Indians can now order groceries at 3:00 am or satiate a strong craving within 10 minutes as quick commerce companies become an integral part of modern life. But the convenience comes at a price for those behind the scenes — with workers scrambling to work under a timer, getting into accidents, and facing mental health concerns. One Reddit user sparked fresh discussion about the issue on Monday after sharing their “eye-opening” experience of working part-time with Blinkit.
The Reddit user said they had worked as a part-time picker and packer while studying — recounting frequent accidents, unsafe spaces, and “crazy, non-stop pressure” from supervisors. The lengthy post on the r/India subreddit also noted that workers were given a timer called PPI or per picking item.
“The warehouses (called dark stores) are super small, packed with racks and items, and we’re expected to run non-stop while picking orders. Like, actually run, not walk fast. You’re dodging other pickers, turning sharp corners, and racing against a timer. I’ve had a few accidents. Once, I collided with another guy and broke my phone. These kinds of things happen almost daily because it’s all rush and no safety,” the user revealed.
Delays are reportedly not well-accepted by supervisors — with a “scary” amount of pressure on workers and “no time to breathe”. The unnamed worker said accidents were common, and described working under “unsafe” conditions.
“If it takes even a few extra seconds to find an item (maybe it’s misplaced or out of stock), the manager tells you to log out and go home. The pressure from higher-ups is crazy, and managers simply pass it on to the workers…Zero tolerance for delays. One small mistake, and you’re told to leave. The pay isn’t worth it. The risk, stress, and treatment don’t match what you earn,” the Redditor continued.
The situation was even worse for full-time workers affiliated with Blinkit — with the Reddit user noting that they were expected to manually unload two to three big trucks daily and stock the cold rooms.
“They often work longer hours than scheduled, without proper overtime…When part-timers aren’t there, all the workload falls on them — picking, packing, restocking, everything,” the post added.
The detailed post has rapidly gained momentum on the India subreddit with thousands of upvotes and comments. Many in the comments section insisted that they would be happy to receive their groceries in an hour or two, while others said they avoided 10-minute delivery apps for this very reason. Some users also voiced concern that such platforms were making people ‘lazy’ and fostering a culture of instant gratification.
“All this effort and stress… just so that someone can get a Coke and Maggi in 10 minutes? Not saying convenience is bad. But this system isn’t built on efficiency — it’s built on pushing workers to their limits. If deliveries took 15 or 20 minutes instead, would that really be so bad? Feels like we’re chasing speed without thinking about the people actually doing the work,” the original poster asked.