Blinkit recently made headlines by increasing notice periods to prevent top talent from being poached by rivals like Zepto, Flipkart, and Swiggy.
It made me think back to my own experience with talent retention in this competitive tech industry.
In the early days of Dazeinfo Media & Research, we were always on the lookout for talented people who not only had the right skills but also believed in our mission.
I remember one particular incident when a key team member of my company, who had been with us since the beginning, received a lucrative offer from one of our main competitors - 2X salary, more perks, and a fancy title.
I faced a tough choice: match the offer or let her go.
That moment made me rethink our strategy: instead of hiring new talent, we must focus on keeping the people who had already invested in us.
While poaching talent is part of business, it often overlooks loyalty. People aren’t just motivated by money.
Culture, values, and purpose matter too. So, we sat down with her to discuss her aspirations and how we could grow her role without compromising our culture.
She decided to stay, and her contributions have been vital to our success.
The quickcommerce industry is experiencing a similar tug-of-war right now, with companies like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy fiercely competing for a skilled workforce.
But is extending notice periods or offering high salaries really the solution? It’s a short-term fix, I believe.
Creating an environment where people feel valued, challenged, and part of something bigger is more important.
Yes, poaching will always exist, but the best way to keep your talent is to build something worth staying for.
Blinkit’s move makes sense given the pressures they face, but long-term success should focus on nurturing talent, not just protecting it.
Have you seen poaching affect your team or company? How do you balance competitive offers with maintaining a strong culture?
startups entrepreneurship poaching career hiring workculture
This post was originally shared by Startup-India for Startup - The Community For Entrepreneurs on Linkedin.