As Meta employees brace for layoffs next Wednesday, May 20, many say the vibes are horrifically, historically low. “Everyone is unhappy; the only people who are not unhappy are, literally, executives,” says an employee who works on Instagram.
The social media giant 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.
This article seems to imply that in the end it actually doesn't. They may take the job and the money, but ultimately still aren't happy. And the reason is they have damaged their soul in exchange and deep down they know it. But sure, there will be plenty of counter examples of psychopaths that aren't harmed and live a gleeful life, but they are just that, psycopaths.
They don’t see it that way. The specific division he works in isn’t on the advertising or social media side, and he sees it as cutting edge research that will hopefully make the world a better place.
They’re compartmentalized and no one really sees the machine as a whole single entity
Being able to do that type of work and getting paid millions in stock compensation seems to make him pretty happy 🤷♀️
Yeah. the FB people I know are in the "vest and rest" camp. Once they get their vesting, they're out and doing other things.
Same deal; bought and paid off their houses, now they're just waiting for the vesting of their sign-on shares, then they're out to look for other, (in their words) "more fulfilling work."
My best friend works at Tesla and he and his co-workers share the same sentiment. Hell some them share the same politics as Elon, they don't give a fuck. Morals go out the window when you're making bank. Anyone with a conscience and is smart enough to understand the consequences of these political games the rich are playing on our lives probably can't stand looking at themselves in a mirror though.
Well in this economy for IT the money being great is often enough even if it's for a limited time ... I would work for FB for $200k+ for 5 years and pocket $1mln in salary and then move into something else .. vs grinding away for $75k in some shithole startup only to be cut loose because funding dried up and any equity is worthless
Yeah, it said the median pay was something like 417, 000 last year, that's why. You just have to actively work to make society worse and your own job obsolete in exchange.
so you’d sign up, move to the Bay Area, pay $4500/month to live near that campus, then be fine training the AI that will replace you? What if you get swept up in the layoffs starting next week? Still think that’s a good deal?
Outside of the vocally online people on Reddit, 95% of the human population takes jobs based on how much money they can get for the skills they have. No one gives a shit about having a mission at work.
> No one gives a shit about having a mission at work.
This is objectively false once you start talking about people with careers and not fast food employees, waiters and big box stockers desperate to make ends meet.
And is especially not true when the discussion as about work place morale and job satisfaction.
Maybe you only live in upper class areas. But if you go to a random suburban barbecue with garbagemen and accountants and tradesmen and salespeople and mechanics and finance people, no one gives a shit about their mission.
Almost everyone I meet in those situations would rather their workplace do more unethical things - environmentally, data privacy, safety - if it meant they get a 20% raise or bonus at the end of the year.
I literally met an environmental waste cleanup guy this week who said "my girlfriend thinks it's so sweet I clean up these spills. I told her I love oil spills, the bigger the better! More work and more overtime!"
I genuinely am curious about the social circles where this isn't the case.
Your exceptions seem to prove the rule? Social workers, nonprofit workers, etc are a tiny minority of the workforce.
There's only so much funding going towards nonprofit and charitable activities.
As far as volunteers go, volunteers are by nature a privileged class of people with the wealth to basically work for free. They're oftentimes privileged retirees or stay at home mothers.
>Maybe you only live in upper class areas. But if you go to a random suburban barbecue with garbagemen and accountants and tradesmen and salespeople and mechanics and finance people, no one gives a shit about their mission.
Yeah but I’d avoid jobs that are setting up surveillance software designed to take my job. Or I’d be mighty fucking pissed. So the money those people think they’re getting is going to dry up mighty fast
I disagree, at least annecdotally. I have been working in nonprofits in DC my whole career and mission matters a lot. There are a fair number of non profits here I wouldn't even piss on if they were on fire, and others I would potentially take a fair amount less money to work at because of the importance of the mission. In fairness, my partner does pretty well so we have flexibility in what is comfortable, but even before that I would rather know I am at least trying to make the world a bit better.
