26 Meta workers sue over alleged AI-aided layoffs targeting employees on medical or family leave

Key Points:

• Twenty-six Meta employees have filed a lawsuit alleging the company used AI systems and performance data to select workers for layoffs, disproportionately targeting those on medical, parental, or family leave.
• The lawsuit claims Meta's AI-driven evaluation methods failed to account for protected leave, violating laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
• Plaintiffs argue that the algorithmic selection process had a disparate impact on women, who are more likely to take pregnancy and caregiving leave, citing Title VII's prohibition on employment practices that disproportionately burden protected classes.
• Meta denies the allegations, stating workforce decisions were made by people, not AI, and calls the claims meritless.
• The plaintiffs seek to preserve their employment status pending arbitration, emphasizing that layoffs would cause irreversible harm including loss of health coverage, leave rights, equity, and potential immigration consequences.