Meta boosts employee morale with pre-pandemic perks amidst layoffs

San Francisco: Following a series of layoffs that impacted morale at Meta Platforms Inc. over the past year, the company is reintroducing pre-pandemic perks to uplift employee spirits.

These measures include branded T-shirts, happy hours, and more.

Employees at Meta, the parent company of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, spent much of the year concerned about job security due to ongoing layoffs, which affected productivity and overall workplace atmosphere. Surviving employees lamented the loss of camaraderie and reduced perks.

However, there's now a resurgence of enthusiasm at Meta, with entire divisions once again ordering branded T-shirts, symbolising improved morale.

This change aligns with Meta's recent financial success, having surpassed Wall Street's expectations for two consecutive quarters in terms of profits and revenue. Meta has also started rehiring some previously laid-off workers, reported Bloomberg.

At the company's Menlo Park headquarters, numerous restaurants have reopened, dinnertime has been moved to an earlier hour, and services like laundry and haircuts are back.

Thursday happy hours and food stands from unique vendors are also contributing to a more inviting in-person work environment, as Meta now requires employees to be in the office three days a week.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed that the company is reinstating amenities as employees return to the office. However, it's worth noting that certain perks, like dinners, happy hours, and company swag, were only temporarily adjusted during the pandemic and were never completely eliminated.

The change in the availability and support of perks is being well-received by Meta employees. It marks a significant shift from last fall when the company faced declining stock performance, layoffs, and budget constraints that impacted snack bars and other amenities.

Despite these improvements, Meta still faces challenges, including stagnant user and revenue growth in its social networks, resource-intensive virtual reality efforts, and the high cost and early-stage nature of its artificial intelligence projects.

While morale has improved for now, there remains a sense of uncertainty among employees about the company's future directions and potential future layoffs. Nevertheless, at present, Meta employees are enjoying a boost in morale, as reflected in the resurgence of pre-pandemic perks and a generally positive atmosphere, said the new report.