As the U.S. tech industry faces yet another round of layoffs—over 50,000 jobs cut in early 2025 alone—conversations around job security, compensation, and company culture are gaining renewed traction online. Among the important topics is Meta’s allegedly toxic work environment, sparking heated debates on numerous forums. Reports, including one from the New York Post, have criticised Facebook’s parent company Meta for fostering a culture where employees feel discouraged from speaking on controversial issues. But a question posed by a user online reignited the debate: “It’s confusing—Meta employees keep saying how toxic the culture is, but they don’t leave.”
“They’re happy to take the paycheck but still rant about the culture”
“I got a $300K total compensation offer straight out of grad school and now make $750K with five years of experience,” wrote one user. “Haven’t seen any other company come close to matching this.” Another user echoed the sentiment: “They’re happy to take the paycheck but still rant about the culture. You can’t have it both ways.” One commenter cut to the chase: “They know they won’t get an external offer paying even half of what Meta does.”
An employee shared their grueling reality: “I’m working what feels like my 12th weekend in a row. The PSC culture is relentless. But with a $1.3M total compensation last year—mostly from stock appreciation—I’m just holding on. I didn’t make that in three years at my last job.” Others argued the culture criticism is overblown: “Toxic? Or just not performing well enough and blaming ‘politics’? Competent people seem to be doing just fine and living well.”
Another user added nuance with internal data: “If you joined before the pandemic, you’re now in the top 20th percentile in tenure. The turnover’s been massive. Layoffs, contractor churn, and natural attrition mean that around 65-80% of the company is made up of new hires. Even my recruiter was laid off—and later rehired as a contractor.” In essence, many agree Meta’s work environment might be tough, even punishing. But with market-topping pay, lucrative stock options, and a hyper-competitive job market, leaving isn’t a straightforward decision.