‘Nobody from EY even attended her funeral’ - Heavy Workload Claims Life of Employee

The tragic death of a young Indian employee at Ernst & Young (EY) has ignited a serious debate about workplace culture and employee well-being.

In July 2024, just four months after joining the firm, 26-year-old chartered accountant Anna Sebastian Perayil from Pune passed away. Her parents attribute her death to the “overwhelming work pressure” at her new job.

A Mother’s Grief

Anita Augustine, mother of the late Perayil, asserts that her daughter’s death resulted from the overwhelming workload she faced at EY. In an emotional letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, Augustine shared the tragic transformation of her daughter’s dream career into a nightmare.

Perayil, a promising academic and dedicated professional, joined EY Pune in March 2024, but her initial excitement quickly faded as responsibilities increased. Augustine noted that Perayil often received late assignments, forcing her into a cycle of overtime and weekend work, which took a toll on her health.

Despite her inexperience, Perayil was pressured by her manager to remain and improve the team’s image amid a high turnover rate in the team attributed to excessive demands. Bombarded with excessive work to the point where she would return to her room and collapse into bed without even changing her clothes, Perayil paid for this responsibility with her life.

Company Response and Accountability

EY denied the allegation that workload was the cause of Perayil’s death, stating that she was assigned work like any other employee and does not believe that work pressure could have led to her death.

“We have around one lakh employees. There is no doubt each one has to work hard. Anna worked with us only for four months. She was allotted work like any other employee. We don’t believe that work pressure could have claimed her life…” Memani informed.

Readers felt that the statement was denouncing the mother’s pain, as it starkly contrasted what was allegedly emailed to employees in the firm, stating taking the mother’s letter ‘with utmost humility.’

Chairman’s e-mail to Employees, via Reddit

Many were troubled by the idea that if the same work conditions that Perayil died from was what every employee was already facing, they would be met with the same fate.

Despite their condolences, no representatives from EY had attended Perayil’s funeral. This deepened the family’s distress and raised additional concerns about the company’s commitment to employee welfare.

Government Intervention

The EY office that Perayil worked at has reportedly been operating since 2007. Investigations revealed the office lacked the necessary operational permit. Maharashtra’s additional labour commissioner, Shailendra Pol, found that EY applied for registration only in February 2024, which was denied due to the company’s failure to apply since its opening.

The law mandates that adult employees work no more than nine hours a day and 48 hours a week. Any incident causing serious injury or death could result in up to six months in prison or a fine of 500,000 rupees, or both.

Extreme Work Hours

Gruelling work hours are not uncommon in Indian firms. After news of Perayil’s death spread, former employees took to social media to share their experiences.

X user @/arey_jainsaab shared his previous experience with Deloitte, another one of the Big 4s.

Husband of a former employee at EY shared his wife’s experience of toxic work culture at the firm.

Reports indicate that Indian women have the longest average work hours globally, at 55 hours per week. Data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) shows that women in IT and journalism work an average of 56.5 hours weekly, while those in professional and technical jobs report around 53.2 hours. The situation is even worse for younger women, with those aged 15-24 in IT and media averaging 57 hours weekly.

Indian women in technical and communication fields face the longest working hours in the world, compared to just 32 hours for women in Germany and 40 hours in Russia.

Following Perayil’s tragic death in July, there has been a considerable backlash against EY. Many in the industry have recounted similar experiences, highlighting a culture that often glorifies overwork. Reports indicate that employees frequently endure 12 to 16-hour days with little time off, even on weekends.

Read Augustine’s full letter here: