EY employee death: Anna's family alleges 'unofficial work, pressure to resign'; probe launched

The tragic death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, a former employee at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune, has ignited a national conversation about excessive work pressure in corporate India. Anna’s parents, Anita Augustine and Sibi Joseph, have accused the company of subjecting their daughter to a backbreaking workload, which they believe led to her death in July 2024. In a letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, and an exclusive disclosure to Republic, Anna's parents outlined the severe pressures their daughter faced at work.

According to her mother, Anna’s workload was "inhumane," causing both her physical and mental health to deteriorate. She returned home late at night, often exhausted, only to be assigned more tasks, some of which were allegedly not part of her official duties. 

Speaking to Republic, Anna's parents claimed that the firm's managers would prioritise personal activities, such as watching cricket matches, delaying meetings and further burdening their daughter. Additionally, the company allegedly pressured her to resign rather than addressing her concerns about the overwhelming workload.

Anna was forced to work tirelessly without weekends off, reaching home late, and falling into bed exhausted, indicating a severe imbalance between work and personal life, her parents told Republic.

Anna's parents also pointed out the lack of support from her colleagues, noting that none of them attended her funeral. They raised concerns about EY’s neglect of employee well-being, claiming the company did not offer adequate mental health support and imposed unreasonable demands on workers.

The case has drawn attention at the national level, prompting the Union Ministry of Labour to launch an investigation into the allegations. Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje stated that a thorough inquiry would be conducted, stressing the importance of employee safety. This move followed a public appeal by BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who urged the government to investigate the claims of an unsafe and exploitative work culture.

In response, EY expressed deep sorrow over Anna’s death and vowed to take the family’s complaints seriously. They reiterated their commitment to improving their work environment and ensuring the well-being of their employees.