EY claims to make workplace ‘conducive’ after public outcry over 26-year-old CA’s death

EY issues statement: Ernst & Young on Wednesday issued a communique after growing public outcry, following the death of a 26-year-old Chartered Accountant Anna Sebastian Perayil in Pune due to alleged work pressure at the firm.  

The accounting and advisory services firm has claimed that it will make all possible efforts to make workplace environment conducive.  

“While 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 and will continue to do so,” EY said in its statement.

Anna Sebastian Perayil died due to alleged work pressure and her death took place four months after working at the EY Pune office.    

The mother of the deceased young woman sent an e-mail to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani expressing concern over the ‘glorification’ of overwork at the multinational consulting firm.

The EY statement further said, “We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian's tragic and untimely passing in July 2024, and our deepest condolences go to the bereaved family.”

“Anna was a part of the Audit team at S R Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, in Pune for a brief period of four months, joining the firm on 18 March 2024. That her promising career was cut short in this tragic manner is an irreparable loss for all of us,” the EY statement said.

Meanwhile, EY has hinted at making “possible changes” to create a rather conducive workplace environment.  

“We are taking the family’s correspondence with the utmost seriousness and humility. We place the highest importance on the well-being of all employees and will continue to find ways to improve and provide a healthy workplace for our 100,000 people across EY member firms in India,” the EY statement further added.