Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old chartered accountant from Kerala, India, tragically passed away of cardiac arrest just four months after starting her role at multinational firm Ernst & Young (EY). Her death has sparked concerns about the company’s workplace practices, with her mother, Anita Augustine, attributing the loss to ‘work stress’ at EY. In a heartfelt email to EY’s India chief, Rajiv Memani, Anita expressed her deep anguish over the circumstances leading to her daughter’s untimely death.
“Anna was always a fighter, from childhood through her academic years, where she excelled in everything she did. She was a school topper, and a college topper, excelled in extracurricular activities, and passed her CA exams with distinction. She worked tirelessly at EY, giving her all to meet the demands placed on her,” she writes in the letter.
Adding further, she stated “Burdening newcomers with such backbreaking work, making them work day and night, even on Sundays, has no justification whatsoever. She had just left her hometown and loved ones. Everything was new to her—the organization, the place, the language—and she was trying very hard to adjust. You should show some consideration to new employees. Instead, the management took full advantage of the fact that she was new and overwhelmed her with both assigned and unassigned work.”
Anita wrote that Anna had excelled academically and was excited to begin her career, but the intense workload, long hours, and high expectations led to severe stress and health issues. Despite her struggles, she pushed herself to meet demands, ultimately to her detriment.
Anita recounts how Anna, even during her CA Convocation, was unable to enjoy the moment due to work pressures. She highlights a troubling work culture at EY that prioritizes productivity over employee well-being, calling for systemic changes to prevent future tragedies. Anita criticizes the lack of support and empathy from Anna’s managers and the company, noting that no one from EY attended her funeral. She urges EY to reflect on its values and take meaningful steps to ensure the health and safety of its employees, hoping her daughter’s story will lead to necessary changes in the workplace environment.