Yeah, there are definitely plenty who couldn't be paid to care but I think folks also generally massively overestimate how many people truly don't care as opposed to how many just suck it up because they need to survive and have few other options.
Like, I know in my case I had no energy for caring about anything outside of remaining housed for years but once I had some long-term stability I remember finding myself shocked to realize my personality was returning and I gave a shit again. I know I'm not everyone but a therapist told me that was a pretty common reaction.
I don’t know, I did turn down more money to work for a media outlet owned by a trump adjacent person. But finding media not owned by assholes is harder and harder
I dont agree with the other assessment - its not that people had morals and the money overrulled it. I know many many Meta engineers. They have no morals. They are not morally smart. They dont care. They really dont. They dont think that far.
I wouldn't want to work at Facebook, but the Segment Anything work - particularly Sam 3D - is the kind of problem which has fascinated me for decades and I wish I had the time and money to work on a problem like that. That being said it's perhaps such a disconnected team that it might not even feel like it's connected to facebook.
Huh I’m reasonably in tune with tech and I have no idea what Segment Anything or Sam 3D is/means. Thanks for giving me something to look into! (Sincere thanks not sarcastic)
Segment Anything is an ML model which can identify and draw a mask for just about any object in an image or video, which is kind of interesting if you want to annotate data or do targeted edits, but Sam 3D can create a valid 3D model for just about any object in a picture, or even a meshed humanoid model, which is basically black magic.
I used to always use simple 3D meshes to plan out layouts for my drawings and comics, and being able to just make a mesh out of any concept from images and even move a scene around to rearrange it how you like, potentially create a new angle, etc, all from a single image, is the kind of amazing tech breakthrough in the last few years since transformers were developed that I don't think people have fully grasped the possibilities of yet.
I would not be surprised if Facebook protects its monopoly status by becoming (or already is) a Federally sanctioned social media platform by making a deal with the NSA. No need to reinvent when all competition is blocked by the national firewall.
[OP] wiredmagazine | 21 hours ago
As Meta employees brace for layoffs next Wednesday, May 20, many say the vibes are horrifically, historically low. “Everyone is unhappy; the only people who are not unhappy are, literally, executives,” says an employee who works on Instagram.
The social media giant 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.
slainascully | 2 hours ago
It sure would be a public service if those 8000 people fucked up some internal workings of the evil company before they left
ketamarine | 20 hours ago
Maybe people should realize that the two are directly negatively correlated.
Meta is making record profits because they are shedding employees like a hairy dog in the summer...
fdar | an hour ago
In the short term, sure.
el_sandino | 21 hours ago
I genuinely don’t understand why anyone would want to work at Facebook. The money is great, I’m sure. The mission? It makes me sick
redditonlygetsworse | 20 hours ago
You answered your own question, no?
737900ER | 12 hours ago
Then why should I feel bad for these people in the article?
bautofdi | 19 hours ago
My cousin works at meta. He just bought a $14M house in Atherton. Thats going to override any “company mission” for most people
manimal28 | 18 hours ago
This article seems to imply that in the end it actually doesn't. They may take the job and the money, but ultimately still aren't happy. And the reason is they have damaged their soul in exchange and deep down they know it. But sure, there will be plenty of counter examples of psychopaths that aren't harmed and live a gleeful life, but they are just that, psycopaths.
bautofdi | 18 hours ago
They don’t see it that way. The specific division he works in isn’t on the advertising or social media side, and he sees it as cutting edge research that will hopefully make the world a better place.
They’re compartmentalized and no one really sees the machine as a whole single entity
Being able to do that type of work and getting paid millions in stock compensation seems to make him pretty happy 🤷♀️
greenroom628 | 16 hours ago
Yeah. the FB people I know are in the "vest and rest" camp. Once they get their vesting, they're out and doing other things.
Same deal; bought and paid off their houses, now they're just waiting for the vesting of their sign-on shares, then they're out to look for other, (in their words) "more fulfilling work."
Fair-Search-2324 | 13 hours ago
That’s what I’d tell my family too. Meanwhile, crank up the crack addict meter to fibonnaci 9.
