Pune: EY India Responds After 26-Year-Old Employee’s Death Due to ‘Work Stress’,A Tragic Loss

Share This News

Pune: September 2024 – Ernst & Young (EY), one of the world’s leading accounting firms, has issued an official statement following the tragic death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, a Chartered Accountant (CA) from Kerala. The young professional, employed in EY’s Pune office, reportedly succumbed to work-related stress, according to claims made by her mother, Anita Augustine, in an email to EY India boss Rajiv Memani. The heartbreaking incident has sparked widespread concern over workplace stress and employee well-being.

Perayil was part of the Audit team at S R Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global. She had been with the firm for just four months, joining in March 2024, before her untimely passing in July 2024. In a public statement, EY expressed profound sorrow over the incident, describing the loss as “irreparable” and extending their deepest condolences to her family.

Company’s Statement and Response to Tragedy

“We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian’s tragic and untimely passing. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to her bereaved family,” read EY’s official statement. The company further added that they had provided all possible support to her family during this difficult time and would continue to offer assistance. “While no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have extended all the assistance we can and will continue to do so.”

EY acknowledged the importance of addressing the family’s concerns and hinted at future changes to improve workplace conditions. “We are taking the family’s correspondence seriously and are committed to continuously improving the well-being of our employees. The health and safety of our workforce are of utmost importance, and we are dedicated to creating a healthy work environment for our 100,000 people across EY member firms in India,” the statement concluded.

Mother’s Allegations and Call for Change

In a deeply emotional letter to Rajiv Memani, head of EY India, Perayil’s mother, Anita Augustine, raised serious concerns about the company’s work culture. She alleged that her daughter had been suffering from severe work-related stress due to an excessive workload and had complained of working late nights and weekends, with little opportunity for rest.

Augustine claimed that many of Anna’s colleagues had resigned due to similar work pressures, but her daughter was advised to “stick around and change everyone’s opinion about the team.” In one instance, an assistant manager reportedly called Anna late at night, requesting a task to be completed by morning, leaving her with minimal time to recover. When she expressed her discomfort, she was allegedly told, “You can work at night; that’s what we all do.”

Augustine called her daughter’s death a “wake-up call” for EY, urging the company to reflect on its internal work culture. “This is a time for the organisation to take meaningful steps to prioritise the health and wellness of its employees,” she wrote.

Health Concerns Leading Up to Tragic Death

Before her passing, Perayil had reportedly been experiencing symptoms of stress-related health issues. She had complained of chest constriction in the weeks leading to her death. A visit to a hospital in Pune revealed normal ECG results, with the cardiologist attributing her discomfort to a lack of sleep and poor eating habits. Antacids were prescribed, providing temporary relief to her and her family. Tragically, Perayil passed away on July 20, 2024.

Honoring a Promising Career

In honor of Anna Sebastian Perayil’s contributions and legacy, her LinkedIn account has been memorialized. Before joining EY as an Audit and Assurance Executive, she worked as an audit assistant at G Joseph & Associates for over two years. A graduate of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Perayil had more than three years of experience in taxation, statutory audits, and internal audits. Her professional achievements were complemented by her talent as a national-level debater.

Her last LinkedIn post was an update on her new position at EY: “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Audit and Assurance Executive at EY!”

This tragic incident has highlighted the importance of addressing workplace stress and ensuring the well-being of employees across industries.

Sancheti College
Care