Did YesMadam Fire Employees Over Work Stress? The Startup Breaks Its Silence
Quick Summary
- YesMadam, a Noida-based beauty services startup, has addressed allegations of firing employees over workplace stress.
- The company clarified that no one was terminated and introduced a de-stress policy featuring paid leaves and complimentary spa sessions.
- While some view this as a genuine effort to tackle stress, others suspect a publicity stunt.
- YesMadam’s approach highlights its focus on care, compassion, and employee well-being.
Noida-based beauty services startup YesMadam has found itself at the center of an online storm over allegations that it laid off employees citing workplace stress. However, the company has vehemently denied these claims, calling the reports a “misunderstanding” and clarifying its stance in a detailed statement.
What Sparked the Controversy?
The controversy began when screenshots of an internal email, purportedly sent by YesMadam’s HR Manager Ashu Arora Jha, surfaced online. The email allegedly indicated that the company had conducted a survey to assess workplace stress levels among employees. Based on the survey results, it reportedly made the “difficult decision” to part ways with those who flagged significant stress.
This led to a series of heated online discussions, with some current and former employees expressing their dissatisfaction. One such voice was Anushka Dutta, identified on LinkedIn as a UX copywriter at YesMadam. She claimed in a post, “What’s happening at YesMadam? First you conduct a random survey and then fire us overnight because we’re feeling stressed?” Her post included a screenshot of the email, further fueling the controversy.
This led to a series of heated online discussions, with some current and former employees expressing their dissatisfaction. One such voice was Anushka Dutta, identified on LinkedIn as a UX copywriter at YesMadam. She claimed in a post, “What’s happening at YesMadam? First you conduct a random survey and then fire us overnight because we’re feeling stressed?” Her post included a screenshot of the email, further fueling the controversy.
YesMadam’s Clarification
In response, YesMadam issued a three-page statement titled “No one was fired at YesMadam!” vehemently denying the allegations. According to the statement, the company did not terminate anyone but instead offered stressed employees a “break to reset.”
“Our team is like family, and their dedication, hard work, and passion are the foundation of all our successes. No one was fired; employees were encouraged to take time off to relax, recharge, and return refreshed,” the statement read.
The company emphasized that the social media posts were part of a “planned effort to highlight the serious issue of workplace stress.” YesMadam also thanked netizens for their strong opinions, stating, “When people speak up, it shows they care, and care is at the heart of our business.”
“Our team is like family, and their dedication, hard work, and passion are the foundation of all our successes. No one was fired; employees were encouraged to take time off to relax, recharge, and return refreshed,” the statement read.
The company emphasized that the social media posts were part of a “planned effort to highlight the serious issue of workplace stress.” YesMadam also thanked netizens for their strong opinions, stating, “When people speak up, it shows they care, and care is at the heart of our business.”
A New De-Stress Policy
In an effort to address workplace stress proactively, YesMadam announced a de-stress policy that includes:
- Six annual de-stress paid leaves for mental health and rejuvenation.
- Complimentary at-home spa sessions for employees to unwind.
“We firmly believe that the backbone of any great organization is not built on stressed shoulders but on happy minds,” the company’s statement declared.
Public Reaction: Publicity Stunt or Genuine Effort?
The clarification has left the internet divided. While some applauded YesMadam’s acknowledgment of workplace stress and its new policies, others were skeptical about the company’s motives.
One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, “Looking at YesMadam’s marketing trends, this looks like a campaign. The virality of these firing posts sets a good ground to launch ‘corporate packages for de-stress massages.’ Controversial marketing at its best!”
One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, “Looking at YesMadam’s marketing trends, this looks like a campaign. The virality of these firing posts sets a good ground to launch ‘corporate packages for de-stress massages.’ Controversial marketing at its best!”
A Growing Brand Under Scrutiny
YesMadam has been a rising star in the beauty services industry. It gained significant attention after securing investments from renowned entrepreneurs like Peyush Bansal (Lenskart), Vineeta Singh (Sugar Cosmetics), Ritesh Aggarwal (OYO), and Aman Gupta (boAt) during its appearance on Shark Tank India. With rapid scaling efforts underway, laying off employees in bulk seemed contradictory to its growth trajectory.
While the truth behind the alleged email remains unclear, YesMadam has leveraged the situation to emphasize employee well-being. By introducing measures like paid de-stress leaves and complimentary spa sessions, the company aims to set a benchmark for mental health care in corporate culture.
Whether this controversy will help or hinder YesMadam’s reputation remains to be seen. For now, the startup’s message is clear: care, compassion, and collaboration are at the heart of their business model.
Whether this controversy will help or hinder YesMadam’s reputation remains to be seen. For now, the startup’s message is clear: care, compassion, and collaboration are at the heart of their business model.
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December 22, 2024
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Rajat N
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