Zepto has been grabbing attention for its multiple funding rounds this year. However, allegations of a toxic work culture have cast a shadow over its success. An anonymous Reddit user, claiming to be a Zepto employee, has raised serious concerns about the company’s work environment.
The whistleblower described the workplace as ‘the most toxic work culture,’ citing irregular schedules and gruelling hours. According to the post, Aadit Palicha, CEO, Zepto, reportedly starts his day at 2 pm, resulting in meetings being scheduled as late as 2 am. The user further alleges that all the meetings get delayed or postponed, with nothing happening on time.
The Reddit post further claimed that Zepto primarily hires younger employees because senior professionals avoid working in such conditions. These young workers, the user said, are made to put in 14-hour workdays. The user also accused Zepto of engaging in unethical practices, such as exploiting app design to extract more money from customers.
One such tactic allegedly includes charging customers higher prices for using phones worth more than Rs 30,000. The employee also hinted at cost-cutting measures, stating that junior staff are hired to reduce salary expenses.
The user predicted significant layoffs in March, adding that hiring has already been frozen for most departments.
Despite these grievances, the whistleblower noted that many employees continue at Zepto in the hope of benefiting from a rumoured IPO within two years.
As the Reddit allegations gained traction online, Palicha shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), seemingly addressing the controversy. “I have nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors,” Palicha tweeted.
The remark sparked a flurry of reactions from users, many connecting it to the recent Reddit claims. Some have urged the CEO to focus on improving experiences for delivery partners and customers.
