Tragedy struck in July 2024 with the death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, fresh from recruitment as a chartered accountant at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune who, according to her family, died of an "overwhelming workload." Her mother, Anita Augustine, wrote a heart-wrenching letter to India Chairman Rajiv Memani about her daughter's last months. Anna had joined the global consulting firm barely four months back full of zeal and enthusiasm with dreams for her future. Alas, she was overwhelmed by the demands made on her in her first job.
A Dream Turned Nightmare
Anna was always a star performer, be it in school and college; she had a brilliant record of academic achievements. She cleared her CA exams in November 2023 with distinction and joined EY in March 2024, something from which she took as the start to her exciting career. There, Anna was eager to be able to contribute and grow in the Audit team at S R Batliboi, an EY Global member firm located in Pune. However, within a few months of time, what seemed to be a dream opportunity soon turned out to be a nightmare.
Her mother vigorously described Anna's worsening condition. She worked for long hours, sometimes until very late at night, and on weekends too. There was little chance of rest as she returned to her paying guest accommodation drained and weary. The workload had become, to her, literally "backbreaking." It was such a weight for one so fresh, that responsibility and the pressure became increasingly crushing for her young body and, naturally, her young mind to bear.
The Crushing Weight of Overwork
The death of Anna in the grip of overwork highlights the work culture in high-pressure industries, such as consulting firms like EY. Work-related stress has never been new, but Anna's story reflects the feeling of many young professionals who feel trapped inside their profession. These firms' workplaces are marked by the demand of speed and deadlines, which involve long working hours and sacrifices, but how much is too much?
Her mother recalls Anna as "full of life, dreams, and excitement for the future." Yet, barely four months into her career at EY, Anna's life was brutally snuffed out. It is little wonder that deep emotions of anguish and resentment pour out of her letter to the court. "She worked day and night at EY, striving to keep up with the workload," she wrote. But the physical, mental, and emotional cost it took on Anna was overwhelming. Her mother is very much of the opinion that such an excessive workload led to her daughter's untimely death.
No Farewell from the Company
Perhaps the most poignant here is when the family is called to testify that no one from EY was present at her funeral. The very attribute of this fact, which her mother underlines in her letter, has raised public outrage. How could it be that a company could not send at least one employee to bid farewell to an employee whose life was so brutally cut short in service?
This resonates with many who view it as part of the company culture: being treated as mere cogs in a machine, easily replaced and disposed of. Now that workers should be at the center of concern for employee well-being, such an oversight comes as uncaring and detached, and who can help but question how much companies care for the lives of their workers over and above their output?
EY responds
After the letter from Anna's mother after the death of Anna and a few days later, EY made a public statement offering condolences for the tragedy occurring while underlining its commitment to bettering work conditions. "We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian's tragic and untimely passing… we have provided all the assistance as we always do in such times of distress," a statement read.
EY vowed to take the allegations from the family on face value, and also said that the well being of all employees is its most important concern. The company even hinted that changes in the workplace that will be hopefully healthier, especially for newcomers like Anna, who may find demands to ascribe places difficult to deal with.
Work Culture: wide Issue
Anna's story gives rise to a much wider and deeper conversation about work culture in India and beyond. The glorification of overwork is not unique to EY or the consulting industry. Many sectors, especially among the youth, feel and experience an open secret to work long hours and sacrifice all kinds of personal time, trying to reach a maximum limit. There is no need for me to point out that this kind of pace is taking toll. Or it should be said that mental health concerns and burnouts have become more common with the growing pressure, such as Anna's tragic death.It has been a sharp reminder of all those who focus on productivity over people. Anna's mother is all over social media: everyone has been sharing and showing solidarity with her emotions and her anger. Her plea for change by the companies regarding employee well-being is going to ring in a lot of ears. This young talent being lost is an alarm in more ways than one - not just for EY but also for the corporate world.
Forward Momentum
EY has indicated that it will act on the issues raised by Anna's family to make the work environment better for its employees. But beyond one company, there is now a growing recognition that the culture of overwork needs to change. Work cannot be at the expense of human life, health, or well-being.We mourn Anna's passing, but we can't help but look to the system that came with her passing. Working pressure, stress, and burnout plague this industry, and thousands of others, all around the globe. Change is not just warranted; it's long overdue.
For Anna and those like her, perhaps now is the time when the welfare of employees must take priority: a work culture where people are valued over the bottom line.
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