Laid-Off Meta Worker Says Maternity Leave Made Her a Target: ‘Mental Overload Won’t Be Missed’
Meta has initiated a new round of layoffs, aiming to reduce its workforce by 5%, impacting approximately 3,600 employees across Europe, Asia, and the US, according to Business Insider. In an internal memo, Meta stated that the job cuts are performance-based, targeting employees who failed to meet expectations.
However, several laid-off employees have disputed this, claiming they never received poor reviews during their tenure. One such employee is Elana Reman Safner, a product counsel for MetaWorks for over three years, who was let go earlier this week.
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In a LinkedIn post, Elana Safner revealed she was laid off just weeks after returning from a six-month maternity leave, challenging Meta’s claim that the layoffs were based on employee performance. Safner, who had never received a poor performance review, expressed her shock at being let go, suggesting that Meta targeted employees who had recently taken leaves. “I was blindsided,” Safner wrote, reflecting on her unexpected layoff amid the company’s “performance-based” cuts.
She noted, “I have never received a review below ‘Meets All’ my 3+ years at Meta, and I was on mat leave for 6 months until November.”
She further added, “It is very hard to believe that – despite Meta indicating my expectations are prorated – I did not do enough. Many laid off today have similar stories – a history of good performance, and a recent leave of absence.”
Unfortunately, after 5 years, I was impacted by the Meta layoffs today. However, here are some reasons why you should hire me:
– Helped over 3,000 individuals break into tech
– Organized the Black Tech Gala with over ten Bay Area tech companies, attracting over 3,500… pic.twitter.com/08jg6OXNaK
— Brii (she/her) 🧠👩🏾💻✊🏾💅🏾 (@Brii_toe_knee) February 10, 2025
“Here’s what I won’t miss: my career being at the mercy of product decisions I couldn’t influence, the mental overload, 34-page one-pagers, juggling 62 open tabs, killing off beloved products for not being ‘moonshot’ enough for Zuck, and becoming collateral damage to Zuck’s newfound ‘masculine energy,’” wrote Safner.
Safner provided a comprehensive account of her role and achievements at Meta, while expressing heartfelt gratitude toward her team. She noted that, despite occasional disagreements with product decisions or frustrations with Meta’s public image, her clients and colleagues always kept her motivated. “I’ve never worked anywhere where I could see myself being friends with every person outside of work,” she wrote, describing Reality Labs Legal as a family she will deeply miss working with.
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