Mumbai Founder’s Change in Salary Date Sparks Backlash Over Employee Quitting After Payday IIM alum Kiran Shah shifts payday to 1st, urges employees not to ghost post-salary; social media backlash follows.
Kiran Shah, founder of Go Zero, moved salary payments from the 10th to the 1st of each month to ease employees’ financial burdens. However, he voiced frustration as some quit immediately after payday. His call for professional communication instead of ‘ghosting’ sparked mixed reactions, with many criticizing deeper workplace issues beyond salary timing.
Founder Changes Payday to 1st, Cites Employee Convenience
Kiran Shah, an IIM Lucknow graduate and founder of Mumbai-based startup Go Zero, recently announced a significant change in his company’s salary payment schedule. In a LinkedIn post, he revealed that starting December 2023, employees would receive their salaries on the 1st of every month, moved up from the 10th. Shah explained the decision was made to help employees better manage their finances, especially as many face outgoing expenses during the first week of the month. He pointed out that some startups even pay later, making this shift a welcome change in his eyes.
Employees Quitting After Payday: The Founder’s Frustration
Despite praising the loyalty of most employees, Shah expressed disappointment over some who resigned immediately after getting paid. He disclosed this was the fourth such incident since changing the salary date. However, he stood firm on not reverting the decision, saying penalizing the whole team for a few would damage the company culture he strives to build at Go Zero.
Call for Professional Communication Over ‘Ghosting’
Shah urged employees dissatisfied with their job—be it pay, environment, or colleagues—to communicate openly and professionally rather than silently quitting after payday. He emphasized his own approachability and encouraged staff to avoid burning bridges when resigning.
Social Media Backlash: Critics Point to Deeper Issues
The post quickly sparked online backlash, with many labeling Shah’s remarks as “tone deaf.” Critics argued that timely salary payments are a right, not a favour, and highlighted broader issues like exploitative startup culture and employee retention challenges. Some said the focus should be on why employees leave rather than payday schedules.
