A 26-year-old EY Pune employee tragically lost her life, reportedly due to ‘work stress,’ just four months after joining the company. Her mother, Anita Augustine, has since written a letter to the company’s India head, accusing the firm of fostering a culture that “glorifies overwork.”
The employee, Anna Sebastian Perayil, a Chartered Accountant from Kerala, had cleared her CA exams in 2023 and joined EY Pune in March 2024. Within a short period, she was allegedly overburdened with an excessive workload, leading to her untimely death. Perayil’s mother shared that despite her daughter’s physical, mental, and emotional struggles, she continued to push herself, believing in hard work and perseverance as the key to success.
According to her mother, the work environment was extremely demanding, with many employees resigning due to the intense workload. Perayil was reportedly advised by her manager to stay on and “change everyone’s opinion” about the team. The work culture, as described by her mother, involved rescheduled meetings during cricket matches and late-night tasks that further exacerbated her stress.
Augustine revealed that Perayil often worked late into the night, even on weekends, completing tasks assigned verbally outside her official work hours. She recounted an incident where her daughter was given an assignment late at night, with a deadline for the next morning. When Perayil expressed concerns, she was reportedly told, “You can work at night; that’s what we all do.”
Her mother painted a picture of a young woman trying to navigate her new job while being overwhelmed by the workload. Despite her family urging her to quit, Perayil was determined to learn and grow in her role. Unfortunately, the pressure proved too much, and Perayil passed away on July 20, 2024. Her mother highlighted the contrast between the company’s human rights values and her daughter’s experience, questioning how the firm could claim to uphold such principles.
The letter also pointed out that EY employees did not attend Perayil’s funeral, which Augustine found deeply hurtful. Despite reaching out to her daughter’s managers afterward, she received no response.
In response, EY India expressed sorrow over Perayil’s death, stating, “We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian’s tragic and untimely passing, and our deepest condolences go to her family.” The company emphasized its commitment to employee well-being and expressed its intention to improve workplace conditions for its staff across India.
