You’re suddenly told to WFH tomorrow. Are you about to get fired over Zoom? Some Meta employees were reportedly asked to work from home on Wednesday—right before the company announced layoffs.

 Meta recently laid off hundreds of employees, just months after significant cuts to its virtual reality and metaverse divisions. Although these layoffs, affecting around 700 people across various departments, represent less than 1% of Meta's workforce, there's speculation that more cuts are on the way. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Meta might cut up to 20% of its jobs to compensate for its investments in artificial intelligence. Meta quickly dismissed these reports, calling them “speculative.”

While layoffs are common in the current climate—where many companies, such as Amazon and Block, have made significant cuts to offset AI investments—what stands out is how Meta handled this round of layoffs. According to Business Insider, several Meta employees were instructed to work from home on Wednesday, likely anticipating the layoff announcement. On Tuesday night, an email from HR was sent to employees, informing them that leadership would provide more details the following day. The layoffs reportedly impacted employees from at least two departments, though it’s unclear if those who received the email were directly affected.

This method of informing employees is becoming more common, especially as companies become more accustomed to “Zoom layoffs” in a post-pandemic world. Asking employees to stay home—especially at firms with strict return-to-office policies—has become an unofficial sign that layoffs may be imminent.

While this practice has become normalized, it doesn’t make it any less impersonal or harsh. Some employers have even been criticized for their cold approach to layoffs, such as when Better.com CEO Vishal Garg laid off hundreds of workers over a Zoom call in 2021. Similarly, companies like Tesla and General Motors have used email or even calendar invites to notify staff of job cuts.

Though it’s possible to handle layoffs remotely in a more compassionate way, many companies struggle with this. In many cases, leadership fails to take responsibility or provide enough transparency to those being let go. As mass layoffs continue and companies face growing pressure due to AI-driven changes, leaders may become more insulated from the emotional consequences of their decisions, which could lead to more layoffs and even more impersonal tactics. So, if your employer, who normally requires you to be in the office suddenly asks you to work from home, it might just be a sign that layoffs are coming.