India Salon Reportedly Fires Employees for Reporting High Stress in Survey

Imagine filling out a workplace survey, being honest about your stress levels, and then receiving a pink slip for it.

Marrakech – Honesty is supposed to be the best policy – unless, apparently, you’re at a startup salon like YesMadam.

Reports claim the Indian beauty and wellness company laid off employees who admitted to high stress levels in an internal survey.

The allegation, tied to a leaked email, has stirred quite the conversation about workplace wellness in India.

With the country already grappling with recent incidents, including the tragic death of an Ernst & Young employee allegedly linked to work pressure, this story has hit a nerve.

YesMadam, known for its home salon services and its stint on Shark Tank, quickly responded to the backlash.

In a statement released Tuesday, the company apologized for any misunderstanding caused by social media chatter.

“We sincerely apologize for any distress caused by recent social media posts suggesting we dismissed employees for being stressed. Let us be clear: We would never take such an inhuman step,” the company said.

The statement went on to address the emotional toll the controversy had on its reputation, emphasizing the value it places on its employees.

“Our team is like family, and their dedication, hard work, and passion are the foundation of all our successes. The social media posts were a planned effort to highlight the serious issue of workplace stress,” the company added, clarifying their intentions.

The company clarified its stance even more, firmly denying the allegations, stating that, “Were YesMadam employees really fired for being stressed? Absolutely not. They weren’t fired; they were given a break to reset. They weren’t let go; they were encouraged to release their stress. They weren’t laid off; they were offered a chance to relax. They weren’t sacked; they were urged to rest and recharge.”

Still, questions linger. While YesMadam denies the allegations, the leaked email continues to circulate online, fueling skepticism.

If the posts were part of a campaign to draw attention to workplace stress, as the company claims, it seems to have backfired spectacularly, making their employee policies a public point of scrutiny instead.