Zepto Co-founder Aadit Palicha has sparked controversy with his recent remarks dismissing the importance of work-life balance. This comment comes in the wake of growing social media claims about toxic work culture within the quick-commerce platform. In a social media post, Palicha commented, “I have nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors,” quoting an interview with Daksh Gupta, the 23-year-old founder of the San Francisco-based tech startup Greptile, who recently faced backlash for his own views on the issue.
I have nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors 🙂
— Aadit Palicha (@aadit_palicha) December 4, 2024
The comments follow an anonymous Reddit post, which alleges that Zepto’s work culture is toxic, with claims of excessive working hours, unprofessional behavior, and high employee attrition. According to the post, up to 10 employees leave the company every week. The post also highlighted concerns about dark patterns on the app that were purportedly designed to extract money from customers. Zepto has yet to respond to these claims.
Palicha, in previous interviews, has defended the company’s demanding work culture, claiming that Zepto’s team works between 80 to 100 hours a week to meet business demands. At an NDTV World Summit in October, he stated that their passion for creating something impactful outweighs financial concerns, emphasizing that “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.”
The debate over work-life balance has become a hot topic in India, especially after Infosys Founder N.R. Narayana Murthy expressed support for a 70-hour work week earlier this year. His comments ignited widespread debate, with some supporting his views, while others criticized the lack of emphasis on balance and employee well-being.
This ongoing controversy raises broader questions about workplace culture, employee retention, and the evolving definitions of success in India’s fast-paced corporate landscape.
