“Bengaluru Startup Founder Faces Backlash for Insensitive Twitter Post Celebrating Layoffs”
Bengaluru-based startup founder, Suumit Shah, has come under fire for a controversial Twitter post related to recent layoffs at his company, ‘Dukaan’. Shah’s tweet thread revealed that his company had laid off 90% of their support team and replaced them with an AI chatbot, which he claimed benefited the company. However, the post received widespread criticism for its insensitivity and perceived exploitation of the layoffs.
Bengaluru-based startup founder, Suumit Shah, has come under fire for a controversial Twitter post related to recent layoffs at his company, ‘Dukaan’. Shah’s tweet thread revealed that his company had laid off 90% of their support team and replaced them with an AI chatbot, which he claimed benefited the company. However, the post received widespread criticism for its insensitivity and perceived exploitation of the layoffs.
The Twitter thread began with Shah announcing the layoffs and went on to explain the company’s prioritization of profitability, leading to the implementation of an AI assistant to handle customer queries. The post quickly gained traction on social media, with many expressing their disapproval of Shah’s approach and his lack of empathy towards the laid-off employees. Users accused him of celebrating the layoffs and using them as a content hook for his thread, suggesting that he was exploiting the situation for attention.
Critics deemed the post insensitive, highlighting the disruption caused to the lives of the laid-off employees and questioning the impact on customer support. One user replied, pointing out the potential damage to customer support and calling Shah’s approach into question.
As users sought information about the fate of the laid-off staff, Shah anticipated such comments and responded by stating that he had a prepared reply and would address the assistance provided to the affected employees on LinkedIn. He defended his Twitter thread, suggesting that people on the platform were more interested in profitability than sympathy.
The backlash intensified as Shah was called out for disrespecting the former employees by boasting about the layoffs and then announcing a new feature in the same post. Criticism was further fueled when Shah mentioned towards the end of his thread that the company was actively hiring for multiple roles.
Some users attempted to explain to Shah that the criticism was not directed solely at his actions but rather stemmed from the way he framed the thread, indicating a lack of empathy.
With nearly 500 retweets, the controversy surrounding Shah’s Twitter post continues to grow, raising questions about ethical communication and sensitivity towards employees affected by layoffs. The incident serves as a reminder to startup founders and leaders about the importance of mindful and empathetic communication, especially during challenging times.
As the discussion unfolds, the online community awaits any further response or actions from Suumit Shah and the company ‘Dukaan’, while the incident sparks a wider debate on the role of technology, automation, and its impact on employment.
Sources By Agencies
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