A Call for Unity and Safety at Meta

I’ve spent years believing in what Meta told us—ideas like “Nothing at Facebook is someone else’s problem” and “Move fast, break things.” I took these to heart, pushing myself to grow, take ownership, and contribute meaningfully. I always had a backlog of projects that I wanted to take on when I finally had the time. I wanted to build something that mattered.

But today, I no longer feel safe at work.

I’m a nonbinary/agender person who uses they/them pronouns, and I have only recently begun to embrace and express my identity more openly. For years, I prioritized supporting others in their journeys while keeping my own true identity hidden behind the more conventional privileges of being a white, male, white-collar worker and US citizen. Yet, just as I’ve finally started embracing my complete identity, I see the workplace accelerating rapidly in the opposite direction—exclusion rather than inclusion.

Layoffs, policy rollbacks, and an overall shift in culture have made it harder to believe in the ideals that once inspired me. Like many others, I’ve been told to “focus on what I can control” and “keep my head down.” When psychological safety at work is eroding, staying silent isn’t just self-preservation—it enables the problem to grow.

I am currently on 6 month FMLA leave to focus on my mental health, a decision that has been life-changing. During this time, I have made incredible progress in understanding my emotions, processing past trauma, and reevaluating what truly matters. I am committed to returning and contributing positively to Meta, but I feel compelled to speak now because the well-being of my colleagues and our workplace culture is too important to ignore.

Why I’m Posting Here, Not Internally

Normally, this is the kind of conversation I would have started inside Meta. However, I can’t in good faith allow the company to control whether this post stays up. Too many internal discussions have been removed, and too many concerns have been silenced.

Recent news has only deepened my concerns:

• We updated our Hateful Conduct policy allowing carve-outs for hate speech directed specifically at the LGBTQ+ community
• We ended our DEI programs internally, disempowering our diverse employees, recruits and business partners and limiting our business scope and reach
• We announced another sudden round of layoffs which compromises job security and hurts employee morale and productivity
• We announced our intent to replace mid-level engineers with AI. This undermines the work of, dehumanizes, and devalues all of my Metamates. All while putting their careers at risk.
• We assigned UFC’s Dana White to our Board of Directors, bringing a highly politicized figure into our leadership
• We are getting lawsuits because of workplace toxicity and harassment. This is not what I want my team to be known for.

These changes, combined with a growing sense of fear and exclusion in the workplace, have led me to take this conversation public. I don’t want to risk this discussion disappearing before it even begins.

Since this is public, I know that many people reading this may not work at Meta. But if you care about workplace safety, inclusivity, and accountability, this conversation is bigger than just one company.

What I Am Asking For

• A real conversation about safety and inclusion at Meta, not just surface-level DEI initiatives that disappear abruptly and completely when they become inconvenient.
• A workplace where we stand up with/for each other, rather than waiting for policies to change from the top down.
• Accountability for harmful decisions—whether it’s arbitrary layoffs, policies that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, or a culture that rewards silent obedience over integrity.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “This isn’t my fight,” I urge you to reconsider. If someone like me—who has had relative privilege and stability here—feels unsafe, imagine what it’s like for those with fewer safety nets.

I believe in the people at Meta. I believe in the talent, creativity, and passion that brought us here. I believe that, together, we can uphold the values that made this a place where people once felt safe, supported, and empowered.

But it takes all of us to make that happen.

How You Can Help

If any of this resonates with you, I invite you to:

• Speak up. Let’s start real conversations about what’s happening at work and what we can do to change it.
• Stand together. Even small acts of solidarity—listening, supporting, and showing up—can make a difference. Respect each other.
• Reach out. If you want to strategize, organize, or even just share your thoughts, I’d love to connect.

If you work at Meta, consider discussing these concerns in Workplace forums, amplifying the voices of colleagues, or advocating for transparent discussions with leadership. If you’re not at Meta, your support still matters—spreading awareness and showing solidarity can make a difference.

I don’t have all the answers, but I believe that, together, we can find them.

Together, we can all help rebuild the workplaces we have been promised—the ones we deserve.

Jeff Witthuhn and friends,

email: sandinthegears42@gmail.com

signal: SandInTheGears.42

linkedin: /in/jeffwitthuhn/

discord: sandinthegears