Employees at Meta were reportedly dismissed for misusing the company’s meal voucher system, purchasing items like toothpaste instead of food. While some assert that warnings were issued before the firings, differing accounts exist. The company is also undergoing broader layoffs across its different divisions.
Meta Faces Backlash After Firing Employees Over Voucher Misuse
Meta Faces Backlash After Firing Employees Over Voucher Misuse
Reports indicate that Meta has terminated staff for allegedly using meal vouchers for non-food items, leading to controversy and discussions over warning procedures.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, has come under scrutiny after reports surfaced that several employees were fired for misusing the firm’s meal voucher program. Reports suggest that employees were dismissed for purchasing non-food items, such as toothpaste, laundry detergent, and even wine glasses, using the vouchers intended solely for meals.
Workers are provided with $25 for lunch, $20 for breakfast, and $25 for dinner, which are supposed to be used exclusively for ordering food through Grubhub, the American counterpart to Just Eat. Anonymous employee posts on the social networking platform Blind have echoed reports from the Financial Times, alleging that over 30 people were terminated last week for various infractions, including sharing vouchers with colleagues and exceeding the budget.
Accounts regarding the warning process leading up to the firings vary significantly. Some employees claim that they were warned to cease their non-compliant purchasing behavior, which they did, yet they were nonetheless dismissed three months later. Meanwhile, others contend that no warnings were issued prior to the firings.
Additionally, Meta is undergoing significant job cuts across its various divisions, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs, which is responsible for the Oculus virtual reality headset. Those layoffs, according to spokespersons, are not related to the voucher policy abuse. Jane Manchun Wong, a former security engineer at Meta, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that she was among those laid off, stating, “I’m still trying to process this but I’m informed that my role at Meta has been impacted.”
The company has indicated that it is realigning resources with its long-term strategic goals and location strategies, as explained to the tech publication Verge. They noted efforts will be made to offer alternative opportunities for affected employees whenever roles are eliminated. Meta has not publicly commented on the controversy surrounding the meal voucher misuse yet.
