Indians are seen as donkeys: Bengaluru engineer raises alarm about 'toxic' corporate culture after death of EY employee

A Bengaluru-based engineer has shed light on the grueling work environment at multinational corporations, particularly Ernst & Young (EY), following the tragic death of 26-year-old EY employee Anna Sebastian. In a LinkedIn post, Aakash Venkatasubramanian recounted his wife's harrowing experience at EY and revealed that she had to quit due to the company's “toxic work culture” that required up to 18-hour work days.

Technician uncovers toxic work culture at EY

Venkatasubramanian's post came just days after the death of Anna Sebastian, which her family attributes to the immense pressure and long working hours she endured during her time at the firm. Expressing gratitude that his wife had left EY, he said: “If she hadn't quit, I don't know what would have happened to her.” His comments underscore growing concerns about the normalisation of long working hours, particularly in India, where many multinational corporations (MNCs) expect their employees to work in extreme conditions.

The engineer condemned the double standards of these corporations, claiming, “The irony is that the same multinationals would not do this outside India.” He further said that Indian workers are often seen as expendable, comparing them to “donkeys given work” in a country that is considered a “factory that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.” He also criticised the lack of intervention by the Indian government, stating, “The government does not help taxpayers when they are laid off, but is happy to collect taxes while neglecting basic working conditions.”

Anna Sebastian's story

The tragic case of Anna Sebastian has heightened the debate around work culture in Indian companies. Anna's mother, Anita Augustine, has openly blamed EY for her daughter's death in a letter to Rajiv Memani, CEO of EY India. According to Anita, her daughter, who had just passed her Chartered Accountant (CA) exam, started working at EY's Pune office in March 2024, but soon found herself under unbearable pressure. Despite her family's warnings to quit, Anna continued to strain herself and work nights and weekends, which led to severe anxiety, insomnia and ultimately her death.

Anna's mother stressed that her daughter's enthusiasm for her first job quickly turned into exhaustion and stress. She also criticized EY for not attending Anna's funeral, saying that the company had shown little concern for her daughter's well-being. “Nobody from EY came to her funeral,” she complained.

Company response and investigation

Responding to these allegations, Rajiv Memani expressed his regret and said he deeply understood the agony of Anna's family. In a statement, he added, “As a father, I sympathise with the pain of losing a child and I extend my deepest condolences to Anna's family.” Memani also vowed to take steps to ensure a healthier work environment at the company, saying, “I will not rest until we achieve a harmonious work environment.” The Union Labour Ministry has since launched an investigation into Anna Sebastian's death, with Minister of State for Labour Shobha Karandlaje confirming that they are looking into allegations of unsafe working conditions at EY. Venkatasubramanian's post reflects the growing call for reforms in India's corporate world. He urged the government to prevent further tragedies by putting in place safeguards for workers who face extreme demands. “May this be the last death,” he wrote, calling for new laws to protect workers from overwork and provide support in the event of layoffs.

Anna's tragic story has brought to the forefront a much-needed discussion about worker exploitation and the urgent need for change in India's corporate sector.