Blinkit Scraps ‘Zero Notice Period’ As Battle For Talent Booms

Quick commerce giant Blinkit has introduced a significant change to its employment contracts, particularly for key employees, by scrapping its ‘zero notice’ policy. The company has extended the notice period for several top-level staff from zero to two months, as reported by Moneycontrol. This move reflects the growing competitive pressure in India’s booming quick commerce sector, valued at $5.5 billion.
The decision comes as Blinkit faces intense rivalry from well-funded players like Zepto, Flipkart, and Swiggy—all contesting to attract and retain top talent in the rapidly expanding market. By increasing notice periods, Blinkit aims to mitigate the risk of its employees being poached by competitors offering attractive packages.
The quick commerce landscape has seen significant investment recently, fueling fierce competition. Zepto, for instance, secured a $340 million funding round, further strengthening its market position. Meanwhile, Flipkart has expanded its rapid delivery service, Flipkart Minutes, across multiple cities, and Swiggy is gearing up for one of the largest IPOs by a new-age company, having received approval for its public offering.
In addition to the extended notice period, Blinkit has also introduced a “garden leave” policy for employees suspected of joining a direct competitor. Under this policy, such employees are placed on paid leave for two months to prevent the transfer of sensitive information to rivals. In some cases, employees are relieved of their duties immediately to minimize the risk of data leakage.