Meta terminates employees for purchasing toothpaste instead of lunch

 

Meta terminates employees for purchasing toothpaste instead of lunch

Employees at Meta have allegedly been terminated for misusing the company's meal voucher program, including purchasing items like toothpaste and laundry detergent.

 

Additional violations of the policy involved distributing the vouchers to others or exceeding the allocated budget, as reported by individuals claiming to be Meta employees.

 

There are varying reports regarding the extent of warning provided to the employees of Instagram, Facebook, and Whats App prior to their dismissal.

 

In a related development, the company has reportedly implemented job cuts throughout its operations. Meta has been approached for a statement.

 

Meta employees receive vouchers valued at $25 (£19) for lunch, $20 for breakfast, and $25 for dinner, intended for use on Grub hub, the U.S. equivalent of the takeaway service Just Eat.

 

 Reports on the anonymous workplace social platform Blind seem to corroborate details initially shared by the Financial Times.

 

One user indicated that over 30 individuals were terminated last week for utilizing the credits on "non-food items, sharing credits with others, or exceeding the budget.

 

Instances of non-food purchases included items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, and wine glasses.

 

 They were warned to cease this behavior, which most complied with, yet they were still let go three months later despite stopping," the user noted.

 

While some users reiterated that warnings had been issued, others claimed that no such warnings were given.

 

In a separate development, the company has also reportedly implemented job reductions at Whats App, Instagram, and Reality Labs, its virtual reality division responsible for the  Oculus headset. These layoffs are unrelated to the voucher issue.

 

Jane Manchun Wong, a former security engineer at Meta, announced on Wednesday that she was among those affected by these broader layoffs.

 

I’m still trying to process this, but I’ve been informed that my role at Meta has been impacted," she shared on X, previously known as Twitter.

 

Ms. Wong joined the company just over a year ago as a software engineer after being recognized in Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in 2022.

 

The layoffs were initially reported by Verge, with a spokesperson stating: "Several teams at Meta are making adjustments to ensure resources align with their long-term strategic objectives and location strategy.