Meta is reportedly putting some workers onto a '30-day list' that gives them a month to find a new role at the company — or leave

• Meta reportedly puts some workers on a "30-day list" that leaves them a month to find a new role at the company.
• It only used to impact low-performers, but became more widespread, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Meta is slimming its workforce and avoiding a flurry of pink slips by forcing some employees onto a "30-day list" that leaves them only a month to find a new role or leave the company if their department is downsized or eliminated, according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal.

Instead of terminating employees outright, the company gives some workers whose roles have been eliminated a month-long purgatory period to apply to different jobs within Meta, the publication reported, citing sources familiar with the issue.

It's long been a common practice at Facebook's parent company, the Journal reports, but up until recently its only impacted lower-performing workers. But, as the tech world braces for a possible recession, Meta has begun to use the process to cut out high-performing workers as well, per the report.

A Meta spokesperson told the Journal the time window is a way for Meta to keep talent it might otherwise have lost.

When asked for comment on the 30-day list, a Meta spokesperson referred Insider to a statement from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in which the Facebook founder said the company would have to reallocate resources amid its first ever drop in revenue.

"Our plan is to steadily reduce headcount growth over the next year. Many teams are going to shrink so we can shift energy to other areas inside the company," Zuckerberg said during the company's quarterly earnings call in July.

Google has also reportedly used similar measures. Last week, the tech company gave dozens of employees a 90-day window to find a new role or leave Google, the publication reported, citing sources familiar with the issue. Though, the company has used a 60-day relocation period in the past, The Journal said.

Insider's Kali Hays and Ashley Stewart previously reported that Meta employees have been bracing for a round of layoffs that could reduce head count by as much as 10% this year. In July, Meta sent a memo to managers calling for them to cut workers who fall short of the company's expectations for "increased intensity."

Meta is one of several companies to cut back on hiring and ponder layoffs in recent months. Last month, Snap announced it was laying off 20% of its workers.

Do you work at Meta? Have you experienced the 30-day list? Reach out to the reporter from a non-work email at gkay@insider.com