TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Meta has begun another major round of layoffs affecting around 8,000 employees, or roughly 10 percent of its global workforce, as the company accelerates investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and restructuring efforts.As reported by The Times of India, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed employees in an internal memo after layoff notifications were distributed in phases across Asia, Europe, and the United States.The layoffs are part of what Meta described as an effort to operate “more efficiently” while redirecting resources toward AI-related initiatives. At the same time, the company plans to move more than 7,000 employees into AI-focused projects and eliminate approximately 6,000 planned hires.Business Insider obtained the email sent to affected employees, which informed them that their roles had been eliminated as part of the company’s reorganization.“Unfortunately, your role has been eliminated as part of today’s reorganization,” the email stated. “We appreciate the important role you’ve played in the company’s journey.”The message explained that employees would enter a paid “non-working notice period” during which their access to Meta systems would be removed immediately, but salary and benefits would continue until their termination dates.Employees in the United States were offered severance packages including 16 weeks of base pay plus an additional two weeks for every completed year of service. Meta also promised to cover health insurance premiums for up to 18 months and provide job placement assistance through external recruitment services.The company also included guidance for employees with immigration sponsorships, acknowledging the uncertainty faced by workers whose visas depend on Meta employment.In his separate memo to remaining employees, Zuckerberg acknowledged the anxiety caused by the layoffs and attempted to reassure staff that no additional company-wide layoffs are currently expected this year.He also promised the company would improve communication with employees during future restructuring efforts.Zuckerberg emphasized that Meta’s long-term future depends heavily on AI development, describing artificial intelligence as “the most consequential technology of our lifetimes.”“The companies that lead the way will define the next generation,” Zuckerberg reportedly wrote.Meta plans to spend between US$125 billion and US$145 billion this year on AI infrastructure, including data centers, custom chips, and advanced AI model training systems.According to The Times of India, the aggressive spending has sparked concerns among investors about the long-term profitability of large-scale AI investments.The restructuring has also reportedly worsened morale within the company. Thousands of employees have criticized Meta’s workplace policies and management decisions in internal petitions, while some workers expressed concern over declining compensation and increasing uncertainty.Despite the criticism, Zuckerberg insisted Meta is entering “the most dynamic period” in its history and said the company must transform itself to remain competitive in the global AI race.Meta declined to comment publicly on the layoffs, according to Business Insider.Here is the email that Meta sent to laid-off staff:As previously shared, we have decided to reduce headcount as part of our continued effort to run the company more efficiently and to allow us to offset the other investments we're making. Unfortunately, your role has been eliminated as part of today's reorganization. Before sharing additional details, we want to thank you for all you've contributed to Meta. We appreciate the important role you've played in the company's journey.We understand you will have questions as you process this news. Please read below to learn more. We also encourage you to view the Alumni Portal (Meta.com/alumni), which you can access within an hour of losing system access and has additional information and resources to assist you. More information about the Alumni Portal is below.Non-working notice periodFrom today through [redacted] (your "Termination Date"), you are in a "non-working notice period." During this time, your internal access will be removed and you do not need to do any additional work for Meta.You will continue to accrue PTO until your Termination Date, and your remaining PTO will be paid out in your final paycheck at the end of this period. During the notice period, you will be paid "Notice Pay," which you will see on your payslips and is the same amount as your salary.Leave of absence (if applicable): Your employment will end on your Termination Date that was communicated to you. Any leaves of absence will end on your Termination Date. Please note that to the extent applicable, you may still continue to receive disability benefits after your separation date if your disability meets the disability plan requirements.Your benefits and compensation will continue through your Termination Date.You will continue to receive your full salary and benefits through your Termination Date, as well as any RSU grants that have vested on or before your Termination Date as provided in the Equity Incentive Plan. To support you in your job search, you will also have access to three complimentary months of external job search assistance through Lee Hecht Harrison ("LHH"), as further detailed in the enclosed LHH Outplacement Services flyer.Severance detailsAttached is a non-signable version of a Separation Agreement with full details of your individual package (do not sign this version). A signable Separation Agreement will be sent to your personal email address from [redacted] later today with full details of your individual package. You must sign your Separation Agreement to receive your severance payout.If you do not receive an electronic signable Separation Agreement by the end of the day tomorrow on your personal email, please check your spam folder. If you still haven't received the agreement, please submit a case via the Alumni Portal. (Note: If you apply for and accept a different position at Meta no later than one week prior to your Termination Date, you will remain a Meta employee and therefore this Separation Agreement will be void and you would not be eligible for severance under the terms of the Severance Plan.)As a Regular Employee (FTE), you're eligible for the following severance offer:Severance payment of 16 weeks plus two weeks for every year of completed services, minus your notice period. Please see the cover sheet of the attached Separation Agreement for more details on this calculation.Payment of COBRA (health insurance) premiums for you and your family (if they are dependents on your current plan) for 18 months.Immigration (if applicable)We know this is especially difficult for those whose visa and work authorization is sponsored by Meta. The Alumni Portal has general immigration guidance to help address your immediate questions. The guidance also contains the contact information for your assigned law firm. You can also open a case via the Alumni Portal if you have specific questions about your case.System access and office informationSince you have entered a paid non-working notice period, your badge has been deactivated and your access to internal Meta systems will be removed this morning. If you are already in the office, we ask that you please gather any personal items at your desk and head home. If you have personal items that need to be retrieved, instructions are available on the Alumni Portal.Getting more informationWe know this is a lot to process, so we've compiled resources about pay, benefits and other considerations for you in the Alumni Portal. You can access the Alumni Portal within an hour of losing system access today as mentioned above. You will need your employee ID, which is provided at the top of this email, to access the site.Finally, we want to say again that we're grateful for your contributions. Your impact at Meta has been an important part of our story.Sincerely,Meta LeadershipRead: Meta Lays Off 10 Percent Workforce in AI PushClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News