26-year-old E&Y CA dies due to ‘work pressure’, Mother writes to firm

Recently a 26-year-old employee of the leading multinational company Ernst & Young, Pune died due to "excessive workload", as her mother mentioned in a heartbreaking letter that has gone viral on X.

Anna Sebastian Perayil, a chartered accountant from Kerala, joined the company in March and her mother blamed "four months of EY's callous attitude" as the reason for her death.

Employees have a life beyond work that often companies tend to forget. Just four months after joining Ernst & Young (EY), a young woman passed away. In the letter to Ernst & Young India’s Chairman, Rajiv Memani, Anna’s mother, Anita Augustine accused the overwhelming workload at the workplace as the cause of her daughter’s death.

The work stress affected Anna’s health soon after she joined the firm as she began experiencing anxiety and insomnia.

In the letter addressed to the Ernst & Young chairman, Augustine also mentioned that nobody from the company even attended her daughter's funeral.

Working ‘tirelessly’ at the company took a toll on her health

EY was Anna's first job and the young CA was "thrilled" to join the company. Describing her daughter as a "fighter", Augustine remarked that Anna had topped all her examinations in school as well as college, and worked "tirelessly" at EY, "giving her all to meet the demands placed on her".

"However, the workload, new environment and long hours took a toll on her physically, emotionally and mentally," the mother revealed, adding that Anna soon began experiencing work stress with sleepless nights, and anxiety.

"But, she kept pushing herself, believing that hard work and perseverance were the keys to success," Augustine wrote in the letter.

"On Saturday, July 6, my husband and I reached Pune to attend Anna's CA Convocation. Since she had been complaining of chest constriction upon reaching her PG late at night (around 1 am) for the past week, we took her to the hospital in Pune. Her ECG was normal, and the cardiologist came to allay our fears, telling us she wasn't getting enough sleep and was eating very late. He prescribed antacids, which reassured us that it wasn't anything serious. Though we had come all the way from Kochi, she insisted on going to work after seeing the doctor, saying there was a lot of work to be done and she wouldn't get leave," she disclosed.

"That night, she returned to her PG late again. On Sunday, July 7, the day of her convocation, she joined us in the morning, but she was working from home even that day until the afternoon, and we reached the convocation venue late," the mother added.

It was Anna's "great dream" to take her parents to her convocation with her "own hard-earned money". The 26-year-old even booked their flight tickets but couldn't make the most of the moment because of "work pressure."

Her mother further stated that Anna would often return home "utterly exhausted", "sometimes collapsing on the bed without even changing her clothes."

Her managers were "relentless," as Augustine mentioned, and made Anna work late nights even on weekends. When she communicated her concerns to the manager, the mother claimed her daughter was told: "You can work at night. That's what we all do."

Anita Augustine’s letter should be an eye-opener for corporates

"I wish I had been able to protect her, to tell her that her health and well-being mattered more than anything else. But it is too late for my Anna."

Her death should "serve as a wake-up call for EY," Augustine wrote, adding a stern message for the chairman: "I hope this letter reaches you with the gravity it deserves."

With the help of her letter, Anita Augustine wanted to spread awareness about work stress, saying: "I hope my child's experience leads to real change so that no other family has to endure the grief and trauma we are going through."

EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani has addressed the incident. The email, marked "do not forward," has leaked and is circulating on social media platforms, bringing renewed attention to the incident.

Addressing the tragic death of 26-year-old employee Anna Sebastian in a company-wide email, Memani stated, "During the difficult period following her passing, the firm was in regular contact with members of her family." He added, "While we acknowledge that no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have provided all the assistance as we always do in such times of distress while respecting the family's privacy and preferences."

The chairman emphasized EY's commitment to employee well-being, saying, "I would like to reaffirm to all of you that our firm places the highest importance on the health and well-being of our people, and we will recommit ourselves to providing a supportive, healthy, and balanced work environment to you all."

Memani even delineated plans to create an ongoing dialogue to build a healthier workplace, by using well-being programs, and establish new avenues for feedback on workplace practices. He persuaded employees to reach out to team leaders and support networks when facing work stress, assuring them, "When you speak up, you will be heard with empathy and understanding."

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Reportedly, the Union junior minister for Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje has ordered an investigation into the death of Anna Sebastian Perayil.

Posting on X, Karandlaje wrote: “Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil. A thorough investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway. We are committed to ensuring justice, and the @LabourMinistry has officially taken up the complaint.”

She has also tagged the Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in her post.

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