As Meta’s workforce prepares for a 10% reduction, employees are frantically redeeming perks like the annual $2,000 flexible benefit and rushing to buy headphones before they vanish.

The company plans to lay off around 8,000 workers amid record profits, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg argues for reinvestment in AI. Meanwhile, morale is at an all-time low with internal restructuring and mandatory AI team assignments causing friction.

Despite assurances that AI will enhance human capabilities, the looming cuts are drawing widespread scrutiny over AI’s impact on employment. Employees are bracing for changes by saving documents and meeting up to commiserate, while management encourages them to stay away from offices on Wednesday.