'No more free laundry' | Hybrid switch sees Meta axe famous work perks

The days of Meta (formerly Facebook) employees receiving lavish perks may be coming to an end. Employees in Silicon Valley who previously enjoyed a free laundry and dry-cleaning service were informed on Friday in an internal Meta post that this service has been cut.

Additionally, their free dinner (offered as a perk for employees who worked late) has now been pushed back from 6pm to 6.30pm. The last shuttle bus into the city leaves at 6pm, so employees no longer have the perk of filling up take-out boxes full of food to eat at home later.

Unsurprisingly, many employees were unhappy about losing their in-office perks. Writing anonymously on Blind (it’s described as an app that provides an anonymous forum for verified staff to discuss issues), one Meta employee said: “Dinner pushed out to 6:30PM. NO Togo boxes, NO reusable containers one can bring even for lunch and other stuff :( :(My kids love the variety of food I bring from Meta. Laundry benefit GONE. I have been using laundry benefit and love that cleaners come home, pick up stuff and bring it back. Such a helpful one where clothes are folded and I don’t have to worry much and focus that time for my axis work. Why, why WHY?? Childcare reimbursements were already cut for 2022 :(:(“

Meta executives claimed that the changes are due to transitioning to a hybrid work model. “As we return to the office, we’ve adjusted on-site services and amenities to better reflect the needs of our hybrid workforce,” a Meta Spokesperson said in a statement. “We believe people and teams will be increasingly distributed in the future, and we’re committed to building an experience that helps everyone be successful.”