Yes, my ladya Noida based startup known for providing home salon services and was once featured on Shark tank Indiais under fire for reportedly laying off over 100 employees following a job loss Mental Health Survey. The controversial move was announced via email by the company’s human resources department and sparked widespread outrage and ethical concerns online.
According to a former employee, the survey asked employees about their levels of stress at work. Shortly thereafter, employees who admitted to experiencing significant stress received termination emails. “What’s happening at YesMadam? You first conduct a sample survey and then fire us overnight because we feel stressed? And it’s not just me – 100 other people were laid off too,” said one laid-off employee.
Anushka Dutta, a former UX copywriter at the company, shared a screenshot of the email on social media. At first, the message seemed supportive and acknowledged the feedback from the survey: “We recently conducted a survey to understand your feelings about stress at work. Many of you have expressed your concerns, which we deeply appreciate and respect,” the email said. However, the tone changed when HR head Ashu Arora Jha announced the decision:
“To ensure that no one remains stressed in the workplace, we have made the difficult decision to separate employees who signaled significant stress,” the email said, adding that the termination was “effective immediately.” . The company assured affected employees that they would receive further details separately. Still, the decision sparked sharp criticism, with many questioning the ethics of firing employees for disclosing their problems rather than addressing workplace stress.
Critics called the move tone-deaf and counterproductive. One user wrote: “Firing employees for reporting stress isn’t just ironic – it’s a complete disregard for employee wellbeing.” Instead of addressing the causes of stress, it sends a clear message: “Your mental health is failing “It’s none of our business.” Companies need to prioritize solutions and not silence their employees.” Others speculated whether the incident was a poorly executed marketing stunt.
“If this is a marketing strategy, it backfires terribly. If not, then this is an alarming example of mismanagement. Either way, YesMadam will not escape the consequences,” another user commented.
Some expressed deep disappointment and highlighted the betrayal of employees who had been open about their problems only to be fired: “This is heartbreaking.” Imagine finally being honest about your stress rather than offering support you would be fired. “This is the worst answer you can get in a mental health survey,” one user shared.
The incident has sparked a larger discussion about it Ethics in the workplacemental health and the responsibility of employers. Although YesMadam has not yet issued a formal statement, criticism continues to mount, with many calling for companies to adopt more empathetic and supportive approaches to employee well-being.