A $400k/year Meta Employee Fired For Violating Meal Credit Policy – Bought Tea And Toothpaste, Calls It 'Almost Surreal'

According to reports, Meta META recently fired about two dozen employees, including one making $400,000 per year, for breaking the company’s meal credit rules. The affected workers, based in the Los Angeles office, had used their $25 meal vouchers to buy nonfood items like toothpaste, tea, wine glasses and even laundry detergent. 

The fired employees had previously received warnings but were fired after persisting in abusing the credits.

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Meta, like many major tech firms, offers various food perks to its employees, especially in smaller offices without cafeterias. When working late or away from headquarters, employees in these workplaces can purchase meals using credits from food delivery services like Grubhub

These credits, issued $25 at a time, are only intended for office meals. However, some staff started bending the rules – buying things for their homes or pooling credits with other employees, resulting in long-term misuse.

According to posts from affected employees on the anonymous professional app Blind, the violations came to light after a former Meta employee shared his experience of being fired. 

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According to the Financial Times, the worker, who claimed to earn $400,000 annually, said that he had used the meal credit to buy items like toothpaste and tea. He explained that on some days, he wasn’t eating at the office because his partner was cooking or he was out with friends. After HR looked into it, he acknowledged his error, yet he was still fired. According to Fortune, he called the whole thing “almost surreal.”

According to company insiders, Meta’s move is part of a larger trend driven by CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Meta has been aggressively reducing expenses, firing over 21,000 workers between 2022 and 2023 and eliminating low-priority initiatives to increase its overall focus and growth. 

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Although more focused, this most recent termination is consistent with that approach. As Meta tries to ensure that resources are used appropriately and aligned with its larger strategic aims, employees must adhere to the guidelines strictly.

For some employees, these actions have been a wake-up call that no one’s job is guaranteed, no matter their salary. And with Meta scaling back on other office perks such as to-go food boxes and laundry services, it’s clear that the “year of efficiency” isn't just a slogan but the new reality at the company.

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