Kyte Baby Faces Backlash for Denying Employee's Remote Work Request

CEO Ying Liu apologizes and promises to review family-leave policy after employee Marissa Hughes was forced to choose between her job and caring for her adopted premature baby.

Marissa Hughes, an employee of baby clothing brand Kyte Baby, was denied her request to work remotely from the hospital while caring for her adopted premature baby, leading to a customer boycott and widespread criticism of the company.
Hughes and her husband adopted a baby boy, Judah, who was born prematurely and required extended care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Kyte Baby initially offered Hughes two weeks of paid leave but denied her request to work remotely from the NICU thereafter, leading to her decision to stay with her baby and give up her job.
Kyte Baby CEO Ying Liu has since issued two video apologies, admitting that the decision to deny Hughes' request was 'terrible' and promising to review the company's family-leave policy.
Despite the controversy, it is unclear whether Hughes plans to return to Kyte Baby. Her son is still in the NICU and isn't expected to come home until March or April.