Tech Giant Cracks Down on Meal Voucher Abuse
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has taken drastic measures against nearly two dozen employees in Los Angeles who exploited the company’s meal voucher system. The employees were terminated last week after an investigation revealed they had been using the $25 daily allowances to purchase non-food items, including acne pads, wine glasses, and laundry detergent.
A Generous Perk Turns into a Loophole
Meta offers its employees a daily stipend of $20 for breakfast, $25 for lunch, and another $25 for dinner, similar to what other large tech companies provide. However, some employees saw an opportunity to take advantage of the system. They would pool their money together or have meals sent home, instead of using the credits at the office as intended.
The Consequences of Abuse
While occasional offenders received a warning, those who repeatedly broke the rules faced termination. One former Meta staffer, who earned a salary of around $400,000, confessed to using the meal credits to buy groceries like toothpaste and tea at Rite Aid pharmacy. They were unexpectedly fired after admitting to the misconduct, describing the experience as “surreal.”
A Broader Restructuring Effort
Meta’s decision to crack down on meal voucher abuse comes amidst a larger restructuring push. The company has been undergoing significant changes, including multiple rounds of layoffs. In November 2022, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the layoff of over 11,000 workers, followed by another round of 10,000 layoffs in spring 2023. Zuckerberg attributed the layoffs to overbuilding during the COVID era e-commerce surge, rather than the emergence of artificial intelligence.
A Shift Towards Efficiency
Zuckerberg has emphasized the need for efficiency, stating that many companies, including Meta, invested heavily during the pandemic and now need to adjust to a new reality. As the tech giant continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact its employees and the industry as a whole.
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