A simple moment on the streets of Noida turned into an emotional story about survival, kindness, and corporate policies. Kiran Verma, a social activist, recently shared his experience after spotting a Zomato delivery agent eating food that was meant for a customer. What seemed like an unethical act at first turned into an eye-opening revelation.
Verma was parking his car when he noticed a delivery executive sitting on his bike, eating from a food packet. Curious, he assumed the worst—was this a case of stolen food? However, instead of jumping to conclusions, he decided to strike up a conversation.
As he approached the delivery agent, whom he later identified as “Vishal,” Verma politely asked how long he would take to finish his meal so that he could park his car. The delivery executive, with a polite smile, responded, “Just a few minutes, sir.” This small exchange led to a deeper conversation.
The Reality of Gig Work!
Verma soon learned that Vishal had picked up an order around 2 PM and traveled to deliver it. However, when he reached the customer’s location, no one answered. After multiple failed attempts, Zomato instructed him to mark the order as “delivered.” According to company policy, once an order is marked delivered, the food is left at the disposal of the delivery agent.
For Vishal, this wasn’t a rare occurrence. Instead of throwing the food away, he chose to eat it. It was 5 PM on the day of Holi, and this was his first meal of the day.
A “Sweet Unethical” Practice
Verma reflected on the situation and realized that while it may seem unethical, this policy actually helps delivery workers in a small but meaningful way. Instead of wasting food, it provides them with a meal during their long shifts.
“Thank you, Zomato, for this sweet unethical act,” Verma wrote in his LinkedIn post. He also tagged Zomato’s CEO, Deepinder Goyal, appreciating the company’s system that indirectly benefits gig workers.
Social Media Reactions
The post quickly went viral, garnering thousands of reactions and comments. Many people shared their thoughts, with some highlighting the struggles of delivery executives and others pledging to show more kindness to gig workers.
One user commented, “This really makes you think about the sacrifices these workers make. A small gesture like offering water or a direct tip can make a difference.” Another added, “Zomato’s policy might not be perfect, but at least it helps prevent food wastage while supporting delivery partners.”