Meta Platforms has fired around two dozen Los Angeles employees for misusing their $25 work meal credits. The employees reportedly used the credits, intended for work-related meals, to purchase non-food items like household goods. These terminations occurred just before Meta announced a wider corporate restructuring, signaling that its focus on efficiency remains a top priority.
The Details Behind the Meal Credit Misuse
The issue may seem small, but it reflects a larger policy enforcement trend at the tech giant. Employees in offices lacking a cafeteria were given credits for services like Uber Eats or Grubhub. However, an investigation revealed a pattern of misuse.
Some staff members were found to have purchased items such as wine glasses and laundry detergent. For several of the fired employees, this was not an isolated incident. Reports suggest some were pooling credits or using them to have food delivered to their homes, which is a clear violation of company policy. Meta’s response was decisive, with the firings taking place last week.
A Piece of a Much Bigger Efficiency Puzzle
These firings are not happening in a vacuum. They are part of a massive, ongoing effort by CEO Mark Zuckerberg to create a leaner, more efficient company. This “year of efficiency” has been in motion since 2022 and has reshaped the $1.5 trillion company.
This broader strategy has included several major actions:
- Two large-scale layoff rounds in 2022 and 2023 that eliminated approximately 21,000 jobs.
- The closure or downsizing of smaller offices, with many roles being relocated to the main Silicon Valley campus.
- A significant strategic pivot away from costly metaverse projects toward artificial intelligence.
The recent firings over meal credits, while small in scale, underscore the company’s commitment to enforcing rules and cutting unnecessary costs at every level.
Employees React with Disbelief
The terminations have sent ripples through the company, with some employees expressing shock. One former employee, who claimed to have a salary near $400,000, anonymously posted on the workplace platform Blind about their dismissal.
They admitted to using the credits for personal items like toothpaste on days they did not eat at the office, arguing they did not want the credit to go to waste. The ex-employee described the experience of being fired over such a small amount as “almost surreal.” This incident has sparked debate among staff about whether Meta’s culture is shifting away from the generous perks the tech industry is known for.
Wall Street Applauds Meta’s Leaner Approach
While some employees are concerned about the cultural shift, investors are rewarding Meta’s new focus. For years, Wall Street was skeptical of the company’s massive spending on the metaverse with little to show for it.
The recent cost-cutting measures and the strategic shift to AI have restored investor confidence. As a result, Meta’s stock is trading near its all-time highs at around $577 per share. The company’s challenge now is to maintain this financial momentum without damaging the employee morale that is crucial for innovation.
