Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com and popular judge of Shark Tank India, has ignited a debate on salary practices, urging firms to pay employees twice a month. In a viral LinkedIn post, he said companies highlight free food, remote work and enhanced leave but ignore pay timing, and since most Indian firms disburse salaries in the first week of the next month, it creates stress when delayed.
Mittal observed that many firms disburse salaries around the 7th, and that delays caused by non-working days add to financial pressure. He argued that for employees with fixed costs, such delays can lead to late fees and debt.
He proposed that salaries be paid on the 15th and 30th, describing the current system as an old British-era practice. Mittal also mentioned that Shaadi.com had shifted to end-of-month payments years ago, and that the move was made as a matter of common sense rather than as a special perk.
Many online users have supported the idea, while others have cautioned that paying twice a month would increase the workload for HR and finance teams and raise costs for companies.
In India, there is no legal requirement for monthly salary payments, though the practice is widely followed for simplicity. Payroll experts say that any change would depend on company size and payroll systems. Mittal’s post has brought salary timing into the conversation as an important part of employee benefits.
