Zepto CEO Joins Work-Life Balance Debate Amid Allegations Of Toxic Work Culture

Palicha's statement follows a viral anonymous Reddit post accusing Zepto of fostering a "toxic" work culture, with claims that employees are expected to work 14-hour days

The conversation around work-life balance is heating up on Indian social media, and Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha has now weighed in. "I have nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors," Palicha wrote on X, delivering his remark with a hint of irony.

Palicha's statement follows a viral anonymous Reddit post accusing Zepto of fostering a "toxic" work culture, with claims that employees are expected to work 14-hour days. His comments seem to reinforce Zepto's focus on maintaining a high-intensity work environment as the company competes with established giants in the quick-commerce sector.

Several LinkedIn users commented on his post; one user wrote, "Whenever I discuss startup founders, I always emphasize that work-life balance doesn’t apply to them the way it does to employees. Founders bear the ultimate responsibility for their startup's success or failure, making their commitment unparalleled. Employees, while integral to the organization, are not liable in the same way as founders and can prioritize work-life balance without the same level of pressure. For founders, it’s not just a job—it’s their vision, livelihood, and legacy."

The work-life balance debate has also attracted attention from other corporate leaders. Recently, Wipro Executive Chairman Rishad Premji emphasised the importance of work-life balance, noting that the hybrid working model is crucial in helping employees manage it more effectively.

Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, Premji said, "Work-life balance is incredibly important. I learnt this early on in my early days before Covid, which is work life is something you must define for yourself. Organisations are never going to work at it for you. So you have to define what it means and draw boundaries." 

The debate on work-life balance was ignited by Infosys cofounder Narayan Murthy, who suggested that young Indian professionals should work 70-hour weeks to elevate the country's standard of living. Murthy's remarks sparked backlash on social media, with critics arguing that such extended hours would cause burnout and undermine the importance of work-life balance.

However, in a recent event, Murthy reiterated his stand on working 70 hours a week. "We need to work hard in this country. There is no substitute for hard work. Even if you are the most intelligent guy, you have to work hard. So I’m not taking back my view. I will take it to my grave," Murthy said.