Wed Sep 18 03:10:20 UTC 2024: ## EY Pune Employee Dies After Four Months, Mother Blames Work Stress
**Pune, India** – A 26-year-old Chartered Accountant, Anna Sebastian Perayil, passed away on July 20th after working for just four months at EY Pune. Her mother, Anita Augustine, has publicly accused the company of contributing to her daughter’s death due to an overwhelming workload and a toxic work environment.
Perayil, who joined EY in March 2024, was described as a dedicated employee who worked tirelessly to meet expectations. However, the pressure of her role, coupled with excessive workload and unreasonable demands from her managers, began taking a toll on her physical and mental health. She reportedly experienced anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress, with her mother stating that she was often assigned tasks late at night with deadlines the next morning.
Augustine claims that her daughter’s managers were dismissive of her concerns, even joking about the difficulty of working under them. She also highlighted instances of verbal assignments outside of regular work hours, leading to late nights and weekend work with little opportunity for rest.
In a scathing email addressed to EY India’s head, Rajiv Memani, Augustine criticized the company’s culture of “glorifying overwork” and accused them of failing to live up to their stated human rights values. She expressed disappointment at the lack of support from the company, particularly the absence of EY Pune employees at her daughter’s funeral.
The exact cause of Perayil’s death is yet to be confirmed, but her mother reports she had been experiencing chest pain in the weeks leading up to her passing. The hospital attributed these symptoms to lack of sleep and late-night eating, and prescribed antacids.
EY has not yet issued a statement regarding Perayil’s death or her mother’s allegations. The incident raises concerns about workplace stress and the need for companies to prioritize employee well-being and create a culture that supports a healthy work-life balance.
First Piper 