EY India ‘sad’ after employee dies due to work stress; netizens say ‘capitalism lives because workers die’

Ernst & Young (EY), one of the big four accounting firms, has issued a statement on the tragic death of its 26-year-old employee Anna Sebastian Perayil from Pune.

Anna, a chartered accountant from Kerala, was part of the audit team at SR Batliboi. Perayil had worked at EY's Pune office for four months before her death. The deceased young woman's mother had sent an email to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani denouncing the “glorification” of overwork at the multinational consulting firm.

Also read: SEBI employees complain to government about ‘toxic work culture’, say ‘public humiliation’ is the norm at meetings: Report

The company's statement said, “Anna was part of the audit team at SR Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, in Pune for a short period of four months and joined the firm on March 18, 2024. That her promising career has been cut short in this tragic manner is an irreparable loss for all of us. While nothing can compensate for the family's loss, we have provided her with every support as we always do in such times of need and will continue to do so.”

“Typical reaction of a company”

Meanwhile, the reactions have sparked reactions on social media. One user wrote in a post on X: “The news from Pune about the EY employee is so devastating. But to get an idea of ​​the toxicity of a single face in the Big 4 is not surprising. Senior staff make the company culture so bad and difficult. You give day and night and they are still unhappy.”

Another said: “26-year-old EY employee from Pune succumbs to 'work stress' 4 months after joining the company. Mother writes to the company's Indian boss. We need laws that protect people from bosses like Narayana Murthy who think their employees are slaves.”

Also read: Finding peace in a toxic work environment

One user pointed out, “Capitalism lives because workers die. A 26-year-old EY employee from Pune died due to work stress. No one from the company attended her funeral.”

“A typical corporate response to the EY episode would not be to improve their work culture, but to check the health of employees to make sure they are fit enough to be exploited,” said one user.

Another user commented, “EY PUNE or any other company should focus on creating a pleasant environment and not a toxic one. Government should make some changes in the policies like 8 hours working hours, employees should have at least two days off in a week.”

“EY Pune employee died due to work-related stress. This is a wake-up call for all companies and the government to prioritize mental health and work-life balance. No job is worth more than a life,” wrote one user.

The incident came to light when the CA's mother wrote a letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani about her daughter's death. In her poignant message, she also mentioned that no EY representatives attended the funeral.

Steps to combat toxic work culture in India

In India, there are several ways to report a toxic work culture:

1. Report to the employer or the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC): If your company has an ICC, you can report the problem directly to them. If the harassment continues or the employer does not take action, you can file a formal complaint with the ICC.

2. File a complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Employment: You can file a complaint either online through the CPGRAMS portal or in person.

3. File a police complaint: If you have sufficient evidence, you can file a police complaint. In serious cases, you can also file a civil suit or a criminal complaint under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.