Noida-Based Startup, YesMadam, Conducts Survey on Mental Health; Fires Employees Who Reported Stress

December 9, 2024: A recent controversy involving YesMadam, a Noida-based home salon and wellness platform, has drawn widespread criticism after a leaked email claimed the company fired employees who reported stress in an internal survey. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with professionals questioning workplace ethics and the company’s approach to employee well-being.

The alleged email, reportedly sent by YesMadam’s HR Manager Ashu Arora Jha, surfaced on LinkedIn and quickly went viral. It stated:

“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.”

This email drew sharp criticism, with users calling the company’s actions unethical and counterproductive.

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Social Media Backlash

The email was shared by IndiGo’s Associate Director of Digital Marketing on LinkedIn, prompting a flurry of reactions. One user sarcastically remarked, “Kudos to this groundbreaking employee mental health initiative,” before adding, “Jokes apart, this is vile. My heart goes out to the affected employees. Do better, YesMadam!”

Another expressed disbelief, stating, “UNBELIEVABLE! This is actually insane! Where exactly is this toxic corporate culture heading?”

A different commenter criticized the company’s attitude, writing, “Looks like the company wants employees to behave as their name suggests. Just say ‘Yes, Madam’ for everything and keep going. No honest feedback, no honest surveys.”

The hashtag “HR is NOT your friend” trended on X (formerly Twitter), with many employees expressing solidarity with the fired workers. Others speculated whether this could be a marketing stunt, with one user writing, “Please tell me this is a joke/marketing tactic.”

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Employee Testimony

Adding weight to the allegations, a former YesMadam employee, Anushka Dutta, claimed on LinkedIn that she was among those let go after participating in the survey. Ms. Dutta, who worked as a UX copywriter at the startup, said:

“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.”

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Company Response Pending

YesMadam has not yet issued an official statement addressing the controversy, and the authenticity of the email has not been independently verified. However, the incident has reignited debates about workplace ethics, the role of HR departments, and how companies should address employee stress and mental health concerns.

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