Controversy Erupts Over Alleged Layoffs at YesMadam Following Employee Stress Survey

An internal email from YesMadam, a home salon and beauty-tech startup, has triggered a wave of backlash online. The email, allegedly penned by HR Manager Ashu Arora Jha, claims that employees who reported feeling stressed during a recent workplace survey were dismissed. The purported letter has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread condemnation from professionals and sparking a heated debate about workplace ethics.

The email, shared on LinkedIn by IndiGo’s Associate Director of Digital Marketing, reads:
“Recently, we conducted a survey to understand your feelings about stress at work. Many of you shared your concerns, which we deeply value and respect. As a company committed to fostering a healthy and supportive work environment, we have carefully considered the feedback. To ensure that no one remains stressed at work, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with employees who indicated significant stress. This decision is effective immediately, and impacted employees will receive further details separately. Thank you for your contributions.”

The letter has prompted sharp reactions. One LinkedIn user sarcastically remarked, “Kudos to this groundbreaking employee mental health initiative. Jokes apart, this is vile. My heart goes out to the affected employees. Do better, YesMadam!”

Another outraged professional wrote, “Unbelievable! This is insane! Where is toxic corporate culture headed with such inhumane acts?”

Some mocked the company’s name in their critiques. A user quipped, “Looks like the company wants employees to say ‘Yes, Madam’ to everything—no honest feedback, no honesty in surveys.”

Adding to the controversy, former employee Anushka Dutta, who worked as a UX copywriter, shared the email on LinkedIn, alleging she was among the terminated staff. “What’s happening at YesMadam? First, you conduct a survey, then fire us overnight because we’re stressed? And not just me—100 others have been fired too,” she claimed.

Reactions on social media platforms like X have been similarly scathing. One user tweeted, “Lesson learned: Never be too honest with HR.” Another speculated whether the layoffs were a publicity stunt, asking, “Please tell me this is a joke or marketing tactic.”

YesMadam has yet to confirm the authenticity of the email or respond to the allegations. Whether this is a genuine corporate decision or a marketing strategy remains unclear, but the uproar highlights growing concerns over workplace ethics and employee well-being.