Meta fires 24 employees for using company food vouchers to buy household groceries

Meta has fired 24 employees, and no, this is not in line with the IT layoffs. Instead, Mark Zuckerberg’s company dismissed these employees at its Los Angeles offices for misusing the company’s meal voucher system. According to reports, some Meta employees took advantage of a $25 meal credit policy-under which Meta covers meals for employees during work hours-to purchase a variety of non-food items, including household goods like toothpaste, laundry detergent, scotch tape, and even wine glasses.
Meta fired the employees following an internal investigation that revealed a pattern of misuse of the meal credit system. Employees were found to be using food credits to buy items that had little to do with meals during office hours. Some workers even reportedly sent meals home when they were not physically present at the office, raising questions about the ethical use of company resources, according to Financial Ties, which first reported the firings.
One anonymous Meta employee, who reportedly earned a substantial salary of $400,000 per year, even admitted to using meal credits for grocery items and household supplies. In a post on the anonymous platform Blind, the employee explained their rationale, saying, “On days when I would not be eating at the office, like if my husband was cooking or if I was grabbing dinner with friends, I figured I ought not to waste the dinner credit.”
According to the report, Meta’s investigation, which was part of a broader human resources review, led to the termination of those found to have repeatedly misused the meal credits. While some employees were reprimanded for occasional infractions, they were allowed to retain their positions, suggesting that Meta has drawn a line between minor infractions and serious violations of company policy.
The recent firings at Meta come amid a backdrop of restructuring, which has seen significant layoffs and changes in its operational strategy. Meta’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg, has started a series of cost-cutting measures and reorganisations that have already resulted in the reduction of thousands of jobs. In total, Meta laid off around 21,000 employees in the past two years as part of a broader effort to streamline operations and reduce expenses. As of June 2023, the company employed approximately 70,799 individuals and is now focused on restructuring various divisions, including WhatsApp and Instagram.
Meanwhile, Meta’s job cuts are part of a larger trend within the tech industry, where companies are increasingly scrutinising employee perks. Apart from layoffs, companies are making cuts to various benefits, including fitness classes and office supplies, reflecting a tightening of budgets across the sector.