Meta is embroiled in a legal battle as a group of employees alleges that the company’s use of artificial intelligence for layoff decisions disproportionately targeted those on maternity and medical leave, as well as employees with disabilities. The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, claims that around 8,000 workers were affected by this AI-driven workforce reduction earlier this year.
The plaintiffs argue that Meta relied on AI systems to evaluate employee performance and activity, using productivity metrics to determine who would be laid off. This method, they contend, overlooked approved leave periods, unfairly lowering the performance scores of those who had taken family or medical leave or who had disability accommodations. The lawsuit highlights cases such as a scientist who was informed of her dismissal just two days before her due date, an engineer whose performance rating suffered due to injury-related absence, and a manager laid off shortly after starting medical leave.
The employees involved in the case are seeking a court order to stop further layoffs while the lawsuit is active. They are also demanding reinstatement, back pay, compensation for lost benefits, and an independent review of Meta’s AI systems. The situation underscores the broader debate about the role of AI in workplace decision-making, with critics cautioning that such automated systems might inadvertently introduce bias against employees who take legally protected leave.
Meta, however, refutes the allegations, asserting that human decision-makers, not AI systems, are responsible for workforce and organizational decisions. This lawsuit adds to the growing concern over AI’s impact in employment contexts, as questions about fairness and bias continue to surface.