Centre Probes Pune CA's Death Due To 'Work Stress'; Company Responds

The Union Labour Ministry has reportedly begun investigations in the case of a Pune woman who died of what her mother claims was "work stress". Anna Sebastian Perayil, who was an accountant at the multinational corporation, Ernst & Young (EY), had joined the company just four months ago. Following her death, her mother, Anita Augustine, sent an email to the organisation's India chairman, Rajiv Memani, blaming their overwhelming work environment. 

An excerpt of the email was posted on social media, which stirred outrage about the toxic yet common corporate culture across many firms in India. Union Minister of State for Labour Shobha Karandlaje said in a post on X that the Centre has taken up a complaint in Perayil's case. 

Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil. A thorough investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway. We are committed to ensuring justice & @LabourMinistry has officially taken up the complaint.@mansukhmandviya https://t.co/1apsOm594d

— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) September 19, 2024

Woman Dies Of Work Stress

Augustine said in her email to Rajiv Memani pointing out the gap between the company’s stated human rights values and her daughter's experience. The grieving mother said that her daughter worked tirelessly to meet her employers' expectations but the pressure took a toll on her health.

Augustine said that Perayil experienced anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress soon after starting work but kept pushing herself. She claimed that many employees resigned because of the workload, while Perayil's boss encouraged her to "stay and change everyone's opinion about the team."

Augustine wrote, "Her manager would often reschedule meetings during cricket matches and assign her work at the end of the day, adding to her stress. At an office party, a senior leader even joked that she would have a tough time working under her manager, which became a reality she could not escape."

She also shared that Perayil would often work "late into the night and even on weekends." Augustine wrote, "Anna told us about the overwhelming workload, especially the extra tasks given verbally, beyond her official duties. I advised her not to take on so much, but the managers kept pushing."

“Her assistant manager once called her at night with a task that needed to be completed by the next morning, leaving her with barely any time to rest or recover. When she voiced her concerns, she was met with the dismissive response: ‘You can work at night; that’s what we all do’," she wrote.

Augustine described that her daughter's health started to deteriorate due to the excessive work. "Anna would come back to her room completely exhausted, sometimes collapsing on the bed without even changing, only to receive more messages asking for reports. She was giving her best, working hard to meet deadlines."

Augustine continued, "She was a fighter and never gave up easily. We advised her to quit, but she wanted to learn and gain experience. Unfortunately, the pressure became too much for her.” Perayil's mother criticised her employers for "glorifying overwork" and leaving her overwhelmed in a new city. 

“Like many in her position, Anna did not have the experience or the agency to draw boundaries or push back against unreasonable demands. She was trying to prove herself in a new environment, and in doing so, she pushed herself beyond limits. And now, she is no longer with us,” Augustine expressed.

"How can EY truly live by the values it claims to uphold?" Augustine wrote. She added that her daughter's death should be a "wake-up call" for the company. "It's time to rethink your work culture and take real steps to prioritize the health and well-being of your employees," she asserted. 

This just broke my heart, Anna deserved better. Hope her mother’s gut wrenching letter to E&Y will get corporate houses to relook at their HR policies and prioritise mental health especially for the new recruits who are transitioning from student life to work life. https://t.co/dU2BrNbVRP

— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) September 17, 2024

The email was posted to X (formerly Twitter), catching the attention of some political figures. 

Company Responds To Mother's Allegations

EY issued a statement amid the outrage over Perayil's death grew on social media. According to Business Today, he company said, “We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian's tragic and untimely passing in July 2024, and our deepest condolences go to the bereaved family."

The statement further read, "Anna was a part of the Audit team at S R Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, in Pune for a brief period of four months, joining the firm on 18 March 2024. That her promising career was cut short in this tragic manner is an irreparable loss for all of us." 

"While no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have provided all the assistance as we always do in such times of distress." EY added that they place the "highest importance" on their employees' wellbeing and will produce ways to ensure a healthy workplace.