Meta Layoffs: Employees Fired for Abusing Food Benefits, ‘Grubgate’ Sparks Company-Wide Reaction

“Grubgate” is the latest controversy to stir up discussions in Meta. The tech giant recently fired about two dozen employees for misusing $25 Grubhub meal credits, a perk designed to support employees at locations without cafeterias or for those who work late hours. Employees’ misuse of credit, which included ordering non-food items like laundry detergent and wine glasses, led to a wave of resignations, according to a Business Insider report.

The incident sparked strong reactions on workplace forum Blind, where Meta employees debated the company’s strict enforcement of its policies. Blind, a forum that requires a company email address to access certain channels, became a discussion center with posts ranging from sympathy for the laid-off employees to arguments that the layoffs were justified .

In a survey published on the Blind meta channel, employees were asked to comment on whether they were “safe from Grubgate” or “affected by Grubgate,” reflecting widespread concern about the layoffs.

Many employees expressed concern about the strict enforcement of Grubhub’s policy, noting that such actions could raise fears in others about inadvertently violating other company policies. One Meta employee wrote: “This action causes fear among employees. Anyone can accidentally violate a policy. It’s like having your driver’s license revoked because you were 55 instead of 50. I challenge everyone to say they know ALL of this company’s policies.”

However, not everyone shared this view. Another employee responded more clearly: “It’s not strange. You have violated the “Follow this rule or you will be terminated” policy and have been terminated. There is no need to worry unless you are also violating company policy.”

The debate over whether the layoffs were justified highlighted tensions between employees and company policy enforcement, particularly in light of Meta’s “Year of Efficiency” strategy initiated by CEO Mark Zuckerberg. A Blind employee pointed to this strategy and suggested that Meta is now taking compliance more seriously. “Although Meta still sees itself as a large, small-business company with years of efficiencies, it is beginning to take employee non-compliance more seriously.”

Several forum users also pointed out that these layoffs, dubbed “Grubgate,” may be tied to broader organizational changes. Meta recently announced a restructuring in key areas such as Instagram, WhatsApp and Reality Labs, which resulted in layoffs. Employees speculated that the recent layoffs could be a reflection of stricter company standards.

For some, the clarity about the reason for the layoffs offered a small glimmer of hope. One post quipped: “These idiots are so lucky… at least they know WHY they got fired. Imagine having to spend the rest of your life wondering what you did wrong.”

However, others felt the company’s actions were too extreme and suggested alternative consequences. “Should Meta have demanded that the employee reimburse the company, suspend the service and issue a warning about another strike? Probably,” one employee suggested, adding to the conversation about Meta’s handling of the situation.