The owners of fashion brand Old Baby Shop say online harassment and a boycott have destroyed their business after dismissing an employee over a funeral.
Co-owner Ivan Lanskikh stated in a video on Instagram that all of their social media accounts have been blocked and their ratings on online mapping services have crashed, resulting in hundreds of millions of rubles in losses.
Lanskikh said that the worker, identified as Tamara, messaged him on a workday to inform him that her grandfather had died. He stated that he asked her when the death occurred and told her that if it had just happened, she should step outside the shop to address her personal matters.
The businessman added that he had no replacement staff available and was unable to leave the store himself during a busy shift serving multiple customers and brides.
Public Criticism and Business Collapse
Brand founder Anna explained in the video that the decision to dismiss the employee was based on a loss of trust and respect. She said she was working under a deadline to finish a wedding dress, meaning that if Tamara failed to report for work, Anna would have to cover the retail shift herself before sewing through the night.
Lanskikh questioned whether hundreds of millions of rubles in financial damage was an adequate response to what critics termed an unlawful termination, adding that he did not consider the public backlash fair.
Old Baby Shop is a fashion brand based in Russia that specializes in clothing and bridal wear. Online map reviews and social media boycotts are frequently used by consumers to target businesses involved in high-profile employment disputes.
Contradictory Claims Over Firing
In subsequent video stories, the brand owners later claimed that no dismissal had taken place. They stated that Tamara was immediately granted time off due to family circumstances along with a one-month paid vacation.
The statements followed a widespread boycott by Russian social media users after reports emerged that the employee was fired following the death of her grandfather.
