Facebook plans to give all its employees $1,000 bonuses to support them during the coronavirus pandemic, the company said.
The cash will go to full-time employees who are working from home, a source close to Facebook said. The social-media giant is also sending its contract workers home with full pay even if they can’t do their jobs remotely, company officials said.
“I know this is an incredibly stressful time for everyone, and I appreciate everything you’re all doing to adapt, take care of yourselves and your families, and make sure we can keep providing important social and communications infrastructure for billions of people around the world,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday in an internal memo announcing the move, according to The Information, which first reported on the company’s plans.
The company — which has about 45,000 employees — will also give all staffers an “exceeds” rating on their first six-month review of the year, allowing full-time employees to earn hefty bonuses for that time period, the website reported. And Zuckerberg reportedly said Facebook is examining giving employees more time off to support their families during the virus crisis.
It’s uncertain whether any of the benefits will extend to Facebook’s contractors. Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning.
Facebook’s move followed the software company Workday’s Monday announcement that it would give employees a one-time payment worth two weeks’ pay to help them with “unforeseen costs” related to the coronavirus outbreak and the disruption it has caused.
Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, is in one of the seven Golden State counties that have ordered residents to stay home except for essential reasons. The company told its Bay Area employees to work from home earlier this month.
Facebook also plans to give $100 million in cash grants and ad credits to small businesses grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, the company announced Tuesday. The awards will go to as many as 30,000 eligible businesses in more than 30 countries where Facebook operates, the company said.
Ref;nypost.com