Layoffs at Meta for misuse of restaurant vouchers

In the United States, a series of dismissals have taken place at Meta for misuse of restaurant vouchers. Instead of using them for their original purpose, employees used them to purchase other products such as detergent, wine, or toothpaste.

Agustín Benavent, counsel in the labor area, comments in Expansión (for subscribers only) on whether or not this type of dismissal could occur in Spain: “This is a labor offense, a breach of contract that could be considered serious fraud, which would be the case if there were no more specific type of offense in the company's system of offenses and penalties regarding the use of existing social benefits for other purposes.”
 
Our expert adds: “The seriousness will depend on the company's tolerance of such conduct, the reported use of the meal voucher system, and the actual damage caused to the company.”

In the legislative regulation of the use of restaurant vouchers, does the sectoral or company agreement come into play? Our professional points out that, in Spain, it is most common for it to be at the company level: “either by unilateral concession or through agreements with legal representation or the implementation of flexible remuneration systems.”