Twenty-six employees of Meta have filed a lawsuit in a federal court in California alleging the company used artificial intelligence (AI) systems to disproportionately target workers on medical or family leave for layoffs. The plaintiffs argue that Meta’s AI incorporated performance rankings and other metrics without excluding employees who were on protected leave or disabled, resulting in those individuals being unfairly penalized for exercising their legal rights.
In May, Meta laid off nearly 8,000 workers, about 10% of its global workforce, as part of efforts to manage costs amid growing investments in AI technology. According to the lawsuit, this workforce reduction violated federal and state laws designed to protect employees who are pregnant, disabled, or on approved leave, such as maternity or medical leave.
The complaint further alleges that Meta monitored employees' activities through AI tools, including tracking keystrokes, a practice that had already drawn criticism from staff. Additionally, it claims that some senior leaders trained personal AI agents, described as “second brains,” before taking leave—allowing the company to continue leveraging their work output during their absence.
The group of workers, who remain anonymous in the lawsuit, includes current and former Meta employees from California, New York, Washington, and other states. One California-based manager with a history of strong performance reviews reportedly took approved bereavement, health-related, and maternity leave but was laid off weeks after notifying the company of her planned maternity leave. The lawsuit also highlights others who were on paternity or medical leave, including those with disabilities, and contends that some received lower performance assessments shortly before their termination.
The plaintiffs argue that the harm they suffered cannot be remedied by monetary damages alone, stating that Meta’s alleged practices undermine the fundamental purpose of protected leaves, which are intended to provide employees time to heal and care for family without the fear of job loss.
Meta has denied the allegations. A company spokesperson said the claims are unfounded and emphasized that workforce decisions are made by people, not AI.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to halt the layoffs affecting these employees and to preserve their pay and benefits while the legal process unfolds. It also calls for an independent audit of the AI-assisted selection process used during the layoffs.
This case adds to ongoing legal and ethical debates around the role of AI in human resources and labor practices. The tech industry has seen an increase in mass layoffs this year, with other major firms such as Amazon, Oracle, and Microsoft also reducing their workforces. Between January and June, U.S. tech companies announced over 139,000 layoffs, marking an 83% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from a global outplacement and executive coaching firm.