Noida-based salon home service startup YesMadam has infamously hit the headlines. It is accused of firing around 100 employees following an internal survey on workplace stress. It is alleged that those employees who admitted to feeling stressed were let go and this has lately sparked outrage across social media.
The incident was revealed through a LinkedIn post by Shitiz Dogra, associate director of digital marketing at IndiGo. He shared a screenshot of the email that is said to have sent by the HR team of YesMadam. The email was attributed to HR Manager Ashu Arora Jha and it stated that the decision to terminate employees was made to ensure that no one remains stressed at work.
The decision has now raised eyebrows and serious concerns that how employees can be fired for being honest about their stress. The organizations are to be accused if employees are stressed at workplace.
The backlash has been fierce and justified in social media. One commenter said that toxic work culture at its peak and organizations should find ways to reduce work pressure. The All India Employee Association criticized the companies that fail to provide a healthy work environment and expect the employees to perform at their best.
Mental health is a sensitive issue in the workplace and rightly so and employees today are facing immense pressure to meet deadlines. Companies should find an opportunity to improve the situation after conducting such surveys on mental health. Honest feedback is a gift and it shows that employees trust their organization to share their struggles.
The alleged actions of YesMadam has set a dangerous precedent by punishing employees for being honest. Companies risk silencing those who need support the most. This is something against the very idea of creating safe and supportive workplaces.
YesMadam has maintained silence on the issue. The company owes it to its employees and the public to clarify if the allegations are false. However, it is time for a serious reevaluation of policies. Businesses must remember that a healthy workplace is about productivity as well as about people.
