Meta Platforms is facing a new legal dispute after a former senior executive accused the company of unfairly targeting older employees during a recent round of job cuts. The case, filed in California, brings renewed attention to concerns about age discrimination in the technology industry—an issue that has surfaced repeatedly in recent years.
The lawsuit has been filed by Nicolas Franchet, who claims that the company’s decision to reduce its workforce by about 5% had a disproportionate impact on employees over the age of 40. According to the complaint, older workers were significantly more likely to lose their jobs compared to younger staff members, raising questions about whether the layoffs were truly based on performance.
Alleged Data Points to Age-Based Disparities
At the center of the lawsuit are claims based on internal figures that were allegedly shared with employees affected by the layoffs. The complaint states that workers aged 40 and above were about 1.5 times more likely to be let go than those under 40. For employees aged 50 and older, the disparity was even greater, with termination rates reportedly 2.5 times higher than their younger colleagues.
These figures are being used to argue that the layoffs may have been influenced by age rather than purely by merit or productivity. The lawsuit contends that the company’s explanation of “performance-based” cuts does not fully align with the data.
Meta has not publicly responded to these allegations and has declined to provide comments regarding the claims or the statistics cited in the lawsuit.
Veteran Employee Says Career Contributions Were Ignored
Franchet, who lives in San Francisco, spent over a decade working at Meta, including time at its headquarters in Menlo Park. During his 13-year tenure, he rose through the ranks to become a senior director, a position that placed him among the company’s experienced leadership.
According to the lawsuit, Franchet consistently received positive feedback and strong performance reviews throughout his career. Despite this, he was laid off in February 2025 at the age of 54.
The filing suggests that his dismissal came as a surprise, particularly given his long-standing contributions to the company’s growth. It also notes that he had planned to continue working at Meta and had not been seeking other opportunities.
Questions Raised Over Performance Evaluation System
The lawsuit also scrutinizes Meta’s internal evaluation process, which it claims played a key role in determining who would be laid off. Earlier in 2025, CEO Mark Zuckerberg informed employees that the company would carry out layoffs based on performance.
Around that time, Meta introduced a new rating category that allowed managers to classify certain employees as “lowest performers.” According to the complaint, this label became a crucial factor in identifying which employees would be dismissed.
Franchet alleges that he was assigned this rating shortly before his termination. The lawsuit argues that the system may have been used to justify layoffs rather than to provide a fair and objective assessment of employee performance.
Significant Financial Impact From Lost Stock Awards
In addition to losing his job, Franchet claims he suffered substantial financial losses as a result of the termination. A large portion of his compensation came in the form of restricted stock units (RSUs), which vest over time.
At the time he was laid off, he reportedly held more than 16,000 unvested shares in Meta. These shares were valued at nearly $12 million but were forfeited when his employment ended before they could vest.
The lawsuit also highlights that many of these stock grants were awarded in 2023 as part of a selective recognition program for top-performing employees. This detail is used to support the argument that Franchet was considered a valuable contributor prior to his dismissal.
Part of a Larger Pattern in Silicon Valley
The case adds to a series of legal disputes involving claims of age discrimination across the tech sector. Several major companies have faced similar accusations, often resulting in settlements and increased scrutiny.
In 2023, HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise agreed to pay $18 million to resolve claims that older employees were systematically pushed out.
Earlier, in 2019, Google settled a lawsuit for $11 million over allegations that it discriminated against older job applicants.
IBM has also faced similar claims. Although a major case against the company was dismissed in 2022 due to procedural issues, the allegations contributed to ongoing concerns about how older workers are treated in the industry.
Potential Implications for the Tech Industry
Franchet is seeking damages that include lost wages, forfeited stock, and compensation for the impact on his career. The lawsuit argues that losing a job at a later stage in life can make it significantly more difficult to find comparable roles, particularly in a competitive industry like technology.
If the case moves forward and the claims are substantiated, it could lead to greater scrutiny of how companies implement layoffs and evaluate employee performance. It may also prompt organizations to reassess whether their internal systems unintentionally disadvantage certain age groups.
