At-home beauty services startup YesMadam has issued a clarification after social media posts indicated it had fired employees who said they were under stress in an internal survey. In a three-page statement on LinkedIn, the company apologized for the “distress” caused by the viral email, which said stressed employees were suddenly laid off.

“No one was fired from YesMadam! Let’s be clear: we would never take such an inhumane step,” the post said. The company said the social media posts were a planned campaign to raise awareness of the “serious problem of workplace stress.”

“Were YesMadam employees really fired because of stress? Absolutely not,” the company clarified, adding that employees were not laid off but were instead given a break to restart and encouraged to relieve their stress, rest and recharge.

Check out the post here:

Paid vacation to relieve stress, massages at work

Explaining the unusual marketing strategy, the company explained that with the launch of its now proprietary program, Happy 2 Heal, it is working to put productivity in the background and employee well-being at the forefront.

YesMadam said the new program will offer head massages and spa sessions in the workplace to help employees relax and recharge.

It also announced ‘India’s first de-stress leave policy’, which provides every employee with 6 paid stress leaves per year when they need to take time off for their mental health, along with free spa sessions at home.

“We firmly believe that the backbone of every great organization is built not on stressed shoulders, but on happy minds. So let’s make employee well-being the new norm. Let’s create companies that thrive on caring, collaboration and compassion. To You.”, Corporate & Startup India. Let us walk this path together,” the statement said.

(Also read: ‘No ma’am’: Delivery app pushes back against ‘Yes ma’am’ amid ‘mass layoffs’ claim, offering jobs to employees)

How the internet reacted

YesMadam’s latest update and apology following the viral email appears to have done little to appease those upset over the whole controversy. Many social media users described the initiative as a “lousy PR stunt” and a “clumsy campaign”.

“Using a serious issue like layoffs – a reality that affects millions – to promote a product is as irresponsible as it is tasteless,” one user said.

“So now toxic behavior is being rebranded as a PR stunt? A bold strategy – destroy trust, put pressure on your employees and call it marketing,” said another user.

“Even though your intentions may be pure, this is sick. This email itself is the first step in increasing stress. First we make cervical cancer and death a PR stunt and now we make fear,” one comment said.

(Also read: YesMadam fires 100 employees who reported stress in a survey? Viral email sparks speculation about PR stunts.)