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A former Meta staffer who was placed on a “Do Not Hire” list after stalking and harassing a company employee was rehired after Meta downsized its talent and recruitment department, according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday. The lawsuit, filed in New York Supreme Court on behalf of Meta employee James Napoli, accuses Meta of violating New York City’s human rights law and negligence for rehiring the individual. Napoli, a marketing leader at Meta’s New York office, expressed concerns about the rehiring of the individual and felt that his safety was compromised.

The lawsuit comes after CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in March 2023 that Meta would be reducing its recruiting team as part of a larger strategy to cut jobs and operate more efficiently. Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. The company’s cost-cutting efforts have impacted its ability to address concerns from small businesses, influencers, and state and local election officials who utilize Facebook and Instagram.

Following Meta’s layoffs and restructuring, the lawsuit claims that the company’s hiring practices have become chaotic and ineffective, leading to the rehiring of individuals who pose a risk to employees. Napoli’s attorneys allege that Meta is relying more on hiring through outside contractors and employing fewer recruiters, resulting in the failure to identify potential red flags in the hiring process.

Meta has faced previous allegations of employing individuals engaged in stalking behavior. In Napoli’s case, the accused stalker, identified as “G.F.,” was originally part of Meta’s marketing team before being laid off in November 2022. Despite assurances from HR that G.F. was on the “Do Not Hire” list, the individual was rehired in a contractor position, leading to further stalking and harassment of Napoli. After Napoli raised concerns about the rehiring decision, he experienced retaliation at Meta, resulting in a reduction of responsibilities.

Napoli is seeking damages in the lawsuit and asking the court to prevent G.F. from being rehired at Meta and prohibit the company from engaging in discriminatory or retaliatory acts against Napoli. He hopes to see reforms implemented at Meta to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, emphasizing the importance of a safe workplace for all employees.

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