An Indian beauty service start-up is facing backlash over an attempt to highlight workplace stress through a publicity campaign.
A couple of days ago, an email from the start-up “Yes Madam” went viral on social media in which “stressed” employees were informed that the company had decided to let go of those who had complained for feeling stressed at work, according to BBC.
However, on Tuesday, the company clarified that it had not fired anyone and that the social media posts were part of an effort to bring attention to the “serious issue of workplace stress”.
The campaign received criticism for toying with the emotions of already stressed workers while some praised it for drawing attention to an important workplace issue.
Some users even pointed out that a previously unheard of company had succeeded in grabbing the limelight in a matter of hours.
“Free promotion done right, huh? Who needs a marketing budget when you have outrage as your social media manager?” one user posted on LinkedIn.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time a start-up has been involved in a controversy for being a part of a questionable publicity campaign.
In November, an Indian food delivery platform founder posted a job opening for “chief of staff” but said the candidate would not be paid for a year and would have to donate INR2 million to the company’s non-profit venture that aims to provide food to the poor.
The founder received bouquets and brickbats after he posted the job and later claimed that the received more than 10,000 applications for the job but failed to mention if he had hired anyone.
