Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Meta Platforms is set to lay off about 10% of its global workforce roughly 8,000 employees on May 20, 2026, as part of a push to run the company more efficiently amid soaring AI spending. In an internal memo, the company has promised a generous severance package for affected workers, with US employees receiving a structured payout and extended benefits that employers in the tech sector typically consider above standard.

For US based employees, the severance package will include 16 weeks of base pay plus an additional two weeks of base pay for every year of employment at the company. For example, an employee with five years of service would receive 16 + (5 × 2) = 26 weeks of base‑pay equivalent in severance. The company will also cover COBRA healthcare insurance premiums for US employees and their families for 18 months, easing the transition period while people search for new roles.

Meta has added career services and job placement support for impacted workers, including help with resumes, interview coaching, and networking resources; it will also offer immigration support for those who need it. Outside the US, severance packages will be similar but vary by country, according to Meta’s HR chief, Janelle Gale, and will follow local laws and timelines, which can translate into different notice periods, pay formulas, and benefit structures depending on the jurisdiction.

The layoff marks one of Meta’s largest workforce cuts in recent years, driven by the need to offset heavy investments in AI infrastructure while improving efficiency and competitiveness. While the financial and emotional impact on employees will be significant, the severance structure particularly the combination of base pay multiples and long term health coverage aims to soften the blow and keep the company’s brand relatively intact amid a turbulent tech‑sector job cycle.