(Image source from: AFP)
The Union Labour Ministry has taken up a complaint and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of a 26-year-old chartered accountant, Anna Sebastian Perayil, who allegedly died due to work stress while employed at Ernst and Young India. The Minister of State for Labour, Shobha Karandlaje, expressed deep sorrow over the loss and stated that a thorough investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway. Anna's mother, Anita Augustine, wrote to the Ernst & Young India chairman, Rajiv Memani, saying her daughter died just four months after joining the company and calling for a change in the work culture that "seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human being behind the role".
The grieving mother recounted the story of her daughter, Anna Sebastian Perayil, who was a brilliant student and had just started her career at a reputable firm. Tragically, Anna passed away at the young age of 26, leaving her family shattered. The mother explained that they had traveled to Pune for Anna's chartered accountancy convocation, and during this trip, Anna had been experiencing chest discomfort. They took her to the hospital, where the doctors assured them that the issue was likely due to lack of sleep and irregular eating habits. However, just a few weeks later, the mother received the devastating news of Anna's passing.
Despite traveling from Kochi, she insisted on going to work after seeing the doctor, stating that there was much work to be done and she would not be granted leave. That night, she returned to her PG late once more. On Sunday, July 7th, the day of her graduation ceremony, she wrote.
The text describes how Anna's daughter had the dream of inviting her parents to her graduation ceremony using her own earnings. She booked their flights, but during the trip, Anna could not fully enjoy the time with her child due to the overwhelming work demands. Anna often worked late into the night, even on weekends, with little opportunity to rest. Her assistant manager would give her additional tasks at the last minute, leaving her with barely any time to recover. When Anna expressed her concerns, she was told that working late was expected of everyone. Anna would return to her room completely exhausted, sometimes falling asleep without even changing her clothes, only to receive more requests for reports. Despite this, Anna continued to work diligently to meet the deadlines, as she was a determined individual who did not easily give up. Her parents urged her to quit, but she wanted to keep learning and gain new experiences.
The family expressed deep hurt that no one from the organization attended Anna's funeral. They stated that this absence during such a critical moment, for an employee who dedicated herself fully to the organization until her last breath, was deeply hurtful. The family hoped that Anna's experience would lead to real change. Ernst & Young India acknowledged that they were deeply saddened by Anna's tragic and untimely passing, and said they were taking the family's correspondence with the utmost seriousness and humility. They noted that Anna was part of their Audit team for a brief period of four months, and that her promising career being cut short in this manner was an irreparable loss for all.
The statement said they have consistently offered support in difficult situations and will persist in doing so. "We take communication with the family very seriously and approach it with humility. The health of all our employees is of paramount importance and we are committed to ensuring a healthy workplace for all 100,000 employees across all EY member firms, creating opportunities to improve and deliver more products in India”.