HappyAd4998 | 7 hours ago
My best friend works at Tesla and he and his co-workers share the same sentiment. Hell some them share the same politics as Elon, they don't give a fuck. Morals go out the window when you're making bank. Anyone with a conscience and is smart enough to understand the consequences of these political games the rich are playing on our lives probably can't stand looking at themselves in a mirror though.
flakemasterflake | 16 hours ago
That’s hilarious
abrandis | 16 hours ago
This , the reality of the world has a habit of correcting any moral principles especially in a capitalistic society
CaffeinatedT | 20 hours ago
Same reason as people work at any large company the money outweighs the drawbacks of bureaucracy/ethics/low-impact etc.
arazamatazguy | 18 hours ago
Yes and then having Facebook on your resume really helps getting a job at a much smaller company you actually want to work at.
abrandis | 16 hours ago
Well in this economy for IT the money being great is often enough even if it's for a limited time ... I would work for FB for $200k+ for 5 years and pocket $1mln in salary and then move into something else .. vs grinding away for $75k in some shithole startup only to be cut loose because funding dried up and any equity is worthless
Wellslapmesilly | 15 hours ago
The money is INSANELY good. That's why. For some people, that's enough reason.
manimal28 | 18 hours ago
Yeah, it said the median pay was something like 417, 000 last year, that's why. You just have to actively work to make society worse and your own job obsolete in exchange.
el_sandino | 18 hours ago
Seems like a bad trade to me
yrogerg123 | 18 hours ago
I'd sell my soul for $417,000 per year. I already work my ass off for way less than that.
manimal28 | 16 hours ago
> I'd sell my soul for $417,000 per year.
The would too, and did.
el_sandino | 18 hours ago
so you’d sign up, move to the Bay Area, pay $4500/month to live near that campus, then be fine training the AI that will replace you? What if you get swept up in the layoffs starting next week? Still think that’s a good deal?
Fickle-Syllabub6730 | 20 hours ago
Outside of the vocally online people on Reddit, 95% of the human population takes jobs based on how much money they can get for the skills they have. No one gives a shit about having a mission at work.
manimal28 | 18 hours ago
> No one gives a shit about having a mission at work.
This is objectively false once you start talking about people with careers and not fast food employees, waiters and big box stockers desperate to make ends meet.
And is especially not true when the discussion as about work place morale and job satisfaction.
Fickle-Syllabub6730 | 17 hours ago
Maybe you only live in upper class areas. But if you go to a random suburban barbecue with garbagemen and accountants and tradesmen and salespeople and mechanics and finance people, no one gives a shit about their mission.
Almost everyone I meet in those situations would rather their workplace do more unethical things - environmentally, data privacy, safety - if it meant they get a 20% raise or bonus at the end of the year.
I literally met an environmental waste cleanup guy this week who said "my girlfriend thinks it's so sweet I clean up these spills. I told her I love oil spills, the bigger the better! More work and more overtime!"
I genuinely am curious about the social circles where this isn't the case.
qzen | 17 hours ago
They're everywhere. From social workers, to IT, to public defenders and non-profits. Countless volunteer organizations.
Yeah, it's easier to make ethical decisions when you have your basic needs taken care of, but greed is not everyone's primary motivation.
subheight640 | 17 hours ago
Your exceptions seem to prove the rule? Social workers, nonprofit workers, etc are a tiny minority of the workforce.
There's only so much funding going towards nonprofit and charitable activities.
As far as volunteers go, volunteers are by nature a privileged class of people with the wealth to basically work for free. They're oftentimes privileged retirees or stay at home mothers.
MajesticBread9147 | an hour ago
>Maybe you only live in upper class areas. But if you go to a random suburban barbecue with garbagemen and accountants and tradesmen and salespeople and mechanics and finance people, no one gives a shit about their mission.
