Quick commerce platform Zepto‘s CEO, Adit Palicha, has walked back his controversial stance on workplace intensity, labeling his previous remarks a “stupid idea” while still championing his company’s high-performance environment.
In a recent conversation with Y Combinator‘s Garry Tan, Aadit Palicha addressed the backlash from his December 2024 social media post where he had quipped: “Nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors.”
Pachila’s clarification comes months after a viral Reddit post alleged a “toxic” work culture at Zepto, claiming employees endured 14-hour shifts with meetings scheduled as late as 2 AM. The post also suggested the company hired junior staff at lower wages to cut costs and hinted at potential layoffs.
Poll
Do you agree with Adit Palicha’s stance on workplace intensity at Zepto?
Zepto CEO tells how is it working like in the quick commerce company
While defending Zepto’s demanding work environment, the 22-year-old CEO offered insight into the company’s philosophy toward professional development. “Join here if you’re really looking to do the best work of your life. This is a very execution-focused culture. Everyone is deep into the game, solving real problems every day. That’s how you become the best version of yourself,” he emphasized.
“The intensity of Zepto’s culture isn’t for everyone, but is designed for the super ambitious, the super capable who want to stretch themselves to their limits — at least for a phase in their careers,” Palicha told Tan during their wide-ranging discussion.
Despite his personal dedication to the startup grind, Palicha recognized that his own enthusiasm for constant work isn’t universally shared within the organization. “It doesn’t feel like work, at least for me, but I know it’s not realistic to expect everyone to work seven days a week or love every moment of it,” he admitted, highlighting the gap between executive expectations and employee realities.
While Palicha acknowledges his earlier comments were ill-conceived, he remains steadfast in his belief that Zepto’s intense culture serves a purpose—creating an environment where the “super ambitious” can thrive, even as the startup faces scrutiny over whether such intensity comes at too high a cost for its workforce.