Meta and Google employees say the fading benefits mean the end of the ‘tech bro’

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Not long ago, hoodie-clad workers at major tech companies could enjoy the good life at the office: coffee made by top-notch baristas, nap pods, massage therapists, on-campus medical clinics, gourmet meals, and endless snacks.

But earlier this year, Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — announced it was ending free laundry and dry cleaning. Meal times in Menlo Park, The California headquarters moved from 6:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., the same time the company’s last bus drove workers off campus.

This comes in the form of Google cutting down options for spending on lunch supplies and fitness classes.

Is the golden age of tech silver over?

“They’re being selective. I think of it as death by a thousand,” said a meta insider. “Cutting benefits affects morale, affects how you feel about the company and how much executives care about you.”

Add to that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s apparent impatience when asked on a company-wide conference call last month whether “Meta Days” — the extended period released during the outbreak — would continue into 2023.

Mark Zuckerberg lost his cool last month when employees asked if they would continue to get more vacation time and other benefits.
Mark Zuckerberg lost his cool last month when employees asked if they would continue to get more vacation time and other benefits.
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After announcing expected cuts, he was reported to have said: “You can imagine my reaction to this if I were to vote in the rest of the Q&A.” And being self-selecting is okay with me.

Suddenly, the technology sector’s chosen ones are not so lucky.

“I expect you to do more with less,” says Mark, “and it’s burning people out.” When you are in a company [Meta], it’s amazing when they love you, but it’s hilarious when they turn you on,” said a meta insider. “It feels so robotic. It puts everyone on edge. I wonder if that’s it.” [tech bro] There will be a high and then a spectacular fall.

Employees at Facebook (now Meta) headquarters enjoyed gaming.

Employees at Facebook (now Meta) headquarters enjoyed gaming.


Free meals were previously a big perk at Facebook, though the company recently changed its dinner schedule, prompting some employees to leave without a meal.

Free meals were previously a big perk at Facebook, though the company recently changed its dinner schedule, prompting some employees to leave without a meal.


Facebook has been offering awesome snacks for a long time.

Facebook has been offering awesome snacks for a long time.


It’s a long way to leave, former employees told the Post.

“The biggest benefit of Instagram was definitely food,” says Christine Nino de Guzman, a former TikTok and Instagram employee who started her own startup. “I didn’t really have to go to the grocery store. All three meals were served at the company’s incredible office. They hired Michelin-star chefs to work in the kitchen. The food is really high quality and caters to every dietary restriction.

Kenneth Wax, a former employee of Google’s Mountain View, Calif., office, says his favorite amenity is “the bowling alley. They also had a lot of game rooms and TV rooms. There was beer and alcohol everywhere, you could take it whenever you wanted. It was like a scout’s honor with anything there. It was also nice that the offices were 24/7. On weekends, I would go home to use the gym, grab a snack, sit in the massage chair for a while.

The volleyball sand courts were a perk at Google's Mountain View, California headquarters.

The volleyball sand courts were a perk at Google’s Mountain View, California headquarters.


The company also offers free group fitness classes.

The company also offers free group fitness classes.


Google "Bay view" The campus is known for its creative decor.

Google’s “Bay View” campus is known for its innovative decor.


When conveniences cease to exist, it can be like taking away a child’s favorite toy. Dropbox was serving bulgogi, hibachi-grilled fish and beef tataki sushi — with meat in-house — at the Tuck Shop at its San Francisco headquarters.

But following COVID and work-at-home adjustments, the company announced in December 2020 that it will begin integrated flexible co-working in satellite offices — and later move the four-building H.I. Gone is the fancy food along with the state-of-the-art gymnasium, meditation room and arcade.

A former employee told Business Insider, “The removal [of Tuck Shop]I think it had a psychological effect on people.

A former employee told The Post that she never went to the grocery store when she was working at TikTok because the food options were too many.

A former employee told The Post that she never went to the grocery store when she was working at TikTok because the food options were too many.


TikTok's US headquarters is located in Culver City, Calif.

TikTok’s US headquarters is located in Culver City, Calif.


She said that the former Tik Tok employee used to take out too. "From sunrise to sunset" In the office, but now prefers the flexibility of working from home.

The former Tik Tok employee also used to spend “sun up to sun down” in the office, but now says she prefers the ability to work from home.


“Benefits are definitely in the top five things to consider. [before accepting a job]. If you’re trying to weigh between different companies, the benefits can be the deciding factor,” said the meta expert. “[Losing perks] It may be the main reason why they want to leave.

But de Guzman says now there’s a bigger draw than any office perk: working from home. Google, like Apple, requires its employees to return to the office three days a week, although the former allows for fully remote work options. Meta allows employees to ask to return full time, work a mixed deal or be completely absent.

“The culture of work has changed a lot. People are choosing remote work or hybrid schedules. The big focus for Google and Meta is that they have this incredible campus. But now it’s like, ‘Oh, well, if I have to go to work once a week, do I care? I’d rather just work from home.’ ‘ said de Guzman. “People don’t pay much attention to office-related benefits. It’s about compensation and other mental health-related benefits. When I think of those days, I lived on campus all my life from sunup to sundown.”

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