Meta has been hit by a lawsuit alleging age discrimination in its recent layoffs, and the claims are worth a closer look. A former Meta employee, ex-Meta Senior Director of Monetization Analytics Nicolas Franchet, filed the lawsuit against the tech giant, claiming that the organization unfairly targeted its older employees in its layoffs last February. The senior director, who spent 13 years at the organization, maintained that while Meta claimed it was getting rid of its lowest performers, the section of the workforce that was affected was primarily centered on its senior workers.
Layoffs are never easy and always bring up strong feelings of disappointment and resentment, but the possibility of skewed intentions further sours the conversation. If the age bias lawsuit against Meta is upheld by the courts, the organization could face serious fines over the unfair treatment of older workers.
The age discrimination lawsuit claims that the Meta layoffs unfairly targeted older workers under the veil of performance-based cuts. (Image: Pexels)
Meta Accused of Age Discrimination in Its 2025 Layoffs: What Do We Know So Far?
Much like other tech giants that are reorganizing their workforce and flattening the organization in preparation for AI investments, Meta has also made considerable changes to its ranks in recent years. In February 2025, Meta reportedly laid off approximately 5% of its lowest-performing employees to boost operational efficiency, and the company is reportedly considering cutting 20% of its workforce again this year. Amidst the chaos of these changes, allegations of biased cuts have now emerged.
Former Meta Senior Director of Monetization Analytics, Nicolas Franchet, was 54 years old at the time of the February 2025 layoffs. A lawsuit was filed in the San Francisco County Superior Court, where Franchet maintained that the organization unfairly targeted older workers during its layoffs. “Employees 40 and older were 1.5 times as likely to be included in the layoffs than employees under 40, and employees 50 and older were 2.5 times as likely to be terminated than employees under 40,” the lawsuit states, citing internal data as proof of this age discrimination.
Franchet further clarified that he had worked his way up to a leadership role and was previously described as a “high-performing employee” with similar positive feedback from his supervisors. Despite this, during the layoffs, he was classified as a low performer and let go from the organization. He alleges that as a result of the cut, he was met with the loss of unvested stock grants worth nearly $12 million during the time of the layoff. Now, he is seeking compensation for lost equity and the impact that the “age discrimination” reportedly seen in the Meta layoffs has had on his career.
The Age Bias Lawsuit Against Meta Isn’t the First We’ve Seen Claims of Discrimination Against Older Employees
Age discrimination and an apparent bias against older workers have been a constant trend within the workforce, particularly within the tech industry, where operations are fast-paced, and the need to keep up with the latest technological marvels is a high priority. While there are certain protections in place to prevent organizations from unfairly retaliating against older workers merely for their age or ascension to senior roles that require higher pay, these cases can be hard to prove in court and are not often pursued by workers.
From Nike to IBM, many organizations have previously been hit by age discrimination lawsuits in the past. Google was previously required to pay $11 million to resolve a case of age discrimination against older job applicants. Eli Lilly also faced a class-action lawsuit in 2021, where the company’s hiring policies were accused of giving preferential treatment to younger workers. Ageism in the workplace is a very real problem, and with AI taking center stage today, it is likely to grow in severity as organizations prioritize younger workers who are seen as more up-to-date with the latest developments in the world of tech. Meanwhile, employers aren’t keen on hiring Gen Z workers either, leaving the future of the workforce in uncertain hands.
Meta has not commented on the age discrimination allegations levied against its layoff strategy. The lawsuit is also in its early days, and it is far too soon to tell whether the legal system will uphold the claims of age bias. If the proceedings do lead to evidence of discrimination at the organization, the company could see serious financial implications and find itself open to other similar lawsuits with its incoming layoff plans as well.
Do the allegations of age discrimination in the Meta layoffs reflect your own experience with the modern-day workplace? Share your thoughts in the comments with us. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.
