Deepinder Goyal’s Controversial Chief of Staff Job Listing: A Deep Dive into the Backlash

Deepinder Goyal faces backlash after posting a controversial job opening for a Chief of Staff with unusual terms, including a ₹20 lakh donation and no salary for a year.

shivani Poli November 21, 2024

70 2 minutes read

Deepinder Goyal's Controversial Chief of Staff Job Listing A Deep Dive into the Backlash

Deepinder Goyal’s Controversial Chief of Staff Job Posting: ₹20 Lakh Donation and No Salary for a Year Sparks Backlash on Social Media

Yet again, the social media storm swirls over Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal as he puts up a posting for the much-coveted Chief of Staff position. However, this time, the backlash is fiercer, as the role comes with an unusual twist: the candidate selected would be required to pay ₹20 lakh as a donation to Feeding India and work for the company without any salary for the first year. This most unconventional approach has not only raised eyebrows but also deflected an outpouring of criticism online.

The terms of the job listing have led many to accuse Goyal of catering to an already privileged pool of candidates who could afford to both pay a hefty donation and work for free during the first year. Critics argue that the conditions of the job limit opportunities only to those who are financially stable or supported by their families while effectively excluding a large number of talented professionals who may not have the resources to meet these demands.

Social media backlash has been massive, with citizens questioning the ethics of such a job requirement. People feel that to ask someone to work without pay for one year and shell out ₹20 lakh upfront for the privilege of being in this role was exploitative. It became another avenue for a larger debate on unpaid labour and the accountability of a company to give value back in return for a man’s time and talent.

Interestingly, this is not the first controversy Goyal has found himself in over a job listing. Actually, he has been trying to fill the Chief of Staff position for nearly two years, and even earlier attempts at hiring for the role have attracted similar criticism. In January 2023, Goyal marketed this position by calling it “A Mini CEO for the company,” and the expectation for the candidate was to work 24/7 without the luxury of work-life balance. The listing from then also attracted a lot of criticism as unfeasible and unsustainable.

The controversy surrounding the position has left many wondering why the role has remained unfilled for such a long period. The opinion differs here, for instance with views pointing out that it is unusual for a company to struggle this much to hire a critical position given the profile of Zomato as a leading tech company. With that in mind, some have speculated that Goyal’s attempts to hire for this position could be a publicity stunt meant to generate attention for the company and its recruitment efforts.

In conclusion, while Goyal’s approach may have been intended to attract a highly driven and self-motivated individual, the job posting has sparked a heated debate about the ethics of unpaid labor and the accessibility of such opportunities. Whether Goyal can eventually find the right candidate for the role, or whether this controversy will have long-term consequences for Zomato, remains to be seen.

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