark Zuckerberg declared 2023 as the “Year of Efficiency,” and now he’s directing this focus inward – tightening up performance reviews rather than resorting to immediate layoffs.

Zuckerberg’s not playing around with performance anymore

Based on a report by Business Insider, this year’s midyear performance evaluations for teams with more than 150 members require managers to categorize 15-20% of their team as “Underperforming,” which is an increase from the 12-15% designated as such last year.

While there’s no public discussion about large-scale layoffs at the moment, this new system may subtly encourage underperforming workers to leave. Employees who don’t perform well during the midyear evaluations might find themselves in follow-up meetings starting from July, which could potentially result in terminations based on performance issues.

Meta’s strategy isn’t exclusive; other tech titans such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are likewise focusing on enhancing performance. This is an effort to minimize expenses and derive maximum results from leaner workforces. It’s a trend that’s sweeping the technology sector, with employees finding themselves under increased pressure to consistently perform or face potential layoffs.

The transformation at Meta isn’t solely focused on figures; it’s also connected to Zuckerberg’s broader vision. He believes that the era of smartphones dominating our digital existence is coming to an end. Instead, he envisions the future in AR (augmented reality) and the metaverse. This is where Meta has been directing a significant amount of its resources and funds.

In moving towards a future vision, Meta’s changes are sparking debates on the type of work environment they are evolving into, as well as the types of employees who will flourish within it.

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2025-05-27 12:32