Meta employees staged subtle protests after the company removed tampons from men’s bathrooms.
The change came after CEO Mark Zuckerberg updated company policies. Feminine products had been available in men’s restrooms for nonbinary and transgender employees.
Some workers responded by bringing their own tampons, pads, and liners to the men’s restrooms. Others started a petition to bring them back, according to five sources.
“These sanitary products were emblematic of the quiet rebellions that Silicon Valley workers have staged,” the New York Times reported. The article pointed out that many tech executives, including Zuckerberg, had shifted right politically and aligned with Trump.
Instead of loud public protests, employees chose subtle acts of defiance. The Times called it “quiet dissent.”
Zuckerberg also promoted two Republicans to lead Meta’s policy division. Trump supporter and UFC boss Dana White joined Meta’s board. The company also scrapped diversity initiatives and leaned into free speech.
Employees who questioned these changes had posts deleted if they violated Meta’s “Community Engagement Expectations” policy. Some received warnings from HR, with a reminder that further violations could lead to termination.
Meta also adjusted its Q&A format. The company announced it would “skip questions that we expect might be unproductive if they leak.”
With layoffs looming, many employees moved to private groups and chat apps to voice concerns. Some kept pushing back by restocking men’s restrooms with sanitary products.
A petition to reinstate the products led to an email from Meta’s VP of workplace services.
“It had not been the intention of Meta leadership to make employees feel unwelcome,” the email read. “At this point, we do not have plans to revisit our on-site amenities offerings.”
“But I will share your feedback with leadership,” it added.