Technology giant Meta has reportedly joined Microsoft and Google in offering voluntary exit packages to employees as major technology companies continue restructuring their workforces amid growing investments in artificial intelligence (AI).
Meta is offering voluntary exit options (VEOs) to employees in France. The company has around 300 employees in the country, and the proposed programme is expected to affect approximately 100 workers. However, the specific roles involved have not been disclosed.
Meta’s Voluntary Exit Scheme in France
Unlike the individual voluntary exit programmes offered by Microsoft and Google, Meta’s proposed plan in France follows a collective contractual termination procedure known as Rupture Conventionnelle Collective (RCC).
Under French employment law, this arrangement allows companies to reduce their workforce through mutually agreed voluntary departures under a collective agreement, without having to establish economic grounds for formal redundancies.
According to the report, employees interested in the programme were required to submit their applications by November 5.
Employees Could Receive Attractive Severance Benefits
The proposed exit package reportedly includes:
- Salary compensation: 2.15 months of salary for every year of service.
- Mobility leave: Up to 10 months of leave.
- Paid leave: Mobility leave would be compensated at 80% of the employee’s gross salary.
Discussions regarding the proposed collective termination programme have reportedly been underway since July.
Meta employs approximately 66,000 people worldwide. However, it remains unclear whether the company plans to introduce similar voluntary exit programmes in other countries.
AI Investments Reshape the Technology Workforce
The development comes as major technology companies are reorganising their workforces while increasing spending on artificial intelligence.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has previously highlighted AI’s growing capabilities, saying that projects which once required large teams could now potentially be completed by a single person with the help of AI tools.
Google, Microsoft and Canva Also Announce Workforce Changes
Several major technology companies have introduced voluntary exit schemes or workforce reduction programmes in recent months.
- Google: Reportedly extended voluntary exit offers to employees across five countries.
- Microsoft: Announced a voluntary buyout programme for around 60,000 eligible employees across the US, Canada, India and the UK.
- Canva: Reportedly offered severance packages to 1,271 employees affected by layoffs.
The latest developments reflect the continuing changes in the global technology industry, as companies adjust staffing requirements and invest heavily in AI-driven technologies.