Deepinder Goyal Withdraws Zomato Chief of Staff Job Post Amid Backlash: Sparks Debate on Work Culture in India

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal recently shared that his job posting for a Chief of Staff role received over 18,000 applications. The Rs 20 lakh fee mentioned was merely a screening tactic and will not be enforced. "We have closed applications for my chief of staff role. We have received more than 18,000 applications," Goyal posted on X.

In response to criticism, Goyal clarified that the fee was a filter to identify candidates who value career growth opportunities. He stated, "This wasn't just another hiring post. As some people pointed out, the 'you have to pay us 20 lacs' was merely a filter, to find people who had the power to appreciate the opportunity of a fast track career."

Screening Process and Candidate Selection

The company intends to sift through the applications in the coming week to identify individuals who align with their vision of fostering a "learning organization." They aim to select candidates based on genuine intent and a learning mindset rather than financial focus. "We are going to find genuine intent and learning mindset from the sea of applications we have received," Goyal stated.

Goyal also revealed a private message indicating that the fee was never intended to be collected. He wrote in a message to a Twitter user, "Between you and me, we will not eventually ask for 20 lacs and pay the right person anyway." However, his reply could also be a means of responding to the backlash.

Industry Reaction and Future Implications

The job posting initially required candidates to pay Rs 20 lakh and work without salary for a year, which sparked criticism from industry figures like Harsh Goenka, who deemed it "potentially exploitative." Addressing this backlash, Goyal explained that it was an experimental approach meant only for this instance.

Deepinder Goyal also faced backlash from several X users who criticized the move despite his explanation for not being transparent about his intentions. While Goyal has now backtracked on his previous comments. Concluding his update, Goyal emphasised that this was a unique experiment unlikely to be repeated.

He expressed hope that such practices do not become common in the industry. "I really hope that 'pay the company to get a job' doesn't become a norm in this world - that's not cool. Money is an essential thing to keep people's lives running, and I believe in paying more than market rate," he wrote.

The chosen candidate will engage with various Zomato ventures such as Blinkit, District, Hyperpure, and Feeding India. This role offers exposure across different segments within Zomato's portfolio.

Unintended Consequences of Goyal's Posting

It remains unclear whether Goyal's initial job offer was made in earnest, but the post underscored significant issues within India's work culture and hiring practices. Employees are often conditioned to feel indebted to their employers, creating a toxic dynamic that prioritizes loyalty over fair treatment.

This sense of obligation frequently translates to overwork, undervaluation, and acceptance of exploitative practices. Such environments stifle creativity, discourage healthy work-life balance, and perpetuate an unhealthy power dynamic, where employees feel compelled to go above and beyond without adequate recognition or compensation. Addressing this issue requires a shift towards ethical and transparent workplace practices.