Noida-based home salon services startup YesMadam, known for its appearance on Shark Tank India, is facing massive backlash online after allegedly laying off over 100 employees based on the results of a mental health survey. The incident has triggered widespread criticism, particularly on LinkedIn, with many questioning the ethics behind the company’s actions.
The Controversial Layoffs
A YesMadam employee, reportedly a copywriter, shared a leaked email on LinkedIn, which stated that employees who expressed stress at work during a recent survey were terminated overnight. The email read:
“To ensure that no one remains stressed at work, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with employees who indicated significant stress.”
The employee, in their post, questioned the logic behind the layoffs:
“What’s happening at YesMadam? First, you conduct a random survey and then fire us overnight because we’re feeling stressed? And not just me—100 other people have been fired too.”
Online Outrage and Criticism
The post quickly went viral, sparking outrage among LinkedIn users. Many criticized the company for what they described as an “illogical” and “unethical” decision. Reactions included:
- “This is literally the embodiment of ‘Tum mujhe stress do, main tumhe azaadi dunga.’”
- “What kind of sick solution is this?! Was your stress affecting your performance? Or making the company lose money in any shape or form??”
- “This is diabolical. I’m sorry you lost your job, but I think you’re so much better off without this company.”
Some users speculated that the move might be a publicity stunt gone wrong, with one saying:
“This actually looks like a campaign that’s going to backfire real bad. Sigh.”
Others questioned the reasoning behind the layoffs and called it “the weirdest excuse” for employee termination.
The Leaked Survey and Company’s Statement
YesMadam had recently conducted an internal survey to assess employee stress levels. According to the leaked communication, the company claimed it valued feedback and took the decision to “foster a healthy and supportive work environment.” However, this reasoning has been widely criticized for its lack of logic and compassion.
The layoffs at YesMadam have sparked a larger conversation about mental health awareness and employee well-being in the workplace. While companies are increasingly emphasizing mental health, YesMadam’s approach to tackling stress—terminating employees—has been met with outrage and disbelief. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for businesses on handling sensitive employee concerns with ethics and empathy.
