In a heartbreaking incident, a 26-year-old woman employed at EY Pune, one of the Big Four accounting firms, tragically passed away, with her family citing unbearable work stress as the cause. The woman, Anna Sebastian Perayil, a newly qualified Chartered Accountant (CA) from Kerala, had joined the firm just four months ago, in March 2024. Her death, which occurred on July 20, has drawn significant attention to the demanding work culture in high-pressure corporate environments.
Perayil’s mother, Anita Augustine, devastated by the sudden loss of her daughter, has written a letter to EY India’s head, Rajiv Memani, accusing the firm of fostering a culture that “glorifies overwork.” The letter sheds light on the relentless pressure Perayil faced, highlighting how the workload pushed her to the brink, leading to severe physical and mental strain.
How Perayil reached Pune
After clearing her CA exams in 2023, Perayil was hired as an executive at EY Pune in March 2024. The young professional, eager to prove herself in her new role, worked tirelessly to meet the company’s high expectations. However, Augustine revealed that her daughter began experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness, and extreme stress soon after joining the firm. Despite these warning signs, Perayil believed that perseverance and hard work would help her succeed in the competitive corporate world.
According to Augustine, the departure of many employees due to the excessive workload worsened the situation for her daughter. Perayil’s manager, instead of addressing her concerns, reportedly urged her to “stick around and change everyone’s opinion about the team.” This relentless pressure soon took a heavy toll on the young woman’s health.
Perayil’s demanding work culture
Augustine shared disturbing details of the environment her daughter had to endure. “Her manager would reschedule meetings during cricket matches, and assign her work at the end of the day, further adding to her stress,” Augustine recalled. At one office party, a senior leader even joked that Perayil would face a tough time working under her manager. What started as a casual remark, however, soon became a grim reality for Perayil, who found herself overwhelmed by mounting tasks.
“She worked late into the night and even on weekends,” Augustine recounted. “Anna would often tell us about the overwhelming workload, especially the tasks assigned verbally beyond her official responsibilities. I would urge her not to take on such burdens, but the managers were relentless.”
One incident that particularly stands out is when Perayil’s assistant manager assigned her a task late at night, demanding it be completed by the next morning. Despite voicing her concerns about the impossible deadline, Perayil was met with a dismissive response: “You can work at night; that’s what we all do.”
A Mother’s painful account
In her letter to EY’s India head, Augustine painted a heartbreaking picture of her daughter’s final days. “Anna would return to her room utterly exhausted, sometimes collapsing on her bed without even changing her clothes. She was bombarded with messages asking for more reports, even after putting in her best efforts,” she wrote. Augustine explained that although her family advised her to quit, Perayil, determined to gain new exposure and learn, continued to endure the overwhelming pressure.
“Anna was a fighter. She was not someone who gave up easily,” Augustine said, emphasising her daughter’s determination to succeed in the competitive environment. However, as the pressure mounted, it became clear that even someone as resilient as Perayil could not withstand the strain.
The letter went on to accuse the firm of “glorifying overwork” and disregarding the well-being of its employees. Augustine pointed out that her daughter, being new to the “organisation, location, and language,” felt overwhelmed by both assigned and unassigned tasks. She also noted that the company’s values, which emphasise human rights and employee well-being, stood in stark contrast to the reality her daughter experienced.
Call for a change
Augustine’s plea to EY went beyond personal grief. She called for the company to reflect on its work culture and take meaningful steps to prioritise employee health and wellness. “It is time for EY to truly live by the values it professes. My daughter’s death should serve as a wake-up call for the firm,” Augustine urged.
She also expressed her deep disappointment with EY Pune’s response to her daughter’s passing. According to Augustine, the company’s employees did not attend Perayil’s funeral, which added to the family’s pain. “How can a company that speaks of values and human rights fail to show up for one of its own in their final moments?” she questioned.
Health scare and final days
Perayil’s struggles with work stress became evident in the weeks leading up to her death. She had been complaining of chest tightness, which prompted her family to take her to the hospital in Pune. Although her ECG was normal, the cardiologist attributed her symptoms to lack of sleep and late meals. He prescribed antacids, which reassured the family at the time that there was no serious underlying issue.
Tragically, just weeks later, Perayil passed away, leaving her family and colleagues devastated by the sudden loss.
