Big Tech workers got too used to perks. The pampering is over.
For more than a decade, Big Tech companies doled out lavish perks to hire and retain a limited supply of technical talent — and some workers pushed the limits of these benefits.
"Grubgate," in which Meta fired staff for misusing meal vouchers, shows how ingrained perks-grifting has become in Silicon Valley —but the era of pampered tech employees may be ending.
Cost-cutting, huge layoffs, and the use of AI have put tech employers in a more powerful position. Hiring has also slowed, with tech job postings about 30% below pre-pandemic levels, the job site Indeed said. That, in turn, means employers can provide fewer perks.
"In the 2010 to 2021 days, it was very much like employees were in charge," said a former Instagram staffer. "Then suddenly the tables turned."
Business Insider interviewed tech workers and industry experts about Grubgate and the evolving relationship between Big Tech companies and staff. Most people asked not to be identified so they could speak frankly about some of the more egregious perks-grifting that's gone on in Silicon Valley. They also described how layoffs, efficiency drives, and tougher policy enforcement have shifted the culture at once easygoing tech companies.
