Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old employee of Ernst & Young (EY) company in Pune died due to “work stress.”
A 26-year-old employee of international consulting firm Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune died from an “overwhelming workload,” according to her mother. Anna Sebastian Perayil had just been a chartered accountant at EY for four months when she died of work-related stress, according to her mother, Anita Augustine, in a letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani.
Anna Sebastian Perayil’s mother wrote in her letter that Ernst & Young was her daughter’s first employment and she was excited to join the company. Within four months, she succumbed to “excessive workload.”
According to the letter, Anna worked late at night and on weekends, returned to her paid guest accommodation most days, and was burdened with “backbreaking work” as a rookie. Anna’s mother said in her tragic letter that no one from Ernst & Young attended her burial.
Anna Sebastian Perayil Story
“Anna was a great student at school and college, excelled in extracurricular activities, and passed her CA exams with distinction. She worked relentlessly at EY, giving her all to satisfy the demands made of her. However, the workload, new atmosphere, and long hours took their toll on her physically, emotionally, and mentally,” Anita Augustine wrote in her letter to EY India’s chairman.
She added that Anna started working for EY Pune on March 19, 2024. She died on July 20, only four months later.
The team I joined at EY had numerous employees who had already resigned owing to an excessive workload. “The team manager advised her, ‘Anna, you must stick around and improve everyone’s perception of our team.’ My child had no idea she’d pay for it with her life,” her mother said, adding that the corporation and her manager showed little regard for a new employee who had moved away from her hometown and was struggling to settle in a new place where she didn’t know the people or the language.
Work Stress is The Reason for the Death of EY Pune Employee
Anita Augustine expanded on Anna’s work stress at EY Pune. The young executive had a manager who frequently assigned her work near the end of her shift, requiring her to work overtime.
Not only that, but Anna frequently worked late into the night, even on Sundays. Her manager frequently rescheduled meetings, and she was given extra responsibilities that went above and beyond her job description. These assignments were given verbally.
“Anna confessed to us about her onerous schedule, particularly the verbal chores assigned in addition to her professional duties. I would advise her not to take on such jobs, but the supervisors were unrelenting. “She worked late into the night, even on weekends, with no time to catch her breath,” her mother explained.
As a result, the young employee would often reach her PG “utterly exhausted” and collapse into bed without even changing her clothes.
Her mother stated that she was regularly besieged with texts inquiring about this or that report. “We told her to quit, but she wanted to learn and gain new exposure. However, the overwhelming pressure proved too much even for her.”
“No one from EY attended Anna’s funeral”
Anna’s mother claimed that her superiors and colleagues did not bother to attend her funeral.
“No EY employees attended Anna’s burial… After her funeral, I contacted her managers but received no response. “How can a company that talks about values and human rights fail to support one of its own in their final moments?” her mother inquired.
She stated that her daughter’s death should act as a wake-up call to EY. Anna’s death exemplified a work culture that prioritizes productivity over health.
I’m writing to you now, Rajiv, because I feel EY bears a significant obligation to guarantee the well-being of its staff. Anna’s story shines light on a work culture that appears to promote overwork while ignoring the very humans who fill the roles.
“I hope my child’s tragedy inspires real change so that no other family has to go through the same pain and agony we had. “My Anna is no longer with us, but her story can still have an impact,” she said.