Meta Claims Remote Work Has Led To A More Diverse Workforce

Tech giant, Meta, has seen an unexpected increase in diverse hires since expanding its remote working options. 

Facebook, also known as Meta, is one of many companies that have introduced new remote working options for its employees following the pandemic. As a result, between 2021 and 2022, the tech company reported a slight increase in the share of Black, Hispanic, and Asian employees joining its US workforce, while the proportion of white workers dropped by 1.5%. 

According to Facebook’s Chief Diversity Officer, Maxine Williams, employees from underrepresented backgrounds and people with disabilities were likelier to work remotely due to being more prone to social biases and microaggressions in the office.

In addition, the influx of Black and Brown workers highlights the importance of flexible working, especially for minority community members, who see working from home as a safe space, providing an extra layer of protection against uncomfortable situations that occur in the workplace.  

“Silicon Valley was never a place where Black people were predominant,” said Maxine Williams, Facebook’s Chief Diversity Officer, in an interview with The Washington Post. 

“It’s been a challenge from the jump. That’s the truth [but] we are very hyper-focused on how we will do this given the current environment.” 

The increase in diverse employment is also reflected in the platform’s leadership group, with the share of Black and Hispanic managers increasing by “less than half a percentage point.” 

According to the company, any Facebook employee can ask to work remotely, and nearly 90% of those requests are approved. However, employees who choose to work from home full-time will receive different pay if they move to a new location.