Salary / Compensation

OpenAI sets new benchmark for startup pay as AI talent war escalates

OpenAI has set an unprecedented compensation benchmark in the startup ecosystem, with its workforce expected to receive exceptionally high stock-based payouts in 2025. With a headcount of roughly 4,000 employees, average equity compensation is projected to touch around $1.5 million per person, making it the highest ever recorded for a private technology company at this [...] The post OpenAI sets new benchmark for startup pay as AI talent war escalates appeared first on HR Katha .

Salary / Compensation

‘Avg earnings per hour were Rs 102’: Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal debunks delivery partners' low pay concerns

Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal has pushed back against claims of low pay for delivery partners, saying average earnings on the platform rose to Rs 102 per hour in 2025, excluding tips. In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), Goyal said the average earnings per hour (EPH) increased from Rs 92 in 2024, marking a year-on-year growth of about 10.9%. He said that earnings per hour have shown steady growth over a longer period as well. Goyal said most delivery partners work only a few hours a day and a few days a month. However, if a partner were to work 10 hours a day for 26 days a month, gross monthly earnings would be about Rs 26,500. After accounting for fuel and maintenance costs of around 20%, net monthly earnings would be roughly Rs 21,000, he said. He also said delivery partners receive 100% of customer tips, with no deductions. According to the post, the average tip per hour on Zomato was Rs 2.6 in 2025, compared to Rs 2.4 in 2024. Tips are transferred instantly, and ...

Salary / Compensation

Vijay Shekhar Sharma-led Paytm grants ESOPs worth Rs 16.7 crore to eligible employees

One 97 Communications, the parent entity of Paytm , has approved a fresh grant of employee stock options (ESOP) under its existing ESOP framework. In a stock exchange filing, the company said its Nomination and Remuneration Committee approved the grant of 1,23,908 stock options to eligible employees under the One 97 Employees Stock Option Scheme 2019. The approval was granted on January 3, 2026, through circulation. Each stock option is convertible into one fully paid-up equity share of face value Rs 1, with an exercise price of Rs 9 per option. Based on Paytm’s Friday closing share price of around Rs 1,340.4, the newly granted ESOPs carry an approximate notional value of Rs 16.7 crore. The company also disclosed that 4,25,702 stock options lapsed during the period. There was no vesting, exercise, cancellation, or variation of terms of options reported as part of this disclosure. The equity shares allotted pursuant to the exercise of these options will not be subject to any lock-in....

Salary / Compensation

IIT-Hyderabad student makes history: Rs 2.5 crore package breaks records amid tough job market

An Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad student has achieved a record Rs 2.5 crore package from Optiver. Edward Nathan Varghese will join the Netherlands-based firm as a software engineer. This historic offer highlights the institute's growing placement standards. Average packages have also seen a significant jump this placement season. The institute continues to produce highly sought-after talent.