Talk about an awkward mix-up. When Stripe, the online payments giant, announced layoffs this week, some employees received an unexpected surprise in their termination emails: a cheerful cartoon duck.

The company confirmed it accidentally attached the image of a yellow duck to messages sent to about 300 employees, or 3.5% of its global workforce. To make matters worse, some of those emails also had incorrect termination dates.

Stripe’s Chief People Officer, Rob McIntosh, addressed the blunder in a memo, apologizing for the error and clarifying that corrected emails were sent out afterward.

The incident, first reported by Business Insider, adds a strange twist to what’s already a difficult moment for those affected. Stripe explained the layoffs are part of its annual review and plans for growth, with the company aiming to expand its workforce to 10,000 employees by year-end.

This isn’t the first time Stripe has reduced its staff. In 2022, it let go of about 14% of its workers during a wave of tech layoffs. This time, though, it’s the quirky duck that’s stealing the spotlight.

It’s a reminder that even in tough times, a little humor—or an accidental cartoon—can find its way in.