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Meta reportedly plans more job cuts

engadget.com

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Re: Meta reportedly plans more job cuts

#42
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s a good question but my sense is that database engineering is pretty damn critical for Meta.

As a common Software Engineer, I see my type of position as transient, whereas those database guys, the ones who make sure all the guts run, all that crazy shit, they're needed night and day. They can fire me and hire a version of me the next day, but the people next to the bare metal seem to have a lot more stored in their brain than can be easily replicated with the next recruit.

You're putting them on a pedestal a bit too much. Their work isn't as different as you think.

Re: Meta reportedly plans more job cuts

#43
post #4

“Meta did not immediately to Engadget’s comment request.” I don’t really see much value to the numerous hurried regurgitations of the original story (from the Financial Times), though I guess this link is a form of that. The beatings will continue until morale improves.

blank did not immediately respond to blank 's request for comments is so common as to mean nothing.

What do you mean? It's added because that's what happened. You'll also find lots of articles if you google "company spokesperson said". It's far from meaningless when there's no response.

Re: Meta reportedly plans more job cuts

#44
post #36

In our large company, we often had a consulting firm that advised us in difficult times. Bottom line, they said that they think the company needs to deeply breath out and then breathe in again. After the severance payments, we were always urgently looking for people. For me, that was always proof that the managers had failed. But a disproportionately small number of managers had to leave the company.

I have no idea what will happen, but it sort of sounded like (from the limited reporting that's been done) they'll focus a bit more on managers / non-ICs this time -- if it happens at all.

It is kind of nasty to think about the timing though. If true, they kept those managers around to do the very undesirable and time-consuming performance cycle (yearly review) work and will be letting them go now that the process has concluded.

Re: Meta reportedly plans more job cuts

#45
post #36

In our large company, we often had a consulting firm that advised us in difficult times. Bottom line, they said that they think the company needs to deeply breath out and then breathe in again. After the severance payments, we were always urgently looking for people. For me, that was always proof that the managers had failed. But a disproportionately small number of managers had to leave the company.

The people leave, but the culture of failure stays. Its a long way down, until in some run down office park, the last flickering neon light goes dark.

Whats more interesting though is how the let go workers venture within there cultural spheres. Meta workers are more likely to go to places, that have adapted similar cultures, with AB Tests.

Re: Meta reportedly plans more job cuts

#46
This is familiar to those of us who went through the dot com bubble burst. We're not at the same scale of industry specific recession but there are similarities with an economic slow down, more cautious spending, reduction in VC money and shareholders seeking returns. Wave after wave of redundancies to try and reach a stable cashflow, each one "right sizing" until they realise that their calculations where wrong and there is even less free flowing money/debt than they thought. It becomes incredibly demoralising, which constant suspicions of what meetings are about, wondering when the next round will be and if you'll in the next batch.

Re: Meta reportedly plans more job cuts

#47
Just before the last round of layoffs, Zuck said some of you "shouldn't be here" and a memo circulating in management-only groups was laying blame on "coaster" ICs (it leaked and they got called out, and tried to walk it back). I don't wish any ill will towards anyone there, but it's flavors of schadenfreude that management (probably mostly M1/M2) is now instead the target of the layoff machine.

Re: Meta reportedly plans more job cuts

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

blank did not immediately respond to blank 's request for comments is so common as to mean nothing.

What do you mean? It's added because that's what happened. You'll also find lots of articles if you google "company spokesperson said". It's far from meaningless when there's no response.

How much time passed between reaching out and publishing the article? Who decides how much time is "enough"? You could technically send out an email, and then immediately publish the article. After all a few seconds passed with no reply...

Because of this the line is meaningless (to me at least).

Re: Meta reportedly plans more job cuts

#49
post #36

In our large company, we often had a consulting firm that advised us in difficult times. Bottom line, they said that they think the company needs to deeply breath out and then breathe in again. After the severance payments, we were always urgently looking for people. For me, that was always proof that the managers had failed. But a disproportionately small number of managers had to leave the company.

I think a big factor in these layoffs is to signal the market that the companies are "cutting fat". The market gets the signal, stock price goes up and the board of directors eases the pressure on the CEO. After this the company can resume business as usual, which will require quietly hiring to fill the needed positions.

Re: Meta reportedly plans more job cuts

#50
Meta is one of the few companies where the job cuts really make sense. I mean, they have not a single product which is basically not on a steep dying path. Facebook will be gone as soon as the boomer generation will fall like dominoes. Instagram is slowly dying amongst millennials and the Metaverse has already been largely rejected by users before it even took off. If Meta didn't own WhatsApp then I think most people would even forget that this company still exists.
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