In an amusing example of modern problem-solving, a Chartered Accountant (CA) was left surprised when his domestic help found a creative way to avoid a salary deduction—by outsourcing her job for a day.
Akhil Agarwal, a CA and alumnus of St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, shared the anecdote on X (formerly Twitter). His domestic help, instead of taking an unpaid leave, booked another maid from Urban Company’s ‘Insta Maids’ service to cover for her.
“Our maid charges ₹5,000 per month, which comes to ₹160 per day. Any extra leave beyond four days results in a salary cut. Today, she ordered an ‘Insta Maid’ from Urban Company and told us, ‘Paise mat kaatna bhaiya, ek maid bhej rahi hoon kaam ke liye’ (Don’t deduct my pay, I’m sending another maid to work). A B2B2C model for Urban Company? India is not for beginners!” Agarwal wrote.
The post quickly gained traction, with users amused by the domestic worker’s entrepreneurial spirit. Many called it a perfect example of delegation and modern-day gig economy in action.
Social Media Reactions
Agarwal’s post sparked a flurry of reactions online. Some users found it hilarious, applauding the maid’s smart approach to job management. Others pointed out that this highlighted how technology is reshaping even traditional jobs like domestic work.
“She is a true manager—delegation at its finest!” one user commented.
“This is next-level thinking. She just implemented a scalable business model for herself,” joked another.
However, some netizens questioned whether this outsourcing model ensured the same quality of work and reliability. Others debated whether gig workers under platforms like Urban Company were being fairly compensated.
Interestingly, this viral post comes at a time when Urban Company’s ‘Insta Maids’ service has been facing criticism. The platform, which allows users to hire domestic help within 15 minutes, has drawn flak from labor unions and activists over its low pay structure.
With debates around gig economy wages heating up, this incident adds a new perspective—showing how workers themselves are using these platforms in unexpected ways. Whether this is a one-off case or a glimpse into a new trend in domestic work remains to be seen.