Workplace stress is a common issue that every organisation aims to tackle—well, almost every organisation.
Typically, companies conduct surveys to understand what’s troubling their employees and take steps to create a better work environment.
But one company decided to go rogue, making a move that had netizens collectively gasping (and laughing) online.
Their solution? Fire employees who reported being stressed. Yes, you read that right.
The HR department didn’t address the concerns—it addressed the people who raised them. Because, apparently, no stressed employees = no stress.
The Email That Shocked Everyone
After conducting a stress survey, the company sent out an email to explain their eyebrow-raising decision:
Instead of solving workplace issues, the company decided that eliminating “stressed” employees would miraculously make everything peaceful.
Social Media’s Reaction: HR Went Too Far
Unsurprisingly, the email quickly went viral, with netizens delivering some responses:
- “Hahahahaha, that’s an easy way to solve problems, huh?”
- “Instead of eliminating stress, they eliminate stressed people.”
- “She reached her KPI of stress-free!”
- “Other employers recognise stress and plan interventions, but this one is on another level—just fire them. What happens when new hires get stressed? Repeat the cycle forever?”
These reactions perfectly summed up the absurdity of firing employees instead of addressing the actual problems causing stress.
All in all, workplace stress surveys should help build trust, not destroy it. By punishing employees for their honesty, this company effectively said, “Your feedback is important to us, but not that important.”
