"We have advised 13% of our workforce to start looking for jobs outside of Zomato, while we support them financially and emotionally for the next 6 months," Deepinder Goyal, the CEO and founder of Zomato, said on Friday in a note to employees of the food delivery giant. This follows the restaurant industry taking a body blow in the wake of the pandemic. In the letter, Goyal anticipates that the number of restaurants will shrink by 25-40% over the next half year or one year.

The laid-off employees will receive financial support (50% of their salary for 6 months), insurance (for 6 months), outplacement services and equity. Contract employees will receive severance pay for two months.

Those employees with no work will receive 50% salary for the next 6 months. Those who were given mobile phones/laptops needn't return.

Goyal's letter, otherwise, was full of positivity. "We remain committed to our mission of better food for more people, and are determined to continue building Zomato with renewed love and passion for our world and our community," he said.