Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Dismisses 24 Employees for Misusing Meal Vouchers
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Dismisses 24 Employees for Misusing Meal Vouchers
Tech giant Meta, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has terminated 24 employees for exploiting the company’s $25 meal voucher system. According to posts on the anonymous workplace chat app Blind, these individuals misused the vouchers for non-food items such as toothpaste, laundry detergent, and even wine glasses.
Intended Purpose of Meal Vouchers
The meal vouchers were intended to be used for food deliveries during office work hours. However, some staff members stretched the benefits beyond their intended purpose, ordering household items and personal care products. Meta swiftly addressed the issue by terminating the involved employees.
Lavish Perks at Meta
Meta, valued at $1.5 trillion, is renowned for its generous perks, including free meals at larger offices to encourage employee return to in-person work. In smaller offices without on-site dining options, employees receive meal credits for delivery services like Grubhub.
Long-Standing Misuse
The Financial Times reported that the misuse of meal vouchers had been ongoing, with some employees regularly ordering non-food items. Despite warnings, the practice persisted, leading to the recent terminations. Notably, the dismissals included high-earning engineers with six-figure salaries.
Prior Warnings and Dismissals
Warnings had been issued to the involved employees prior to their termination. However, their continued misuse resulted in their dismissals. The news of these dismissals comes amid broader cuts across Meta’s divisions, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and its virtual reality unit.
Meta’s Restructuring Efforts
Meta cited restructuring efforts as the reason for the layoffs, aiming to realign resources with long-term strategic goals. A Meta spokesperson emphasized that the changes include shifting teams and roles to more critical business areas.
Reduction in Staff Perks
While the recent layoffs are less severe than previous cuts in 2022 and 2023, they still indicate a tightening of the belt. Meta has reduced staff perks in recent years, including eliminating popular “to-go” boxes and laundry services that incentivized employees to spend more time in the office.