Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha has revisited his controversial stance on work-life balance, which sparked widespread debate back in December 2024. Speaking on a podcast with Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, Palicha candidly admitted that his earlier post on the subject was a “stupid idea.”

Explaining the ethos of Zepto, he remarked:
“If you’re someone who wants to do the best work of your life, join Zepto. We have an execution-driven culture where everyone is immersed in solving real-world problems daily. That’s how people evolve into the best version of themselves.”

Palicha emphasized that Zepto’s high-intensity work environment isn’t meant for everyone. He acknowledged that only the highly ambitious and capable will thrive in such a culture.
“It doesn’t feel like work to me,” he said, “but I understand that expecting everyone to work seven days a week and love it is unrealistic.”

What sparked the backlash?

In his original December 2024 post, Palicha wrote:
“I have nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors.”

The post quickly went viral, drawing fire from netizens who accused him of promoting a toxic hustle culture.

Are the allegations against Zepto true?

A viral Reddit thread painted a grim picture of the company’s internal dynamics. One user claimed employees regularly clocked 14-hour shifts, with meetings often stretching into the early hours—sometimes as late as 2 a.m. The post also alleged that female employees were pushed to the brink of burnout and had to manage unsafe working conditions late at night.

“It’s evident Zepto is prioritizing profit and rapid growth over employee well-being,” the user wrote. “They offer higher pay as compensation, but it’s the mental and physical toll—especially on women—that’s being overlooked.”