Indian entrepreneur and author Ankur Warikoo has sparked widespread discussion after revealing the generous compensation package and deep trust he extends to his long-time driver, Dayanand Bhaiya. The revelation came through a social media post that highlighted not just the financial aspects but the profound personal relationship they've built over 13 years.
Beyond Driver: A Trusted Family Partner
Warikoo described Dayanand as far more than just an employee, emphasizing his role as a trusted partner to the entire family. The entrepreneur shared that Dayanand holds duplicate house keys, knows the family's ATM PIN, and addresses all family members informally using tum instead of the more formal aap - indicating the closeness of their relationship.
"He drives our children to classes, handles all important errands that don't require our presence, and is someone I trust blindly with the safety of my family and myself," Warikoo wrote in his heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter).
Progressive Compensation Structure
The financial details revealed by Warikoo have drawn significant attention. Dayanand's current monthly salary stands at Rs 53,350, which translates to more than Rs 6 lakh annually. This places his earnings higher than many entry-level positions in other professional sectors across India.
What makes this compensation package particularly noteworthy is the systematic approach to increments. Warikoo confirmed that Dayanand receives an 11% annual raise every year. This consistent growth pattern has seen his salary increase from the starting amount of Rs 15,000 thirteen years ago to its current substantial figure.
The comprehensive benefits package includes:
- Health insurance coverage
- One-month Diwali bonus
- Additional gifts like the scooter received this year
Business Context and Future Projections
Warikoo, whose businesses generated Rs 16.84 crore ($2 million) in revenue during 2024, described Dayanand's role as invaluable to the family's daily operations. The entrepreneur emphasized that the driver saves the family "time, mental load and effort" while enabling them to focus on their professional commitments.
In his social media post, Warikoo expressed optimism about Dayanand's future earnings, stating he looks forward to seeing him reach Rs 1 lakh per month within the next 5-6 years. This projection demonstrates Warikoo's commitment to continued financial growth for his trusted employee.
Social Media Reactions and Broader Implications
The post quickly went viral, attracting numerous comments praising Warikoo's approach to employee compensation and treatment. Users highlighted several key aspects that made this story stand out:
- Inclusion of health insurance in the compensation package
- The dignity of labor being demonstrated through actions
- Significant deviation from stagnant driver salaries in the broader market
- The importance of financial planning support for domestic staff
One user noted that driver salaries have typically remained stagnant over decades, moving from Rs 8,000-10,000 in 2007-2008 to only Rs 20,000-22,000 today in most cases. This makes Dayanand's compensation package and annual increments particularly exceptional in the domestic help sector.
Warikoo's transparent sharing of these details has started an important conversation about fair compensation, trust-building in employer-employee relationships, and the value of treating domestic staff as integral partners in family life rather than just service providers.
