Indian Startup YesMadam Seeks to Bounce Back After Unreceived Layoff Email
The maxim that “any press is good press” was put to the test this week by Indian beauty startup YesMadam, which is dealing with the fallout from a campaign using a fake layoff notice to make light of stress at work.
According to multiple reports, the company’s employees responded to an internal wellness survey and subsequently received emails stating that YesMadam “made the difficult decision to part ways with employees who indicated significant stress.”
Screenshots of the email went viral on social media. On LinkedIn, Shitiz Dogra, Associate Director of Digital Marketing, IndiGo, wrote: “Can an organization fire you because you are stressed? Looks like this just happened at a startup, YesMadam. Employees received a termination email from HR with a strange explanation referring to stress – terribly stressful and worrying news.
Mayank Arya, co-founder and CEO of YesMadam, addressed the controversy in a LinkedIn Post from him, saying the initiative was part of a campaign to shed light on workplace stress and mental health and promote a healthier work culture within the company.
“I deeply regret any confusion or discomfort caused by this initiative,” he said. “There was no panic within the office, since everyone was informed in advance of the campaign. »
The company also released a statement clarifying: “No one has been laid off at YesMadam. Let us be clear: we will never take such an inhumane measure.”
“After recognizing the prevalence of stress among our employees through an internal survey, we introduced the ‘Six-Day Paid Stress-Relieving Leave Policy’, along with complimentary spa sessions,” Arya continued on LinkedIn. “These measures were designed to combat burnout and promote holistic well-being. »
YesMadam is a home salon brand in India, with over 300 employees, offering home services such as hair care, massage, skin care and other treatments. People reported that the company was featured in the third season of Shark Tank India.
