Indian-origin Microsoft Engineer, 35, Dies at California Campus, Family raises Concerns about Excessive Work Pressure
Indian-origin Microsoft Engineer, 35, Dies at California Campus, Family raises Concerns about Excessive Work Pressure
Family alleges overwork and late-night shifts behind heart attack; calls for tech firms to safeguard employee well-being
Pratik Pandey, a 35-year-old Indian-origin engineer at Microsoft, was found dead in the courtyard of the company’s Mountain View campus in California on August 20.
According to the Palo Alto Daily Post, Pandey had badged into the office around 7:50 pm on August 19 and was discovered face-down at 2 am.
An initial assessment by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner pointed to a heart attack. Community leader Satish Chandra, who is running for Santa Clara City Council, confirmed the preliminary findings.
Pandey’s uncle, Manoj Pandey, has raised concerns about excessive work pressure, stating that his nephew frequently worked late nights and long hours.
He urged major tech companies to track employee schedules more closely and to take steps to reduce work-related stress and anxiety.
Originally from India, Pandey migrated to the US in 2010 to pursue higher education, earning a master’s degree from San Jose State University. Before joining Microsoft in July 2020, he had worked at Apple, Illumina, and Walmart Labs. At Microsoft, he contributed to Microsoft Fabric, a data analytics platform positioned against rival Snowflake Inc.
The incident has reignited debate in Silicon Valley about the toll of overwork in the tech industry, with family and community leaders stressing the urgent need for reforms in employee welfare practices.
