Kyte Baby Faces Criticism for Refusing Mother’s Plea to Work from Hospital During Preemie Son’s Stay

Kyte baby

Baby clothing brand Kyte Baby is facing a severe backlash and calls for a customer boycott after rejecting an employee’s plea to work remotely while caring for her premature baby. Marissa Hughes and her husband Rawley, who had undergone a challenging journey trying to have a child, decided to pursue adoption. In October, Hughes informed Kyte Baby about their adoption plans. In December, they received a call about a baby in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nine hours away from their home. The baby, named Judah, was born at 22 weeks and weighed only 1 pound.

To be with their fragile newborn, the Hughes drove to El Paso and notified Kyte Baby about the situation, requesting time to care for their son. Kyte Baby granted two weeks of paid leave, but when Hughes asked to work remotely from the NICU, the request was denied. The company cited its maternity policy, offering two weeks of paid leave to parents with at least six months of employment. Despite Hughes being nine hours away with a critically ill baby expected to stay in the hospital until March or April, Kyte Baby reportedly informed her that she would lose her job if she stayed at the hospital.

Despite the dire circumstances, Hughes chose to stay with her son in the NICU. The story gained widespread attention on social media, with many expressing outrage and vowing to boycott Kyte Baby. TikTok creator Maura Powers posted a video with nearly two million views, urging others not to support the company. Users shared their own experiences with more supportive workplaces and called for solidarity with businesses that prioritize employee well-being.

Kyte Baby’s CEO, Ying Liu, responded to the growing backlash with two video apologies. In the first, Liu stated that the company treats biological and non-biological parents equally and expressed regret for how Hughes felt unsupported. Liu promised to find Hughes a position when she decided to return to work. However, the scripted apology received criticism for lacking sincerity.

In a second video, Liu admitted the initial apology wasn’t sincere and acknowledged the company’s insensitivity in denying Hughes’ request. Liu described the decision as “terrible” and admitted the lack of accommodation for Hughes’ situation. The company committed to making policy changes to prevent such incidents in the future, with details expected to be announced by February 1.

Marissa Hughes, who had experienced significant loss during her attempts to conceive, shared her challenging journey on a GoFundMe page. After undergoing various treatments, surgeries, and facing multiple miscarriages, she and her husband decided to adopt. Adoption had always been a desire for them, and despite the unexpected timeline, they embraced the opportunity. Baby Judah, born prematurely, became a symbol of hope for the couple, though facing significant health challenges.

As the story unfolds, Kyte Baby is under scrutiny not just for its initial decision but also for its handling of the apology. The incident highlights the importance of workplace policies that consider the unique circumstances of employees and the potential consequences for businesses that fail to do so. The widespread public response emphasizes the growing demand for companies to prioritize empathy and flexibility, especially when it comes to matters as sensitive as family and health crises.

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