Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, formerly Facebook, is making headlines once again, this time for terminating several employees who allegedly abused the company’s meal subsidy program. The program, which offers a $25 Grubhub credit for employees working late at the office, was intended to cover the cost of dinner delivered directly to Meta offices. However, reports suggest that some employees misused this perk, using it for non-food items or redirecting meal deliveries to their homes, violating the company’s policies.

How the Grubhub Meal Subsidy Works

Meta offers a $25 Grubhub credit to employees working past 6 PM at smaller offices that lack in-house cafeterias. The credit is meant to cover dinner ordered and delivered directly to the office. However, Business Insider reports that some employees at Meta’s Los Angeles office used the credit for personal purchases, such as wine glasses, acne treatments, and other non-food items. Some even redirected meal deliveries to their homes or other locations, violating the intended use of the subsidy.

Meta’s Decision to Terminate Employees

In response to the misuse, Meta reportedly fired about 20 employees, many of whom were earning six-figure salaries. The firings have caused controversy, with some of the dismissed employees claiming they didn’t receive proper warnings before being terminated. According to an anonymous post on the Blind forum, one fired employee, who earned $400,000 annually, stated that they didn’t realize using the credit for non-food items was a violation. The employee added that they thought it was normal, as some colleagues suggested it, and many were doing the same.

Meta had issued a warning in early 2024 to stop using the credits for non-food items. Despite this, a subsequent investigation revealed the violations, leading to the firings. While Meta faced criticism for the strict enforcement of this policy, the company emphasized the importance of fairness and integrity across its workforce.