Tue Sep 17 21:10:26 UTC 2024: ## Young EY Pune Employee Dies After Months of Overwork, Family Blames Company Culture

A 26-year-old chartered accountant, Anna Sebastian Perayil, passed away just four months after joining EY Pune, a Big Four accounting firm. Her mother, Anita Augustine, has publicly blamed her daughter’s death on the company’s overwhelming workload and has accused EY of failing to support their employee even in her final moments.

Perayil, who had recently passed her chartered accountant exams, was excited to start her career at EY. However, her mother described a rapid decline in her daughter’s well-being, with Perayil experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress due to the demanding work environment. Despite her family’s pleas to quit, Perayil felt pressure to succeed and continued pushing herself.

According to Augustine, Perayil consistently worked late nights and weekends, often completing last-minute assignments from her manager. Her mother claimed that Perayil confided in her about the overwhelming workload, particularly the verbal tasks assigned beyond her official duties. Augustine said she encouraged her daughter to push back but that her manager insisted on the extra work, even telling her, “You can work at night; that’s what we all do.”

Tragically, Perayil’s colleagues did not attend her funeral, and her managers did not respond to Augustine’s attempts to reach out after her daughter’s death. Augustine has penned an open letter to EY’s chairman, Rajiv Memani, pleading with him to reflect on the company’s work culture and prioritize the well-being of employees.

“How can a company that speaks of values and human rights fail to show up for one of its own in their final moments?” Augustine asked.

While the cause of Perayil’s death is unclear, her mother stated that she had been complaining of chest pain weeks before her passing. Despite an initial visit to the hospital, Perayil was sent home with antacids after a normal ECG and was advised to sleep more and stop eating late.

Augustine’s plea for change highlights the growing concern surrounding workplace stress and burnout. Her letter concludes with a powerful message: “I hope my child’s experience leads to real change so that no other family has to endure the grief and trauma we are going through. My Anna is no longer with us, but her story can still make a difference.”

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