Along with launching new paid time off programs, where Facebook is allowing employees to take up to a month away from work to care for sick relatives in light of the coronavirus outbreak, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has informed that alls 45,000 employees of the company will receive their six-month bonuses and an additional $1,000 bonus to help them during the coronavirus outbreak — according to the media.
The company is sympathetic to the situation and is sending thousands of content moderators home with paid leaves. Among these initiatives is also their paid emergency care leave program that offers 30 working days of leave to employees who need to care for a sick family member.
According to the memo written by Zuckerberg, Facebook recognises that many people are going to need more time away to care for children and their families. The company also know that many of its employees may have additional expenses as part of setting up home to enable remote work and support their family. And, that's why "We're going to grant all employees an additional $1,000 to use for whatever you see fit to support yourself and your family in adapting during this period."
The company's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, announced that Facebook is also planning to invest $100 million to help small businesses in over 30 countries. She said, "We've listened to small businesses to understand how we can best help them, and we realised that financial support could enable them to keep the lights on and pay people who can't come to work."
Alongside, the company said it's partnering with the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and the Local Media Association to offer $1 million in grants for the US and Canadian newsrooms to adequately cover the coronavirus pandemic. These individual grants will be for up to $5,000.
Taken together, the steps mark the most aggressive effort yet by a major American company to alleviate the financial toll of the coronavirus outbreak. The move to pay workers comes as labour advocates are pushing for more direct assistance to workers. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday that the White House is looking to get cash into the hands of Americans as quickly as possible.
Zuckerberg is also funding an increase in coronavirus testing in the Bay Area through his philanthropic groups.
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