The lawsuit against Meta involves 26 unnamed employees who allege that the company's use of artificial intelligence in its May layoffs was discriminatory, particularly against those on protected medical or family leave.
The plaintiffs argue that Meta's AI systems did not account for approved absences, leading to unfair layoffs based on metrics that penalized employees unable to perform at full capacity due to disabilities or leave. They seek a preliminary injunction to maintain their employment status while an independent audit of the AI selection process is conducted.
Meta has denied the allegations, asserting that workforce decisions were made by people rather than AI. This lawsuit highlights growing concerns about the role of AI in employment practices, particularly following a recent ruling against Workday regarding similar issues.
The outcome of this case could have broader implications for how technology is integrated into workforce management and the legal responsibilities companies have towards their employees