Workers at Meta have reportedly been sacked for abusing the tech firm’s meal voucher system, sparking controversy and debate among employees. According to reports, some workers were using the vouchers to purchase non-food items such as toothpaste and washing powder, in violation of company policy. Other breaches included sharing the vouchers with others or exceeding the budget allocated for meals.
The company, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, has faced criticism for the way it handled the situation, with conflicting accounts emerging about whether employees were given warnings before being fired. Meta has not yet commented on the matter.
Employees at Meta are given meal vouchers totaling $70 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, intended for ordering food from Grubhub. However, posts on the anonymous work social message board Blind have confirmed that some workers were fired for misusing the vouchers.
One user on Blind claimed that more than 30 people were terminated for using the credits for non-food items or sharing them with others. Examples of non-food items purchased included toothpaste, toothbrushes, and wine glasses. Some users stated that employees were warned to stop the misuse, while others claimed there were no warnings given.
In addition to the voucher controversy, Meta has reportedly made job cuts across various departments, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs, its virtual reality division responsible for the Oculus headset. Former security engineer Jane Manchun Wong revealed that she had lost her job as part of the layoffs, despite being hired just over a year ago after being featured on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list.
The layoffs were first reported by Verge, with a Meta spokesperson explaining that the company is making changes to align resources with long-term strategic goals. This includes relocating teams and employees to different roles, with efforts made to find alternative opportunities for affected employees. The situation at Meta continues to unfold as employees and industry observers await further developments.
