The mother of a 26-year-old employee at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune, India, has claimed that her daughter’s death was caused by “excessive workload” and relentless work pressure.
Anna Sebastian Perayil, a chartered accountant who joined the firm in March 2024, died just four months later in July, Hindustan Times reported. Her mother, Anita Augustine, wrote an open letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, detailing the impact of the work demands on her daughter’s health.
In the letter, Augustine said, “Anna was thrilled to start her first job at EY, but the workload was overwhelming.” She explained that her daughter regularly worked late nights and weekends, returning home exhausted, only to face more backbreaking tasks the next day.
Anna’s death, according to her mother, was the result of extreme work pressure exacerbated by her manager’s lack of empathy. “Anna’s manager frequently assigned extra tasks at the end of her shift, forcing her to work overtime, sometimes even on Sundays,” the letter claimed. These additional duties were often given verbally, further adding to the stress Anna experienced.
‘Paid with her life’
“Anna was a school and college topper, passed her CA exams with distinction, and was a hard worker,” Augustine wrote. “But the workload, new environment, and long hours took a toll on her physically, emotionally, and mentally.” She added that Anna, who had relocated to Pune for the job, struggled to adjust to a new city where she knew neither the people nor the language.
The letter also highlighted that Anna’s managers failed to attend her funeral, which her mother described as heartbreaking. “No one from EY showed up at her funeral,” Augustine said. “How can a company that speaks of values and human rights fail to show up for one of its own in their final moments?”
Augustine urged EY to reflect on the work culture that, she said, glorifies overwork at the expense of employees’ well-being. "I hope my child's experience leads to real change so that no other family has to endure this grief," she concluded.
EY responds
In response to the viral letter, Ernst & Young released a statement expressing sorrow over Anna’s death. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic and untimely passing of Anna Sebastian in July 2024, and our deepest condolences go to the bereaved family,” the company said.
EY acknowledged that Anna was part of the audit team at SR Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global in Pune. “We place the highest importance on the well-being of all employees and will continue to find ways to provide a healthy workplace,” the statement added.
Interest in Anna Sebastian's case has spiked online, with search queries on her name increasing since mid-September, particularly from Kerala, Karnataka, and Puducherry.
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