After enduring a tumultuous year marked by layoffs and uncertainty, Meta Platforms employees are finding renewed optimism as they return to the office, leaving the morale crisis behind. The tech giant, which owns social media giants Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, has reintroduced several popular pre-pandemic perks, including branded T-shirts and happy hours, leading to a brighter atmosphere within the company.

The past year saw a series of layoffs that affected approximately 20,000 Meta employees, leaving those who remained disheartened and uncertain about their own job security. The workplace environment suffered as productivity waned due to the prevailing sense of uncertainty among the workforce.

Many employees mourned the loss of their colleagues and the diminishment of workplace perks, which had previously made Meta an enjoyable place to work, according to current and former employees.

Now, as the company’s financial performance has rebounded, entire divisions within Meta are embracing their branded T-shirts once again. This revival of employee benefits comes in stark contrast to the “year of efficiency” declared by Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg, where cost-cutting measures were prioritized. Employees view this as a positive sign of the company’s performance, especially after two consecutive quarters of exceeding Wall Street’s profit and revenue expectations. Additionally, Meta has discreetly begun rehiring some of the previously laid-off workers, sources within the company have disclosed.

At Meta’s Menlo Park headquarters, most restaurants have reopened following pandemic closures, and dinnertime has been moved to a more convenient 6 p.m., offering employees greater flexibility. Laundry services, haircuts, Thursday happy hours, and a diverse array of food vendors have all returned, making in-office work more appealing, now mandated for three days a week.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed the reintroduction of these amenities, emphasizing that some perks had only been temporarily adjusted due to pandemic constraints. “Dinner, happy hour, and company swag never really went away, merely adjusted given the pandemic and budgets,” said the spokesperson.

Employees have not only noticed the return of perks but also feel more supported, a notable shift from last fall when the company’s snack bars began to appear increasingly barren. At headquarters, the popular millennial-favored beverage, La Croix, became a scarcity in office fridges, coinciding with a downturn in Meta’s stock performance.

The scarcity of snacks foreshadowed a major workforce reduction, with 13% of employees, approximately 11,000 people, laid off, followed by further cuts in April and May, leading to a total reduction of 10,000 employees and the closure of 5,000 open positions. The extended process of layoffs heightened the anxiety among employees, uncertain about their own job security and the fate of their collaborative projects. The tech industry as a whole witnessed hiring freezes and layoffs, compounding the fears of Meta’s workforce.

Now, several months after the last round of layoffs, Meta employees are eager to rebuild connections and collaborate. The overall atmosphere at Meta Platforms has become more positive and morale is on the rise, thanks in part to the return of cherished perks.

However, while the company’s stock has experienced significant growth and exceeded expectations, Meta still faces challenges. User and revenue growth on its flagship social networks have stagnated, Zuckerberg’s virtual reality initiatives continue to consume resources, and progress in artificial intelligence remains costly and in its nascent stages.

Evidence of cost-cutting measures can still be observed, as some perks have not fully returned to their previous standards. Meta’s laundry service, for instance, is no longer free, and some employees believe the food quality has declined. Moreover, certain roles within the company remain vacant or are subject to cuts, as reported by employees.

Employees are cautiously optimistic about the current state of morale at Meta Platforms, but some are wary of the potential for another significant round of layoffs, which could undo the progress made in restoring employee spirits. For now, the return of La Croix serves as a symbol of improved times within the company.

Source: Bloomberg