YesMadam, a startup known for its doorstep beauty services, has come under fire after a leaked internal letter revealed that the company allegedly terminated employees who reported feeling stressed in a company survey.
The incident has sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about workplace stress and employee well-being.
YesMadam Layoffs: Details of the Incident
The controversy began when someone shared a screenshot of an email from YesMadam’s HR department on LinkedIn.
The company terminated employees who indicated significant stress in the survey immediately.
The leaked letter stated, “To ensure that no one remains stressed at work, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with employees who indicated significant stress.”
It added, “This decision is effective immediately, and impacted employees will receive further details separately.”
The revelation has led to a backlash on social media, with many users criticizing the company’s approach to handling workplace stress.
Shitiz Dogra, Associate Director of Digital Marketing at IndiGo, shared the leaked letter on LinkedIn, questioning the company’s actions and expressing disbelief that employees were fired for being honest about their stress levels.
Other users echoed similar sentiments, calling the move illogical and highlighting the need for better support systems for employees.
Context of Workplace Stress
The incident at YesMadam comes at a time when workplace stress is a growing concern in India.
According to a report by digital healthcare platform MediBuddy and CII, around 62% of Indian employees experience burnout. This figure is triple the global average of 20%.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that work-related anxiety and depression result in significant global economic losses.
These issues cause around 12 billion working days to be lost annually.
The issue of workplace stress gained momentum after the tragic death of Anna Sebastian Perayil, an employee at Ernst & Young (EY), who allegedly died due to work-related stress.
Her mother, Anita Augustine, wrote a letter to EY’s India chief Rajiv Memani.
She alleged that her daughter was made to work late into the night and over weekends without breaks.
This incident has further fueled discussions about the need for better workplace policies and support systems.
Experts suggest that companies should invest in employee wellness programs and create a supportive work environment to address workplace stress.
Regular audits and reviews of compliance measures can help improve understanding of workplace harassment and complaint redressal mechanisms.
Smaller enterprises, in particular, face challenges in implementing these measures due to limited resources and awareness.
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