Recently, Zepto received a backlash from netizens after an employee shared an anonymous post on Reddit and accused the company of cultivating a toxic work culture.
What actually happened?
The Zepto employee anonymously complained about the company's unreasonable working hours and unprofessional work culture.
Among other complaints, the employee also disclosed that CEO Aadit Palicha starts late, often at 2 pm, causing employees to attend late-night meetings and work long hours, often until 11 p.m.
He also revealed the high attrition at the company, with at least 10 people leaving every week, and about “dark patterns” on the app to extract money from customers in various ways.
However, the CEO of the leading quick commerce company took to X and wrote, "I have nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors :)"
Also read: Quick Commerce Startup Zepto Turns Most Funded Indian Company in 3 Yrs (startuppedia.in)
The CEO reacts
Palicha went on to quote an interview of Daksh Gupta. Gupta, the 23-year-old founder of a San Francisco-based tech startup Greptile recently disclosed that his company does not offer work-life balance.
Earlier in an interview, Palicha shared how Zepto’s team works for 80 to 100 hours per week to meet professional demands. He reasoned that the drive and passion to create something worthwhile are more important than monetary incentives.
“Working 80-100 hours a week, we could have probably worked half of that with a lot less stress...At a certain point, money becomes inconsequential. We love what we're building, we work like crazy, and we're genuinely so excited about what we're creating,” Palicha said at the October NDTV World Summit.
With increasing work pressure, work-life balance has become a highly debated topic for professionals.
Notably, Infosys Ltd. Founder N.R Narayana Murthy suggested a 70-hour work week for the youth earlier this year. While many CEOs supported him, employees criticized him immediately. Murthy, however, stood by his words explaining he does not believe in work-life balance.
Also read: Shaadi.com CEO Asks Zepto's 22-year-old CEO If He Is Looking for Bride (startuppedia.in)
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