Meta's CTO says morale is almost 'the worst it's ever been'

Meta's internal atmosphere has taken a significant hit, according to the company's chief technology officer, Andrew 'Boz' Bosworth. During a recent internal discussion, Bosworth revealed that employee morale is currently among the lowest it has been in the past two decades, exacerbated by extensive layoffs and ongoing AI initiatives that have unsettled many long-term staff members. Bosworth, speaking during a 'Tuesdays with Boz' chat on June 2, indicated that while morale might not be at an all-time low, it is certainly close. He remarked, "It's probably one of the worst it's ever been," drawing comparisons to the turbulence surrounding the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which involved the misuse of data from millions of Facebook users during the 2016 elections. This year has been particularly challenging for Meta employees, with the company laying off about 10% of its workforce in May to manage the financial strain of its substantial AI investments. Additionally, another 10% of employees were reassigned to assist in training AI models, a move that some workers likened to being 'drafted' into a task force primarily focused on data-labeling. In April, the company faced further criticism when it introduced an initiative to monitor employee mouse movements and keystrokes in an effort to enhance its AI capabilities. In response to the mounting concerns, Meta's leadership has pledged to take proactive measures to restore morale. In a recent memo, Bosworth emphasized the need for Meta to become 'the best place for the best people to do their best work' and expressed a desire to revive the positive aspects of the company's culture. He outlined a commitment to providing support for employees to take calculated risks and gain recognition for their efforts. Additionally, Bosworth's memo highlighted plans for increased transparency from leadership and a focus on personal and career development for employees. Those who were reassigned to work on AI initiatives will have the opportunity to reapply for other positions within the company, and there are plans to enhance budgets for travel, events, and workplace refreshments. These steps are part of an ongoing effort to address the challenges facing Meta's workforce.