The suit, submitted in federal court in Oakland, California, on Monday, asserts that the company relied heavily on metrics such as productivity and AI token usage when executing substantial job cuts earlier this year, thereby disadvantaging individuals who were absent due to health issues.
Earlier this year, Meta announced its intention to reduce its global workforce by 10%, affecting nearly 8,000 employees, with layoffs starting in May and more expected subsequently.
The 26 anonymous plaintiffs allege that Meta violated both federal and state regulations prohibiting discrimination or retaliation against workers with disabilities, those who take medical leave, or pregnant employees. The plaintiffs hail from six states, including California and New York, as well as the District of Columbia.
A spokesperson for Meta stated on Tuesday that the claims are without merit.
”Decisions regarding workforce management and organizational structure were made by individuals, not AI,” the spokesperson remarked.
