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Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha, in the midst of a viral Reddit post accusing his company of promoting a “toxic work culture,” has posted remarks that have sparked a new debate on work-life balance in the startup world. Palicha, 22, seemed to mock the work-life balance concept, even as he attempted to address the controversy swirling around his company’s working hours.
On Wednesday morning, Palicha wrote on his social media: “I have nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors.” He quickly clarified that this was a quote from Daksh Gupta, an Indian-origin CEO based in San Francisco, who had recently defended 84-hour workweeks at his AI startup. Palicha’s remarks seem to be a subtle reference to the growing discussions on long working hours, particularly in the tech startup ecosystem, which has recently been under scrutiny.
Palicha’s comment appeared to be a response to a viral Reddit post where an anonymous user, claiming to be a current Zepto employee, accused the company of fostering a “toxic work culture.” The Reddit post describes a work environment with long hours, claiming that meetings at Zepto allegedly begin at 2 a.m. because the CEO reportedly starts his day at 2 p.m. due to personal preferences. The employee further claimed that the company’s young workforce was being exploited and that Zepto was preparing for a “massive round of layoffs.”
While HT.com cannot verify the authenticity of the Reddit post, it has sparked considerable attention online. Many Reddit users and commenters on Palicha’s social media have drawn attention to the irony of his post amid the allegations. One user sarcastically wrote, “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.” Others quipped, “8 am is the new 2 am.”
The Reddit user also claimed that Zepto’s work culture is “the most toxic” they have experienced in their career. Zepto, a quick-commerce startup co-founded by Palicha and Stanford dropout Kaivalya Vohra in 2021, has been gaining significant traction, growing rapidly in the competitive delivery sector. Despite its success, the company is now facing backlash from employees who feel overworked and underappreciated.
Palicha, who is the second youngest person featured on the Hurun India Rich List with a net worth of ₹4,300 crore, has not directly commented on the specific allegations. However, his post referencing Gupta’s controversial views on work hours indicates a possible defense of long working days, which some view as part of the intense startup culture.
Zepto has yet to release an official statement regarding the claims made in the Reddit post. The company’s response to the situation will be closely watched, especially as its young workforce has become increasingly vocal about work conditions. This incident has reignited the ongoing debate about the pressures of startup life, the balance between hustle culture and mental well-being, and the broader implications of demanding work environments on employee health.
As the situation continues to unfold, Zepto may find itself in the middle of a larger discussion on how startups and young companies balance rapid growth with employee well-being.
Sources By Agencies
