SAN JOSE, Calif. _ As the coronavirus has resulted in thousands of Bay Area residents having to remain at home for the foreseeable future, Facebook is giving its employees some financial help with working remotely.
Facebook confirmed Tuesday that it will give each of its employees $1,000 that they can use however they see fit, including for setting up a home office or paying for child care. Facebook currently has approximately 45,000 employees worldwide.
Additionally, Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said that the company will offer $100 million in cash grants and advertising credits for up to 30,000 businesses worldwide. Sandberg said
"The longer the crisis goes on, the greater the risk to small businesses and to the livelihoods of their owners and employees," Sandberg said, in a Facebook post. "We've heard loud and clear that financial support could enable them to keep the lights on and pay people who can't come to work."
Facebook said it would being taking applications for the grant program in the coming weeks.
