Meta will now no longer require its employees to get a COVID vaccine booster to return to the office.
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Facebook debuts its new company brand, Meta, at their headquarters on October 28, 2021 in Menlo Park, California. Meta will focus on ushering in a future of the metaverse and beyond.
This was confirmed by a company spokesperson writing to CNBC, who said that the previous mandates have been "updated in early March to align with CDC guidance." But even if booster shots will no longer be required, they're still "strongly recommended" by the tech giant. Furthermore, the initial vaccination requirement consisting of the first two shots remains.
As of late, Facebook's parent company has had a good majority of its employees vaccinated. 71% of the workforce in Meta's California HQ have been vaccinated, but only 35% of them got their booster shots.
For the unaware, this was a massive change from Meta's COVID booster requirement, which was announced back in early January (via The Verge). Back then, the decision was made due to a quick surge in US coronavirus cases. But now, things have started to ease just a little bit.
But while this is certainly a big change, Meta didn't provide an explanation for it. For now, what is certain is that the social media giant, alongside other Big Tech companies, has been trying to "lure in" their workers to return to the office after almost two years of having to work offsite.
Some of these companies are doing so by things such as relaxed vaccine mandates, better perks, etc. But not all of them are doing it. Apple, for example, still requires its employees to show proof that they've received a COVID vaccine booster before they go back to the office.
Anyone who doesn't comply with Apple's requirements will have to provide the company with numerous rapid antigen test results. These must be done before the aforementioned non-compliant employees are allowed to enter the Cupertino giant's facilities. There were no indications of harsher penalties.
Read Also: Meta Removes Anti-Vaccine Trucker Protest Groups and Pages
Meta's Return To The Office: How The Social Media Giant Prepared
Meta officially had its employees go back to onsite work last March 28th. But before that day, the social media giant had to finish some major preparations, which included big changes in workplace perks.
Among these changes include a "slight downgrade" in work perks that all employees had. According to CNET, perks like free laundry and dry cleaning are out, and free dinners for all workers are delayed half an hour from its original time of 6 PM. Furthermore, this delay coincides with the last free shuttle ride from company premises, which also keeps people from taking home their free dinners.
Another big, recent change is Meta's decision to adopt a "work from anywhere" scheme even if employees are already coming back to the office.
In an article by HCA Mag, this was evident with even head honcho Mark Zuckerberg working more hours out of the Menlo Park-based HQ. He's been known to spend more time recently in his Hawaii residence, alongside his other homes located outside Silicon Valley. Other company executives have also been doing the same thing.
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Facebook, checks his phone during the annual Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, July 13, 2018 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Every July, some of the world's most wealthy and powerful businesspeople from the media, finance, technology and political spheres converge at the Sun Valley Resort for the exclusive weeklong conference.
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Written by RJ Pierce
