Meta sued for AI-driven discrimination in May 2026 layoffs of employees on leave
Twenty-six Meta employees filed a lawsuit alleging that the company used AI systems to disproportionately target workers on medical, disability, and parental leave for layoffs in May 2026. The plaintiffs claim the AI tools failed to account for protected leave periods and allegedly violated laws protecting workers from discrimination.
What happened
Twenty-six Meta employees filed a lawsuit in Oakland federal court on July 14, 2026, alleging that Meta used AI systems to select workers for layoffs in May 2026 that disproportionately targeted people with disabilities, on medical leave, or on parental leave.
According to the complaint, Meta deployed multiple AI tools including "Metamate," a large language model; an employee-trained "second brain" that tracked workers' communications and documents; and a productivity score system scanning keystrokes, screen content, emails and browser history. The plaintiffs allege Meta did not test these systems for bias in violation of California and New York City laws.
Reported impact
The lawsuit alleges that employees on protected medical or family leave were disproportionately selected for layoff because AI scoring systems failed to account for their absence, effectively penalizing them for exercising legal rights to leave. One plaintiff, a scientist on approved pre-birth pregnancy leave, was notified of her layoff two days before giving birth.
Index analysis
The 26 plaintiffs claim Meta violated federal and state laws banning discrimination or retaliation against workers with disabilities, on medical leave, or who are pregnant. They argue that performance metrics and productivity data do not exist during periods when workers are on protected leave, making those workers appear less productive and more likely to be selected for termination.
Governance controls
Meta stated through a spokesperson that "workforce management and organizational decisions were and are made by people, not AI." The plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary ruling to block Meta from completing the layoffs while pursuing their claims in arbitration.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.