Death Of Pune-Based Young Chartered Accountant Sparks National Debate On Workplace Stress

Reported by Tikam Shekhawat

Pune, 18th September 2024: Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old Chartered Accountant from Kochi, Kerala, passed away on July 20, 2024, allegedly due to work-related stress. Employed at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune for just four months, Anna’s sudden death has ignited a conversation about the extreme pressures faced by young professionals in high-demand corporate environments.

Anna’s mother, Anita Augustine, penned a heart-wrenching letter to Rajiv Memani, Chairman of EY India, claiming that her daughter’s death resulted from excessive workload and relentless stress. The letter has since gone viral, sparking outrage on social media and in professional circles across India. In her letter, Anita highlights the overwhelming pressure Anna faced during her brief tenure at EY, citing long hours, anxiety, and work overload as contributing factors to her untimely passing due to cardiac arrest.

The Life of Anna Sebastian Perayil
Anna Sebastian Perayil, a native of Kangarappady, Kochi, had always been a high achiever. Having cleared her Chartered Accountancy (CA) exams in November 2023, she secured a position at EY Pune in March 2024. For Anna, this was the beginning of a promising career in one of the world’s most prestigious consulting firms. The 26-year-old had always been known for her resilience and work ethic. Throughout her academic career, Anna excelled in everything she did, from academics to extracurricular activities, making her parents proud at every turn.

However, the promise of a successful corporate career came with an unexpected cost. According to her family, Anna began struggling with stress and anxiety shortly after joining EY. Despite suffering from sleeplessness and constant fatigue, she continued to push herself, driven by her ambition to succeed. Her mother, in the emotional letter, detailed the events leading up to her death, revealing that Anna often worked long hours and even during weekends, with little time to rest.

A Heartbreaking Letter
In her emotional letter to Rajiv Memani, Anna’s mother, Anita Augustine, wrote of the immense pain the family is going through. The letter began with a simple yet powerful statement: “I am writing this letter as a grieving mother who has lost her precious child.” She described how Anna worked tirelessly, even while battling health issues like chest constriction and anxiety. Anita recounted how, on July 6, 2024, she and her husband visited Pune for Anna’s CA convocation. During their visit, they had to take Anna to the hospital because she was experiencing chest pain and discomfort. Although the doctors assured the family that Anna’s ECG results were normal and her symptoms were likely due to lack of sleep and stress, her mother couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

On July 20, just two weeks after that hospital visit, Anna suffered a cardiac arrest. For the family, it was a shocking and unimaginable loss. Anna’s mother expressed deep grief, not only at losing her daughter but also at the failure of the company to recognize the toll the job had taken on Anna.

“Anna deserved better,” Anita wrote. “No one from EY attended Anna’s funeral. This absence at such a critical moment, for an employee who gave her all to your organization until her last breath, is deeply hurtful.”

Workplace Stress Under the Spotlight
The letter shines a spotlight on the issue of workplace stress, particularly for young professionals entering demanding fields like finance and consulting. Anna, like many others in her position, was burdened with an overwhelming workload, which included both assigned and unassigned tasks, according to her mother. In her letter, Anita described how her daughter’s manager would frequently reschedule meetings late into the evening and assign work at the end of the day, leaving Anna no time to rest.

At an office party, a senior leader reportedly joked that Anna would have a tough time working under her manager, a statement that, in retrospect, speaks volumes about the pressures within the team.

“She worked late into the night, even on weekends, with no opportunity to catch her breath,” Anita’s letter reads. “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.”

These revelations have drawn attention to the unhealthy work culture prevalent in many corporate environments, where long hours, tight deadlines, and the pressure to meet high expectations can lead to severe mental and physical health issues.

A Systemic Issue
Anita Augustine’s letter does not solely focus on the individuals involved in her daughter’s life but also raises broader concerns about the systemic issues within corporate work culture. She emphasized that the pressure placed on employees, especially newcomers, was unsustainable and contributed to her daughter’s untimely death.

“This is a systemic issue that goes beyond individual managers or teams. The relentless demands and the pressure to meet unrealistic expectations are not sustainable, and they cost us the life of a young woman with so much potential,” Anita wrote.

The letter calls on EY and other firms to prioritize the well-being of their employees, especially those who are new to the workforce and may not have the experience or confidence to push back against unreasonable demands. Anna’s mother pleads for a change in corporate culture, one that places greater importance on mental and physical health over productivity.

“Anna’s death should serve as a wake-up call for EY. It is time to reflect on the work culture within your organization and take meaningful steps to prioritize the health and wellness of your employees,” she urged.

Ernst & Young’s Response
Following the widespread circulation of the letter, Ernst & Young issued an official statement expressing their condolences to the family of Anna Sebastian. The firm described Anna’s death as a tragic loss and stated that they had provided all necessary assistance to the family during this difficult time.

The company’s statement read: “We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian’s tragic and untimely passing in July 2024, and our deepest condolences go to the bereaved family.

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 and will continue to do so.

We are taking the family’s correspondence with the utmost seriousness and humility. 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.”

While the statement acknowledges the tragic nature of Anna’s passing, it has done little to quell the growing concerns about work culture at EY and similar organizations. Many have criticized the firm for not attending Anna’s funeral and for not addressing the root causes that may have contributed to her death.

A Growing Conversation
Anna’s death has sparked a larger conversation about workplace stress and the need for corporate responsibility when it comes to employee well-being. Social media has been flooded with discussions about work-life balance, particularly for young professionals who are often expected to work long hours in high-pressure environments.

Many professionals have shared their own experiences of burnout and exhaustion in similar roles, with some calling for greater protections and more stringent regulations around employee rights. The viral nature of the letter has also prompted calls for investigations into the working conditions at EY and other multinational corporations.

Corporate Responsibility in India
The issue of workplace stress is not unique to EY. Across various industries in India, young professionals often face significant pressure to meet deadlines, work long hours, and deliver high-quality results. This culture of overwork is seen by many as a badge of honor, but it can have devastating consequences for employees’ mental and physical health.

In recent years, there has been increasing awareness of the importance of mental health in the workplace. Many companies have introduced wellness programs, mental health days, and other initiatives aimed at reducing stress and promoting work-life balance. However, the death of Anna Sebastian serves as a stark reminder that these efforts may not be enough.

The debate now centers on what more can be done to ensure that employees are not only productive but also healthy and happy in their work environments. Advocates are calling for stricter enforcement of labor laws, clearer guidelines around work hours, and more robust mental health support systems within companies.

Anna’s Legacy
As the family of Anna Sebastian continues to grieve, her mother hopes that her daughter’s story will lead to meaningful change. In her letter to EY’s chairman, Anita Augustine wrote, “My Anna is no longer with us, but her story can still make a difference.”

The viral letter and its impact on public discourse highlight the urgent need for companies to take proactive steps to ensure a healthier work-life balance for their employees, especially young professionals who are just beginning their careers.

The death of Anna Sebastian should not be in vain; rather, it should serve as a catalyst for a broader discussion on workplace culture, mental health, and employee rights in India’s growing corporate sector.

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