Meta fired around two dozen employees from its Los Angeles office for misusing company meal credits for items other than food, such as laundry detergent, wine glasses, and acne treatment pads. This was revealed through an internal investigation, with employees using meal vouchers meant for office meals to have food delivered to their homes. The median total annual compensation for individual employees at Meta, excluding CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is $379,050. The firings were first reported by the Financial Times and occurred as part of a series of restructurings across the company.
Many of Meta’s corporate offices feature elaborate food services to provide meals as a perk for employees. The New York City office near Penn Station, for example, has a cafeteria with various stalls offering free food for staff. For smaller offices without food services, the company provides meal vouchers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, ranging from $20 to $25 each. These vouchers are intended for employees who work long hours at the office, which is common in the tech industry.
Meta’s spokesperson Tracy Clayton stated that the company is making changes to ensure resources are aligned with long-term strategic goals and location strategy. This includes moving teams to different locations and shifting employees to different roles. Meta did not disclose the number of employees who were laid off as part of these changes, which impacted teams across Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Reality Labs, which focuses on virtual reality and the metaverse.
Among those laid off was Jane Manchun Wong, a well-known security researcher in the tech world who joined Meta in 2023 to work on the Instagram and Threads team. Last year, Meta laid off over 20,000 employees in multiple rounds of cuts to address revenue declines and stagnating user growth. This restructuring effort, referred to as Meta’s “year of efficiency” by Zuckerberg, contributed to the company’s shares (META) increasing by nearly 80% compared to the previous year.
The misuse of meal credits by employees in the LA office led to the termination of around two dozen individuals, highlighting the importance of adhering to company policies and guidelines. While Meta provides various perks and benefits to its employees, such as elaborate food services and meal vouchers, these should be used appropriately for their intended purposes. The company’s focus on realigning resources and teams to meet long-term strategic goals reflects its commitment to adapting to changing industry dynamics and market trends.
Overall, the recent layoffs and restructurings at Meta demonstrate the company’s ongoing efforts to optimize operations and remain competitive in the tech industry. By making strategic decisions to adjust resources, move teams to different locations, and shift employees to new roles, Meta aims to enhance efficiency and drive innovation within its various business units. Despite the challenges faced by the company, including revenue declines and user growth stagnation, Meta continues to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of technology and social media.
