After sparking a social media uproar with claims of firing 100 employees for being stressed, home salon services company YesMadam clarified the situation in a statement on Tuesday. The company explained that the post was part of a social media campaign aimed at highlighting “the serious issue of workplace stress.” This move has faced a backlash from the internet and has called this a distasteful and insensitive marketing stunt.
“No one was fired at YesMadam,” the statement read. “We sincerely apologize for any distress caused by recent social media posts suggesting that we dismissed employees due to stress. Let us be clear: we would never take such an inhumane step.”
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Additionally, YesMadam introduced a new “de-stress leave policy,” allowing employees to take six days of paid leave for stress relief, along with a complimentary at-home spa session to support mental health and rejuvenation.
“With work-life boundaries blurring in today’s hyper-connected world, stress is common, and productivity often overshadows employee wellbeing… Happy employees create stronger businesses, and we’re committed to leading the way in fostering a culture that embraces this philosophy,” YesMadam stated.
YesMadam faced online backlash after an employee leaked an email from the HR head, revealing that the company planned to fire workers who reported feeling stressed in a mental health survey. The post, shared by copywriter Anushka Dutta on LinkedIn, claimed that 100 employees were terminated due to stress. Dutta later deleted the post after the company issued a statement clarifying that the firings were part of a social media campaign, not actual layoffs.
The campaign was widely criticized for exploiting the serious issue of layoffs to promote a product, with communications executive Aparna Mukherjee calling it “irresponsible” and “tasteless.” Others mocked its execution, with one user suggesting the person who approved it should “fire themselves.” Political and economic commentator Keshav Bedi called for transparency in the planning process and accused the company of focusing on damage control rather than taking responsibility for the controversial stunt.
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