Even Top Performers Are Affected by the Internal Block Lists
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, reportedly maintains internal lists of former employees who are barred from being rehired, even if they have strong performance histories. According to a new report from Business Insider, these block lists include underperformers and employees who violated company policies, but also high-achieving individuals who left the company under seemingly neutral circumstances.
A System of “Non-Regrettable Attrition”
Five former Meta employees, including two managers, told Business Insider that the company keeps track of past employees through a system labeled “non-regrettable attrition.” This classification allows managers to designate former staff members as ineligible for rehire in just minutes by filling out a form—without requiring a documented performance issue.
While this process makes it easy for employees to be added to Meta’s block lists, getting off them is significantly more challenging. A senior Meta engineer who was affected by this system shared that even with a vice president’s approval, their status remained unchanged. Another hiring manager reported that they had never seen a candidate successfully removed from a block list and granted an opportunity to interview again.
The Impact of Layoffs and Block Lists
Earlier this year, nearly 4,000 Meta employees were laid off in what the company described as performance-based cuts. However, it remains unclear how many of these individuals were later placed on block lists. Some former employees, including those affected by Meta’s 2022 layoffs, discovered they were deemed “ineligible to be hired” when reapplying for different roles through third-party staffing agencies. This applied even to individuals with consistent “Exceeded Expectations” ratings in their past performance reviews.
Meta’s Response and Industry Comparison
A Meta spokesperson responded to the report by stating that several factors determine whether a former employee is eligible for rehire. These include their last performance rating before departure and the nature of their exit, such as policy violations, performance-based termination, or voluntary resignation.
Despite Meta’s explanation, other tech industry leaders suggest such formalized block lists are not standard practice. Laszlo Bock, who served as Google’s head of people operations from 2006 to 2016, told Business Insider that he had “never seen” a large-scale, systematic approach like Meta’s for barring former employees.
The Bigger Picture
The existence of these block lists raises concerns about fairness and transparency in corporate hiring practices. While it is common for companies to track past employees, the extent to which Meta’s system impacts rehiring opportunities—even for top performers—has sparked debate.
As Meta continues to restructure and refine its workforce, the long-term implications of these policies remain to be seen. Whether they will lead to greater scrutiny or shifts in industry standards is yet to unfold.
Post Views: 16
