YesMadam’s Bid To Replicate Poonam Pandey’s Death Hoax With ‘Fired For Stress’ Stunt Backfires

New Delhi: Noida-based salon home service startup, YesMadam, followed actor-model Poonam Pandey’s death publicity stunt to create awareness about stress at workplace.

Just like Poonam Pandey, who had faked her death to create awareness on cervical cancer, this salon startup announced firing 100 employees who admitted feeling stressed in a workplace survey.

A day after the screenshot of the HR email led to a public outrage, YesMadam on Tuesday issued a 3-page clarification stating that the company has not fired anyone and it was just a campaign to create awareness on workplace stress.

“No one was fired at YesMadam! Let us be clear: We would never take such an inhuman step,” read the post.

“Were YesMadam employees really fired for being stressed? Absolutely not,” clarified the startup.

It further stated that the employees were not fired but were given a break to rejuvenate themselves.

The company apologised for the distress caused by their social media posts and emphasized that they are committed to the well-being of employees.

The startup also unveiled its “Happy 2 Heal” programme that will include head massages and spa sessions at the workplace to help employees recharge themselves.

It also announced “India’s first-ever De-Stress Leave Policy” for its employees which will offer 6 paid de-stress leaves in a year.

“We firmly believe that the backbone of any great organisation is not built on stressed shoulders but on happy minds. So, let’s make employee well-being the new norm. Let’s create businesses that thrive on care, collaboration, and compassion. Over to you, Corporate & Startup India. Let’s walk this path together,” read the statement.

However, YesMadam’s apology and publicity campaign failed to impress netizens who labelled its initiative as a “lousy PR stunt” and a “tone-deaf campaign.”

“Using a grave issue like layoffs—a reality affecting millions—to promote a product is as irresponsible as it is tasteless,” wrote a user.

“So now toxic behavior is rebranded as a PR stunt? Bold strategy-destroy trust, gaslight your employees, and call it marketing,” shared another user.

“Even if your intentions might be pure, this is sick. That email in itself is the first step in increasing the stress. First we are making Cervical cancer and death a PR stunt and now anxiety,” commented a user.