Accusations of Toxic Work Environment at Zepto Prompt CEO's Response
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New Delhi, Dec 4 (NationPress) Aadit Palicha, Co-founder and CEO of Zepto, expressed on Wednesday that he is not opposed to work-life balance and even advocates for it among his competitors.
Palicha's comments come in the wake of a viral post on the American social media platform Reddit, which accused the quick e-commerce service of fostering a toxic work culture.
In a post on the social media platform X, the 22-year-old CEO stated, “I have nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors :)”
The Reddit accusation, made by an anonymous user, claimed that Zepto's workplace is “toxic,” with employees subjected to grueling 14-hour shifts. It also asserted that the company imposes high-pressure expectations on its staff.
Additionally, the post alleged that Palicha begins his day at 2 PM due to challenges with waking up early, resulting in meetings scheduled at 2 AM. It further indicated that Zepto hires junior employees to cut costs and suggested the possibility of significant layoffs in March.
Palicha's statement on X quickly ignited a wave of responses from users.
“Ah, burning the midnight oil to dunk on toxic work culture posts on Reddit? Bold strategy! So, what time's your first meeting today—asking for your coffee machine,” commented one user.
“This is not a startup; it’s a dystopian nightmare masquerading as a business. Instead of addressing real concerns, they’ve chosen to mock the idea of treating employees like human beings. If this is the future of work, count everyone out,” added another.
Zepto was co-founded by Palicha and fellow Stanford dropout Kaivalya Vohra in 2021.
The importance of work-life balance has gained attention recently, particularly following the unfortunate death of a 26-year-old consultant from Ernst and Young India in July 2024, attributed to work-related pressures.
Notable figures such as Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and Ola’s Bhavish Kumar have also faced criticism for suggesting that Indians should work at least 70 hours a week.
Health experts warn that chronic stress can adversely affect various organs and may lead to serious medical conditions.
