PIP/Firing culture in FAANG
Hi All - I am from a socialist country with decent employee protection. For example, I cannot get fired from my current job for performance reasons unless I do any legal misconduct. Similar to academic tenure in the USA. My pay is not great but comfortable in my country (top 5% of the population) for a family of three. Now I have received a job offer at Meta that pays me 4.5x my current salary but comes with "at will employment" clause. I know most people in UD work under this clause and one of my friends told me it is not as horrible as it sounds. I wouldn't have worried about it if I was single but now I have a little daughter. My question is how easy is it to fire someone *in practice* for minor performance reasons assuming I meet all expectations? I nailed my interviews and got the higher level (E6), I am good at what I do, and very confident of doing well. However, there are many things I cannot control. Would you suggest taking the Meta position? TC - 100 TC Offered - 450
Is it legally easy to fire you? Yes. Will a large established company with well defined procedures and processes do so flippantly? No.
Relieved :)
“At will employment” doesn’t result in a lot of firings, because that’s expensive and counterproductive. US companies don’t want a lot of turnover. Some companies use at-will or visa status to get more work out of you. At will just means be ready to find another job if you have to. Keep some savings. Keep your skills up. If Facebook hires you though, you can get any job probably.
That makes sense. I thought so too. Got a bit worried as a parent.
YOE
8 post-PhD.
Hey, is this offer remote within EU, or in the USA?
Seattle
Btw this at will employment thing is very standard across the US companies, not just Meta.
Yes, for sure. That's what I keep telling myself that it's not only me. There are thousands of parents in my situation in the US and they are doing just fine. I guess I am bit spoiled in my current environment in terms of job security.
It may sound scary given what your current environment. But in practice firing is very rare. It is (relatively) more likely that you won’t fit in and leave on your own. So consider that carefully. Even in that situation, there are other companies that will pay equally well or more. And you can get hired very quickly. So it’s not end of the world.
I see. I guess I am a bit spoiled in terms job security in my current environment. Of course that means I am payed way less. I think given Meta's balance sheet and push for Metaverse they would not fire someone from FRL easily unless they absolutely have to. Your suggestion about not fitting in is good and it was also discussed during the interview multiple times.
In general E6+ are rare hires so we wouldn’t fire unless absolutely necessary. The first goal is always to try to help you improve the areas that have gaps. As an E6 you’d have to be underperforming for almost 1.5 years, and being actively told what needs to change, before you’re fired — if you weren’t making the changes necessary.
Honestly it's like if you give a shit and are somewhat qualified, you'll do fine. It's the people who try to get by on just talk or really don't know how to handle technology that are fired.
That's good to know. This will be a big culture shift.