Meta’s ‘Low Performer’ Purge: Pink Slips, Receipts, and the Stack-Ranking Revival

Rocketship.fm

In early February 2025, Meta slashed 5% of its workforce—about 3,600 people—calling it a purge of “low performers” to sharpen up for an “intense” year ahead. Mark Zuckerberg says it’s about raising the bar, but some of those cut are clapping back with receipts: glowing performance reviews that don’t match the “bottom 5%” label. From leaked memos to public pushback on LinkedIn, this episode unpacks the disconnect—did Meta really target the weak links, or is this a headcount trim in disguise? Host Mike Belsito digs into the employee backlash and asks what’s really at play when a tech giant leans into stack ranking.

But this isn’t just Meta’s story—it’s a window into a bigger debate: does the old-school “rank and yank” tactic still work in today’s tech world? We’ll explore how this move echoes Jack Welch’s GE playbook, why some ex-employees call it a “scarlet letter” on their careers, and whether regular performance purges drive innovation or just paranoia. With other giants like Microsoft testing similar waters, is stack ranking staging a comeback—or setting up a talent trap? Tune in for the scoop, the stakes, and a question for every founder: could this be your company’s next move?