MBA grad tags Deepinder Goyal, exposes 'disheartening' Zomato offer: 'Barely enough salary for basic expenses'

Zomato is a prominent name in the Indian food delivery and restaurant aggregation industry. One would expect that such a well-known brand would offer competitive salaries to its employees. However, a recent revelation by an MBA graduate, who was looking to get an Associate role in Gurgaon, sheds light on a very different reality. According to the individual, the salary offered by Zomato was "barely enough to cover basic living expenses," making the experience far from what one might expect from such a renowned company.

'Take it or leave it'

Mohd Azhan, an MBA graduate from Liverpool John Moores University, recently shared his frustrating experience after receiving an offer for joining Zomato for an Associate role in Gurgaon.

Taking to LinkedIn, Azhan revealed the core issue: "From the start, the salary offered was barely enough to cover basic living expenses in Gurgaon."

Despite this, when he tried to negotiate for better compensation, he was met with a blunt response: "Take it or leave it."

"This attitude hurt deeply, especially knowing I was relocating from another city, leaving behind my comfort zone and support system," Azhan wrote.

Azhan broke down the financial struggle: "Rent in Gurgaon starts at ?14,000¨C?20,000 for basic PGs. Food costs a minimum of ?5,000/month. Electricity adds another ?2,000. Travel expenses easily touch ?4,000."

After accounting for these basics, he was left with barely anything: "Even after managing these essentials, I'm left with a mere ?1,000¨C?2,000 in hand. How does one survive, let alone save or grow, in such conditions?"

Azhan says he still accepted the offer, hoping that the "relocation assistance" promised by Zomato would help alleviate some of the financial strain.

But his hopes were dashed when the support fell far short of expectations. "A travel allowance and 15 days of hotel accommodation don't suffice when relocation requires upfront payments like a month's rent, security deposit, and brokerage."

"I requested an alternative¡ªperhaps support with the security deposit¡ªbut was met with a rigid policy and no further response," he wrote.

Despite making multiple attempts to discuss his concerns and request a revision of his compensation, Azhan was continually met with the same dismissive attitude. "I was told, 'There are thousands of applicants,' which, to me, signals a lack of respect for employees."

'Atmosphere of disrespect and exploitation'

Credit: Reuters

For Azhan, this experience highlights a larger issue in the corporate world: "This isn't just about one company¡ªit's about a pervasive attitude in the corporate world. When candidates request fair pay or support, dismissing them with 'Take it or leave it' creates an atmosphere of disrespect and exploitation."

He emphasises the real struggles graduates face: "We aren't asking for luxuries but for fairness. Offering low salaries and then failing to provide meaningful relocation support makes it nearly impossible to sustain."

In his heartfelt plea to employers, Azhan writes, "Let's build workplaces that value their people¡ªnot just as resources, but as individuals with dreams, struggles, and needs."

He adds, "Remember, without motivated employees, businesses cannot thrive."

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