This Bengaluru CEO wants his best employees to quit, and do this next

At a time when layoffs and job uncertainty are weighing on employees, one Bengaluru company is offering its people a different kind of career move. iD Fresh Food will support employees who want to quit the corporate path and build businesses of their own, without making them give up their safety net.At a time when layoffs and job uncertainty are weighing on employees, one Bengaluru company is offering its people a different kind of career move. (Photo: LinkedIn/Musthafa P.)New Delhi,Nov 13, 2026 19:06 ISTMost companies try to retain their best employees. But what if a company helped them leave to build something of their own, and even gave them the option of coming back?That is the idea behind a new entrepreneurship policy announced by iD Fresh Food Global CEO Musthafa P. The Bengaluru-based company is encouraging employees to pursue their startup dreams by offering mentorship, access to its business network and a partially paid sabbatical. And if their ventures do not work out, they can return to iD.The announcement comes at a time when layoffs and workforce restructuring have become a growing concern for employees across industries. While many workers are worried about losing their jobs, iD is offering some of its people a chance to step away from theirs on their own terms.FROM A Rs 50,000 KITCHEN TO A SAFETY NETIn a LinkedIn post, Musthafa looked back at how iD began in a small Bengaluru kitchen with Rs 50,000 and plenty of uncertainty. “We made mistakes. We had sleepless nights. But we kept going because a few people believed in us when we couldn't fully believe in ourselves,” he wrote.That early support, he said, is something he has never forgotten. The new policy is his way of extending the same belief to employees who want to become entrepreneurs. Under the initiative, employees will get access to the entire iD ecosystem, including its partner network, and mentorship from the leadership team. They can also take a partially paid sabbatical to work on their business ideas during the uncertain early stages.Most importantly, they will have the freedom to return to the company if their plans do not work out.“Because no one should have to choose between pursuing their dream and having a safety net,” Musthafa wrote. (Photo: LinkedIn post/Musthafa P.) GOODBYE TO EMPLOYEES, HELLO TO FOUNDERS?Musthafa, who co-founded iD Fresh Food with his cousins in 2005, knows what it takes to leave a conventional career and build a business. An alumnus of NIT Calicut and IIM Bangalore, he previously worked with multinational companies before turning entrepreneur.He has acknowledged that the policy could mean saying goodbye to some of the company's most valued employees. But he sees that as a reason to be proud, not simply a loss.“Saying goodbye to some of our best people will hurt,” he wrote. He added that watching them build something of their own and create a greater impact on society would fill him with pride.“I wish they pursue their dreams and build something meaningful,” he said.For employees who have always wanted to start a business but feared losing the security of a regular salary, the policy offers a different way to take that first step. It does not promise that every startup will succeed. It simply gives employees some support while they find out.(Disclaimer: This story is based on a social media post. The details, including figures, background, and outcomes, have not been independently verified by India Today. The article is intended for informational purposes only, and readers are advised to exercise their own discretion before drawing conclusions or making decisions based on the content.)- Ends