Key facts
- Meta Platforms is being sued by 26 former employees for allegedly using AI to target workers with disabilities or on medical leave for layoffs.
- A separate lawsuit claims Meta laid off older workers (40+) at 1.5 times the rate of younger employees, and those 50+ at 2.5 times the rate.
- Nicolas Franchet, a former senior director, alleges he was targeted due to his age (54) and performance rating.
- Franchet is seeking damages for wrongful termination and lost stock grants valued at nearly $12 million.
- The lawsuits highlight ongoing concerns about age and disability discrimination in the tech industry.
Meta Platforms is facing two lawsuits alleging discriminatory practices in its recent mass layoffs. In one suit, 26 former employees claim the company utilized AI-powered software that disproportionately targeted individuals with disabilities or those who had taken medical leave.
A separate lawsuit, filed by former senior director Nicolas Franchet, alleges that Meta laid off older workers at significantly higher rates than their younger counterparts. Franchet, 54, claims that employees aged 40 and over were 1.5 times more likely to be terminated than those under 40, and individuals 50 and over were 2.5 times more likely. He asserts he was a victim of this alleged age discrimination, receiving a "lowest performer" rating despite a strong performance history and losing stock grants worth nearly $12 million.
Meta has not commented on the lawsuits or disputed the termination rates cited. The lawsuits highlight long-standing concerns about age and disability discrimination within the tech industry, referencing past settlements involving companies like HP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Google for similar allegations.