Meta staff revolt over AI hackathon amid post-layoff strain
Employees cite overwhelming workloads, low morale, and lack of performance incentives as primary drivers of opposition to the July event
Meta employees have voiced strong opposition to CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement of a companywide artificial intelligence hackathon, citing heavy workloads and low morale in the wake of recent mass layoffs. The event, scheduled for July 14 to 16, was intended to foster camaraderie and innovation but has instead triggered widespread frustration among staff who argue the initiative ignores the current culture of reduced staffing and increased pressure.
Ime Archibong, Meta’s vice president of product management, confirmed the event would focus exclusively on AI innovation. However, internal messages and forum posts reveal that employees feel they have no incentive and no time to participate. One worker stated they are “preoccupied with keeping the lights on,” while others noted that hackathon efforts do not count toward performance evaluations, exacerbating frustration among the workforce.
This marks the first companywide hackathon since approximately 8,000 employees were laid off last month. Critics argue the initiative overlooks the reality that remaining staff are covering for colleagues who have departed. A meme inspired by the film We’re the Millers went viral internally, mocking the idea that staff have time for a hackathon while expected to be 100 per cent devoted to regular work.
Concerns also extend to operational risk, with employees expressing worry about causing SEV1s, or serious technical errors, through incautious AI use during the event. One staffer highlighted that their organisation has super aggressive goals with efficiency gains expected and significantly less staffing, leaving little time to focus on other axes of work.
Zuckerberg announced the hackathon alongside other initiatives to reenergise the workforce, including increased budgets for team offsites and the removal of hot desking in some offices. These measures follow reported chaos and loss of productivity associated with hot desking, which had previously led to internal surveys and management pushback. Despite promises of greater stability, including no further mass layoffs this year, staff remain sceptical about the company’s commitment to a supportive work culture.
