Meta Layoffs: A former Meta employee has opened up about the tense and unsettling environment inside the company just before its first major wave of layoffs, describing the atmosphere as “almost like doomsday”. The account paints a picture of confusion and anxiety, where employees were unsure of what the next day would bring. Adel Wu, who said she saw multiple rounds of job cuts during her final year at Meta, shared her experiences on X. She recalled how uncertainty gripped the workplace as layoffs approached, especially during one of the most significant restructuring phases.
Her comments come ahead of Meta’s expected elimination of 8,000 jobs on May 20, adding further attention to the company’s ongoing workforce reductions under CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Wu described the night before the first large-scale layoffs as chaotic and emotionally draining. Employees, she said, reacted with fear and uncertainty, unsure of who would be affected. “I remember the very first big layoff, the night before was almost like doomsday, people were stuffing their bags with free snacks and drinks and chargers,” she wrote.
The scene, according to her, reflected a workplace on edge, where even small comforts like snacks and chargers were hurriedly collected in anticipation of sudden job losses.
during my last year at meta there were probably 4-5 layoffs, but this one on 5/20 is huuugemy friends still there are either just waiting hoping to get laid off or extremely anxious because the job is their lifelinei remember the very first big layoff the night before was… https://t.co/3fhVNzQjGn
— adel 🌟 (@adelwu_) May 16, 2026
Recurring Layoffs And Growing Uncertainty At Meta
Wu also suggested that layoffs at Meta had become a repeated pattern rather than isolated events. She claimed there were “probably 4-5 layoffs” during her final year, calling the upcoming May 20 round “huuuge”.
She added that little seemed to have changed since 2021, with ongoing instability continuing to affect employees’ sense of security. According to Wu, the emotional toll has been significant, with many employees unsure about their future.
“My friends still there are either just waiting hoping to get laid off or extremely anxious because the job is their lifeline,” she wrote.