These people aren't working for meta.
el_sandino | 19 hours ago
Yeah but I’d avoid jobs that are setting up surveillance software designed to take my job. Or I’d be mighty fucking pissed. So the money those people think they’re getting is going to dry up mighty fast
SonofSonofSpock | 18 hours ago
I disagree, at least annecdotally. I have been working in nonprofits in DC my whole career and mission matters a lot. There are a fair number of non profits here I wouldn't even piss on if they were on fire, and others I would potentially take a fair amount less money to work at because of the importance of the mission. In fairness, my partner does pretty well so we have flexibility in what is comfortable, but even before that I would rather know I am at least trying to make the world a bit better.
Business-Toad | 15 hours ago
Yeah, there are definitely plenty who couldn't be paid to care but I think folks also generally massively overestimate how many people truly don't care as opposed to how many just suck it up because they need to survive and have few other options.
Like, I know in my case I had no energy for caring about anything outside of remaining housed for years but once I had some long-term stability I remember finding myself shocked to realize my personality was returning and I gave a shit again. I know I'm not everyone but a therapist told me that was a pretty common reaction.
flakemasterflake | 16 hours ago
I don’t know, I did turn down more money to work for a media outlet owned by a trump adjacent person. But finding media not owned by assholes is harder and harder
Bunnyhat | 11 hours ago
Tech is full of the " it can't happen to me. I'm too special" type of person.
mamaBiskothu | 18 hours ago
I dont agree with the other assessment - its not that people had morals and the money overrulled it. I know many many Meta engineers. They have no morals. They are not morally smart. They dont care. They really dont. They dont think that far.
MugiwarraD | 17 hours ago
so u pose the question, answer it yourself, then continue to state a fact about people who loves money and then we are here doing what exactly?
el_sandino | 15 hours ago
I dunno bud, you’re replying to an internet stranger. Fuck Facebook.
AnOnlineHandle | 14 hours ago
I wouldn't want to work at Facebook, but the Segment Anything work - particularly Sam 3D - is the kind of problem which has fascinated me for decades and I wish I had the time and money to work on a problem like that. That being said it's perhaps such a disconnected team that it might not even feel like it's connected to facebook.
el_sandino | 14 hours ago
Huh I’m reasonably in tune with tech and I have no idea what Segment Anything or Sam 3D is/means. Thanks for giving me something to look into! (Sincere thanks not sarcastic)
AnOnlineHandle | 13 hours ago
Segment Anything is an ML model which can identify and draw a mask for just about any object in an image or video, which is kind of interesting if you want to annotate data or do targeted edits, but Sam 3D can create a valid 3D model for just about any object in a picture, or even a meshed humanoid model, which is basically black magic.
I used to always use simple 3D meshes to plan out layouts for my drawings and comics, and being able to just make a mesh out of any concept from images and even move a scene around to rearrange it how you like, potentially create a new angle, etc, all from a single image, is the kind of amazing tech breakthrough in the last few years since transformers were developed that I don't think people have fully grasped the possibilities of yet.
el_sandino | 13 hours ago
Hey thanks for the info! Sounds wildly powerful for your use case.
nashuanuke | 18 hours ago
what are they even doing these days? Just trudging along with FB and Insta?
addicted2soysauce | 12 hours ago
I would not be surprised if Facebook protects its monopoly status by becoming (or already is) a Federally sanctioned social media platform by making a deal with the NSA. No need to reinvent when all competition is blocked by the national firewall.
Zombie_Gorion | 17 hours ago
Probably building ways for people to influence elections more secretly.
angry_wombat | 10 hours ago
You know all those data centers being built? Meta is behind a lot of them. Besides VR, mostly AI.
CutiePopIceberg | 10 hours ago
High profits. ... i mean they did fire 1k. Wonder if that had anything to do with it
happy30thbirthday | 7 hours ago
These people chose a profession in which they actively make the world a worse place. Fuck them.
oh_my316 | 19 hours ago
You work.for the devil, so ... 🤷♂️
turkeypants | 19 hours ago
My first wired article in years is somehow my last free article. Who would pay for Wired?
thirdman | 6 hours ago
It’s quite good now. Your assumptions are likely outdated.
Curious_Maximum_639 | 14 hours ago
Isn't that the goal of every oligarch?