Misuse of company benefits sparks HR investigation
Meta Platforms, Inc., the tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has dismissed 24 employees from its Los Angeles offices after they were found misusing the company’s $25 meal credits to purchase non-food items, including household goods. According to The Guardian, the employees allegedly spent their meal credits on products like toothpaste, laundry detergent, and wine glasses.
Employees fired following formal investigation
The firings follow a formal human resources investigation that uncovered employees exploiting the meal credit system, which is intended to cover work-related food expenses. Among the violations, some employees were found to have sent meals to their homes while they were not in the office.
One unnamed employee, who reportedly earned a $400,000 salary, admitted to using the meal credits for groceries and other household items such as toothpaste and tea.
The employee, posting anonymously on the platform Blind, explained their actions: “On days where 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.” This individual acknowledged the violation when approached by HR and was subsequently fired. “It was almost surreal that this was happening,” the person wrote.
Perks under scrutiny in the tech industry
Offering free meals has long been a common perk at major technology companies like Meta. However, as companies look to tighten policies and cut costs, these benefits are coming under greater scrutiny. Meta, which employs over 70,000 people globally, ranks 91st on Forbes‘ 2024 list of the world’s greatest employers.
Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and his Harvard colleagues, Meta has faced a series of workforce reductions and cost-cutting measures as it navigates a challenging period in the global tech industry.
The company has not issued a public statement regarding the dismissals, and the fired employees have remained largely silent since the incident.
