Meta is reportedly planning to introduce a new performance review and bonus system that could reward top employees with bonuses of up to 300 per cent of their base pay, even as the company carries out another round of layoffs. The development comes just days after Meta confirmed job cuts affecting more than 1,000 employees, mainly in its Reality Labs division.

According to a Business Insider report, Meta is set to roll out a new evaluation framework called Checkpoint from mid-2026. The aim is to simplify the performance review process and reward employees who deliver strong results. Under this system, workers will be rated on four levels: Outstanding, Excellent, Needs Improvement, and Not Meeting Expectations.

Employees rated Outstanding, expected to make up around 20 per cent of the workforce, will reportedly receive a 200 per cent bonus multiplier. The majority of employees, about 70 per cent, are likely to fall under the Excellent category, which will come with a 115 per cent bonus multiplier and is seen as the standard level of high performance at Meta.

Those marked as Needs Improvement will receive a reduced bonus with a 50 per cent multiplier, while employees rated Not Meeting Expectations will not receive any bonus at all. The system is designed to clearly separate top performers from those who are underperforming.

With this, Meta is also planning to introduce a special recognition called the Meta Award. This top-tier award will offer a 300 per cent bonus to a very small group of employees whose work has had an exceptional impact. The move is aimed at retaining highly skilled talent, especially as competition in artificial intelligence continues to grow.

Meta says the changes are also meant to improve efficiency. Internal data shows that managers and employees spend a large amount of time on performance reviews, but many managers find the current feedback process unhelpful.

The new system will include two formal review cycles each year, with bonuses paid after both cycles and salary hikes decided after the year-end review. These plans come amid fresh layoffs as Meta shifts focus from virtual reality and metaverse projects to AI-driven products and features.