EY’s response
In a statement following the incident, Ernst & Young (EY) expressed their condolences to Perayil’s family. “We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian’s tragic and untimely passing, and our deepest sympathies go to the bereaved family,” the company said. “Anna was a part of the Audit team at S R Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, for a brief period of four months. Her promising career was cut short in this tragic manner, and it is an irreparable loss for all of us.”
The firm also emphasised its commitment to employee well-being, stating, “We place the highest importance on the well-being of all employees and will continue to find ways to improve and provide a healthy workplace for our 100,000 people across EY member firms in India.”
What other corporate workers told Organiser
Perayil’s demise underscores a fundamental issue prevalent in today’s fast-paced corporate world. Whether it’s the IT sector, consultancy firms, BPOs, or media houses, employees often face immense pressure to perform. With the corporate mantra of “perform or perish,” young professionals, in particular, are driven to deliver results at any cost. While high salaries and attractive perks may seem appealing, they also come with the unspoken expectation of relentless productivity. This, in turn, has led to many individuals working beyond their limits, unaware of the toll on their physical and mental health.
One such example was recently brought to light by Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath, who, after suffering a stroke, revealed that the primary cause of his health crisis was a lack of sleep. His experience serves as a grim reminder of the silent dangers that overwork can pose.
Calls for introspection are now being made to corporate leaders regarding their employees’ well-being. In light of this, comments made by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, suggesting that the current generation should work 70 hours a week, have drawn widespread criticism. While such statements may reflect the expectations of success in competitive industries, they fail to consider the long-term impact on employees’ health.
Former employees of various consultancy firms have also spoken out about their experiences, shedding light on the harsh realities of corporate life. One ex-employee of Kearney, a global management consulting firm, recounted how his family life suffered due to his nearly 20-hour workdays. Frequent travel to Dubai added to the mental and physical strain, and despite being provided with top-tier amenities, the fatigue became unbearable, leading him to ultimately resign.
Pragya, an ex-employee of Deloitte, shared her own struggles with graveyard shifts, which often extended beyond 16 hours. While the salary and office environment were decent, the long screen hours and intense workload severely impacted her health.
Similarly, Rajan Narayan Agarwal, a former employee of Infosys, recounted the pressure he faced both before and after the pandemic. With remote work blurring the boundaries between personal and professional life, he found himself working late into the night, dealing with projects and clients across different time zones. He noted how the pressure, combined with underlying mental health issues, often pushed employees to the brink.
Another distressing account comes from a former banker who was caught up in office politics. Despite her strong connections, she was framed in a fake bribery case, leading to significant mental health struggles. She recounted how her refusal to participate in corrupt practices made her a target, exacerbating her anxiety and leading to a mental health crisis.
What the wellness coach told Organiser
Wellness coach Dhankunwar Meena also shared insights into the mental toll that workplace politics can have on employees. She described the case of a highly skilled MNC employee in Kolkata who, despite his academic brilliance, struggled to manage work due to a lack of multi-tasking skills and personal relationship management skills. The pressure of office politics, lack of recognition, and personal issues severely impacted his mental health, further highlighting the need for emotional resilience in today’s work culture.
In response to these growing concerns, experts have called for better people-management skills and emotional intelligence training to help employees cope with workplace pressures. They emphasise the importance of maintaining personal boundaries, managing expectations, and finding healthy outlets for stress. Developing a “tough skin” and learning to navigate the often harsh realities of corporate life are critical for long-term survival.
Centre’s response
The Centre announced on September 19 that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 26-year-old chartered accountant working with Ernst and Young India, amid allegations of excessive work pressure. The incident sparked widespread outrage on social media after a heartbreaking letter from the Pune woman’s mother, addressed to the head of Ernst & Young India, went viral.
Minister of State for Labour, Shobha Karandlaje, confirmed that a detailed investigation into claims of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil. We are committed to ensuring justice, and the Labour Ministry has formally taken up the complaint,” Karandlaje wrote in a post on X.
As the conversation around corporate work culture intensifies, Anna Perayil’s story serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of excessive work pressure.
The heartbreaking letter from the mother of the 26-year-old woman should serve as a wake-up call for corporate leaders everywhere. It reminds us that human life is precious, and even machines need rest after a point. In the race for success, no amount of money can replace the toll that prolonged stress takes on both physical and mental health.
As the debate around work culture intensifies, it is becoming increasingly clear that without meaningful change, more young professionals could be at risk. It is high time for corporations to reconsider their approach, prioritise employee well-being, and recognise that a healthy workforce is the foundation of sustainable success.
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