Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has reversed his decision to charge a Rs 20 lakh fee for the position of Chief of Staff after facing severe backlash on social media. In a recent update, he clarified that the fee was only a filter to find candidates who were passionate about a fast-track career. This is not the first time Goyal has backtracked on a controversial decision, as Zomato previously retracted a service for delivering only vegetarian food after public criticism.
Zomato CEO Reverses Fee for Chief of Staff Position After Backlash
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has reversed his decision to charge a Rs 20 lakh fee for the position of Chief of Staff, following severe backlash on social media. The move comes as the latest in a series of controversial decisions made by the company, which has faced criticism both for its policies and its treatment of employees.
Background
In a blog post on March 17, Goyal announced that Zomato was seeking a Chief of Staff to join the company's top management team. However, he also stipulated that candidates for the role would be required to pay a non-refundable application fee of Rs 20 lakh (approximately $27,000).
Goyal's decision was met with immediate outrage on social media, with many users accusing him of elitism and discrimination. Critics argued that the fee would effectively bar qualified candidates from applying for the position, unless they were already wealthy or willing to take on significant debt.
Reversal of Decision
In a subsequent update on March 21, Goyal backtracked on his decision, clarifying that the fee was only intended as a "filter" to find candidates who were "passionate about a fast-track career" and had the "right mindset." He added that Zomato would consider applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of their ability to pay the fee.
Previous Controversies
This is not the first time that Goyal and Zomato have faced criticism. In 2019, the company came under fire for a service called "Uber Lite" that delivered only vegetarian food. Zomato later retracted the service after public outcry from meat-eaters.
In 2020, Goyal was criticized for his handling of employee layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zomato laid off 13% of its staff without providing severance or benefits, a move that was deemed harsh and unfair by many employees.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. Why did Zomato initially charge a fee for the Chief of Staff position?
Goyal claimed that the fee was intended as a filter to find candidates who were passionate about the role and had the right mindset.
2. What is the public reaction to the fee reversal?
Many people on social media have praised Goyal for backtracking on his decision, though some have questioned whether the move was genuine or simply a publicity stunt.
3. Has Zomato faced other controversies in the past?
Yes, Zomato has been criticized for its handling of employee layoffs during the pandemic and for launching a vegetarian-only food delivery service called "Uber Lite."
4. What is the current status of the Chief of Staff position?
Zomato is still seeking a Chief of Staff, but the application fee has been waived.
5. What is the future outlook for Zomato?
Zomato is a leading food delivery company in India, but it faces competition from other platforms such as Swiggy and Deliveroo. The company is also expanding into other services, such as grocery delivery and financial services.
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