Founder says Meta tried hiring him days after firing 8,000 employees: 'What happened to employee retention?'

Mass layoffs in the tech industry have become so common that they barely shock employees anymore. But a recent post by US-based founder Zach Wilson has reignited debate around hiring practices in big tech companies. Wilson revealed that Meta approached him for a principal-level interview during the same week the company reportedly laid off nearly 8,000 employees. His post quickly went viral as professionals questioned whether companies are prioritising efficiency over employee loyalty and long-term retention.

Sharing his experience on X, Wilson said he found the situation deeply contradictory. According to him, Meta reached out for a senior role while simultaneously cutting thousands of existing workers from the company.

“Meta reached out to interview me for a principal role the same week they decided to lay off 8,000 people,” he wrote, questioning the logic behind laying off employees only to recruit for new positions immediately afterward.


Wilson argued that among the thousands who lost their jobs, there were likely many qualified people who could have fit the role Meta wanted to hire for. He added that some of his own friends working as staff engineers had also been affected by the layoffs.

“I’m sure there was at least one out of those 8,000 people who got let go who would’ve been a good fit,” he said, suggesting that companies may not be investing enough effort into retaining internal talent before looking outside. The founder criticised what he described as a growing pattern inside large technology firms. According to him, companies are increasingly treating employees as replaceable costs rather than long-term contributors.

He summarised the cycle bluntly by saying companies “axe everybody,” treat workers “like a cost,” and later “rehire where there’s pain.” Wilson questioned why employee retention appears to be losing importance even at companies with enormous financial resources. Referring to the massive wealth held by major tech firms, he asked why businesses expect loyalty from employees when they are unwilling to show the same commitment during difficult periods.

“Whatever happened to employee retention?” he wrote, adding that retaining skilled workers would likely cost less than laying them off and rehiring later. He argued that the impact of layoffs goes beyond finances. According to Wilson, companies often underestimate the emotional toll such decisions have on employees who suddenly lose stability, confidence, and trust in their workplace.

“It would be cheaper emotionally for the people who got let go, too,” he remarked, pointing toward the human cost behind large-scale restructuring decisions.

Concerns on workplace culture

Wilson also raised concerns about workplace culture inside the tech industry, especially during the ongoing AI-driven transformation reshaping hiring and operations across companies. He questioned how organisations expect employees to dedicate years of hard work and emotional investment into their jobs while simultaneously knowing they could be removed at any moment.

“How do these big tech companies expect people to put their blood, sweat and tears into work while also saying, ‘yeah we’ll cut you at any moment,’” he wrote. The founder concluded by describing the current environment surrounding AI, restructuring, and layoffs as “unbelievably toxic.”

Internet reacts

The post quickly sparked strong reactions across social media, with many users debating whether companies are handling layoffs and hiring in the most efficient way possible. One user pointed out that it may be more cost-effective for companies to retain existing employees and invest in upskilling them rather than bringing in entirely new hires.

Another comment suggested that the tech industry’s culture has already been under strain for years, but the impact is now becoming more visible as layoffs increase and hiring decisions appear inconsistent. The user added that frequent job cuts, combined with ongoing hiring announcements, reflect a broader sense of instability in the sector.

A different perspective focused on the practicality of large-scale hiring decisions. One user argued that screening thousands of laid-off employees to identify the perfect match could end up being more time-consuming and expensive than simply hiring someone who already meets the required qualifications through a standard recruitment process.