If you’re reading this, today may have been one of the harder days of your career. Meta notified approximately 8,000 employees today that their roles are being eliminated, equivalent to roughly 10% of its global workforce.
First: we’re sorry you’re going through this. A layoff is stressful, disorienting, and often hits harder than people expect – even if you saw the news coming. Take a breath. Then let’s get to work on the things you can control.
Here’s what you need to be thinking about in the days and weeks ahead.
Evaluate Your Severance Package
Typical severance packages include:
- 16 weeks of base pay
- Two additional weeks of pay per year of service
- 18 months of healthcare coverage
- Career transition support and job-search assistance
- Immigration support for those on work visas
Read every document carefully before signing anything. Severance agreements often include a release of claims against your employer – which is standard, but you should understand what you’re agreeing to. If you have questions, consider consulting an employment attorney before signing.
Review your 401(k)
Your Meta 401(k), including any employer match, is fully vested from day one, so you’re not leaving any retirement savings behind. But you do have decisions to make.
You have a few options:
- Leave it in the Meta plan (if your balance is above the minimum threshold, you can keep it there, no rush to move it)
- Roll it over to an IRA for more investment flexibility and potentially lower fees
- Roll it into a new employer’s 401(k) when you land your next role
One thing to be careful about: if you’ve been contributing to the Meta Mega Backdoor Roth inside your 401(k), make sure you understand how that money is treated in a rollover. Roth after-tax contributions can be rolled directly into a Roth IRA, which is a great outcome, but the mechanics matter. You can read more about how the Meta Mega Backdoor Roth works on our site.
Download your final paystub and note your year-to-date 401(k) contributions. If you land a new job later in 2026, you’ll need to make sure your combined contributions across both employers don’t exceed the IRS limit ($24,500 in 2026, or $32,500 if you’re 50+, or $35,750 if you’re 60–63).
Sort Out Health Insurance
Your Meta health benefits typically end around your termination date. Subsequent options include:
- COBRA: Meta plan coverage is available for up to 18 months. It is important to evaluate if this is the right option for you.
- Spouse or partner’s plan: If your partner has employer-sponsored coverage, compare it carefully to COBRA. It may be significantly cheaper.
- Affordable Care Act Marketplace: Depending on your income in 2026, you may qualify for a subsidy.
Think Carefully Before Making Big Financial Moves
A layoff often triggers a rush to cut spending, sell investments, or make other reactive decisions. Some of that is reasonable – revisiting your budget makes sense, but be careful about:
- Selling Meta stock in a panic: Understand the tax consequences before you sell, especially if shares have appreciated significantly.
- Cashing out your 401(k): This is almost never the right move. Early withdrawal triggers income taxes plus a 10% penalty. There are exceptions to this rule. You could be eligible to take early distributions from your 401(k) upon separation from service if you are 55 years old.
Calculate Your Retirement Date
- Review retirement spending: Take a stock of your monthly spending needs. Ensure you have a good handle on discretionary and fixed expenses. Do not forget to include healthcare expenses if you are below 65. At 65, you are eligible for Medicare.
- Take inventory of your assets: Confirm you have a good understanding of your net worth, including your brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, college savings accounts, real estate, and life insurance policies.
- Align your portfolio allocation: Your assets are going to support your lifestyle expenses through retirement. Run an analysis to see if there is an alignment between your asset allocation and your spending needs.
We’re Here to Help
Getting clarity on even a few of these areas can make a meaningful difference in how well-positioned you are for whatever comes next.
At Avier, we work specifically with tech professionals navigating transitions like this one. Whether it’s figuring out your RSUs, planning a 401(k) rollover, or just getting a clear picture of where you stand financially – we’ve been through this with a lot of clients, and we’re happy to be a resource.
If you’d like to talk through your situation, schedule time with our team. There’s no obligation – just a conversation to help you get oriented.
And for more on Meta-specific benefits and compensation, visit our Meta employee resources page.