TikTok is buzzing about controversy surrounding the popular baby clothing brand Kyte Baby.
His colleague denied a girl’s breast request to remote work, while he cares for his new research in the NICU, agreeing the two apology videos by Kyte Baby for Ying Liu. For customers vowing to boycott, Kyte tells TODAY.com in a statement that the employee has «declined» their offer to return to the company.
Kyte Baby sells infant clothing and sleep sacks made with bamboo material.
The employee named Marissa stands up when her remote work has been done, when her new, adopted one, is sent to the NICU in the Texas hospital: In her apology video, Liu said she said no — and now she regrets her decision
Kyte Baby controversy, and the apologies
«Hey guys, it’s Ying. I wanted to hop on here to sincerely apologize to Marissa for how here parental leave was communicated and handled in the midst of her incredible journey of adoption and starting milli,» Liu said in a video with views that was posted to Kyte Baby’s official TikTok account on Jan.
Liu explained that Kyte Baby «pride itself on being a family-oriented company» that treats «biological and non-biological parents equally.»
Liu apologized to her customers, promising to review Kyte’s HR policies to «avoid hurting our work and the community in the future.»
The speech got harsh reviews on TikTok, where people said Liu sounded rehearsed and inauthentic. Dozens of moms made videos saying they were once loyal Kyte customers, but would now boycott the company.
Liu then posted a second apology later that same day, saying that her first attempt «wasn’t sincere.»
«OK, I’m going to do this,» Liu said in the second apology. «I am, just put the official apology on TikTok. And the comments were right — et scripted. And memorize it.
Liu said she made a «terrible» decision on Marissa’s request.
«And you have something that has the decision to veto the remote request while she has to stay in the NICU for her adoption baby,» said Liu. «And when I think back, this was a terrible decision – I was insensitive, selfish and was only focused on the fact that her job had always been on-site and I don’t know the possibility of doing it remotely.»
He added, «I can’t imagine the stress you have to go through, you don’t have the option to dress to work and you have to do it again in the NICU. of that.»
Liu accepts the perception that he has been «saving face.»
«As a mom, as female owner of the business — and especially a baby business — I feel like I need to set the record straight: That I fully realize the impact of my actions … I did not accommodate Marissa fully and did no it has been redeemed for him personally, nothing has been done to do it in all that he has done until now.»
«I really want to take this opportunity to say that I’m sorry,» said Liu. «As for Marissa, she is a fantastic woman, she has the biggest heart and … I love her as a worker and enjoy working with her every day.»
Liu said the company would pay Marissa benefits and grant her a remote position that she requested.
This video topped four million views and has more than 119,000 comments, many along the lines «Toto little too late» and «RIP Kyte Baby.»
A spokesperson from Kyte Baby tells TODAY.com in the state that the company continues to apologize to Marissa and it is a big big remote request. «At this time Marissa has declined our offer,» the spokesperson said on Jan. 19.
Moms and remote work
In the 2021 company blog post honoring International Women’s Day, Liu praised em employees, many of where are mothers, and the benefits of remote work.
«I have no problem with employees being home and working while taking care of their kids,» Liu said. «Why should they eat back to the office five days a week when they’re still very productive and can perform? … Women are amazing. I hope this will bring the status of female employees higher because all this has provided everything that don’t need to be at the office 8 hours a day. They’re still able to be productive and take care of their families.”
Marissa did not immediately return requests for comment from TODAY.com. While she has been identified, TODAY.com is withholding her name to protect her privacy.
A spokesperson from Kyte Baby tells TODAY.com in a statement:
«We continue to apologize to both Marissa and our Kyte Baby community for how her maternity leave was handled … we are revising our maternity policy to give all new parents more time off and creating a process to better support our team.»
The statement read, «Marissa was an on-site employee for Kyte Baby who works in her studio for a few weeks. The company for her six weeks, you will have two decades of maternity time. Employ her partner for a year received four weeks of paid maternity time with same six-month requirement.»
The spokesperson tells TODAY.com that Marissa is offering her standard package (two weeks of maternity time), «but given her son’s situation, you are unable to sign a six-month contract. that her role was largely on-site, at that time , we did not feel that the proposed plan would fulfill the responsibilities of her current position. opted to return.
«However, upon reflection, we should have taken more steps to accommodate her situation,» the spokesperson wrote. «We’ve since realized the Kyte Baby needs to be in our experience in his own company, family company. in addition they offer the job with his find in a remote position with the company.
Kyte Baby says it will share its revised maternity policy by February 1.
According to Jamie Ladge, professor and group leader and organization development at Northeastern University, backlash for Kyte Baby reflects frustration with working parents.
«Parents generally fed up — we’ve been talking about paid family leave for years and it never seems to happen,» she tells TODAY.com. «Men and women often feel like a burden to taste leave or ugly being non-committed to their jobs.»
Meanwhile, the fireplace shortage in pandemic only emphasized the need for remote work.
«Nothing got resolved,» says Lage. «We’re still in crisis mode.»
