Kyte Baby CEO Ying Liu issued two apology videos after refusing to let her employee, Marissa, work remotely while caring for her adopted baby in the hospital. The videos have caused the incident to go viral online.
Liu issued the first apology video on TikTok and then issued a second after commenters criticized the video for being scripted and cold.
The situation involves 26-year-old employee Marissa, who recently adopted a newborn baby boy. Her son must remain in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
In an exclusive interview with Today, Marissa says she worked with two higher-ups (not including Liu) during a January 5 meeting to create a remote work schedule that would allow her to care for her son. She also showed Today Slack messages with an HR manager confirming she was eligible for maternity leave.
The HR manager asked Marissa if she would like to begin her maternity leave or wait for her son to be out of the hospital. Marissa replied that she would consult her husband. Her request to work remotely was denied shortly after.
“I was told, ‘Hey, unfortunately, we won’t be able to (make this arrangement) and for that reason, we will take this as your resignation,'” Marissa told Today.
Marissa said she was willing to continue working.
On January 18, Liu posted the first apology video on TikTok.
“Hey guys, it’s Ying. I wanted to hop on here to sincerely apologize to Marissa for how her parental leave was communicated and handled in the midst of her incredible journey of adoption and starting a family,” Liu said per ABC News. “I have been trying to reach out to her to apologize directly as well.”
The video quickly gained millions of views. Commenters, several of them working mothers themselves, criticized Liu’s apology and the company’s approach to Marissa’s maternity leave.
Liu posted a second video shortly after. This time she acknowledged that it was her decision to deny Marissa’s remote work request. She did not
“When I think back, this was a terrible decision,” Liu said per ABC News. “I was insensitive, selfish and was only focused on the fact that her job had always been done on-site and I did not see the possibility of doing it remotely.”
Liu said she was willing to honor to the request and continue to pay Marissa benefits but understood if she did not want to come back to work for the company. Marissa says she won’t be accepting the offer.
“No company is perfect, but … I don’t think that’s a healthy work environment for me,” Marissa told Today.
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