The death of a 26-year-old chartered accountant with Ernst and Young India, allegedly due to excessive work pressure, has prompted massive outrage on social media, particularly after a gut-wrenching letter written by the Pune woman’s mother to the head of EY India went viral. Minister of state for labour Shobha Karandlaje has said that a thorough investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment was underway.
Now, an email by EY India chairman Rajiv Memani to the company’s staff on the death of Anna Sebastian Perayil has surfaced, in which he has pointed out that several messages regarding the firm have been circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
“These pertain to the tragic passing away of Anna Sebastian on 20 July 2024, who joined us in our Assurance team in Pune on 18 March 2024, The fact that her journey with the firm was so short-lived – only four months – makes this tragedy even more poignant for all of us,” says the communication.
Memani says that following Anna’s death, the firm was in regular contact with her family. “While we acknowledge that 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 while respecting the family’s privacy and preferences,” the email says. “Though no words can comfort a grieving family, I have personally expressed my condolences and have shared my deepest regret for their irreparable loss. I received an anguished e-mail from Anna’s mother and have taken note of her message with utmost seriousness and humility.”
In the letter, the mother urged the company to rectify a work culture that “seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human beings behind the role” and said she hoped her daughter’s death would serve as a wake-up call.
“She was full of life, dreams, and excitement for the future. EY was her first job, and she was thrilled to be part of such a prestigious company. But four months later, on July 20th, 2024, my world collapsed when I received the devastating news that Anna had passed away. She was just 26 years old,” Anita Augustine, the mother of Anna Sebastian Perayil, wrote in her letter. She also mentioned that no one from the organisation even attended the funeral.
In his email to the staff, Memani says, “I would like to reaffirm to all of you that our firm places the highest importance on the health and well-being of our people, and we will recommit ourselves to providing a supportive, healthy, and balanced work environment to you all. I would like to make this an ongoing dialogue with you to ensure we are continually building a healthy workplace for everyone.”
The email underscores that the company has several well-being programmes and open channels of communication to ensure that employees always have a safe space to voice their concerns anonymously, including through the Speak Up forum and Ethics Hotline, while promising to create more such avenues.
“If you ever face challenges or need guidance, I will strongly encourage you to please reach out to your team leaders, members of the talent team and your support network across the firm. I would like to personally assure you that when you speak up, you will be heard with empathy and understanding. If there are any suggestions that you have, please don’t hesitate to let me know,” Memani writes. “In the meantime, I urge you to handle this information with the utmost compassion and sensitivity.”
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