EY employee's death from toxic work pressure sparks strong LinkedIn backlash: Report

The Pressure Became Too Much for Her': Mother Attributes 26-Year-Old EY Employee's Death to Work Stress

In a society where hustle culture is often glorified, recent studies indicate a shift as the new generation values work-life balance over higher salaries. However, many companies, particularly in India, continue to enforce a strict 9-5 schedule, often leading to overworked employees and detrimental impacts on their physical and mental health. A tragic incident has come to light where a 26-year-old employee allegedly succumbed to overwhelming work pressure.

Anna Sebastian Perayil, a Chartered Accountant who joined EY in March, was experiencing her first job. Her mother, in a poignant letter to the company, revealed that Anna's death was a result of severe work-related stress. This letter has gone viral on LinkedIn, sparking a strong backlash against the glorification of hustle culture.

26-Year-Old's Death Attributed to Work Stress by Mother

Anna’s mother begins her letter by detailing how her daughter, who passed her CA exams in November 2023, joined EY in March with immense excitement and dreams for the future. Tragically, Anna passed away on July 20, just four months into her role.

"My world collapsed when I received the devastating news," her mother wrote.

In her letter, Anna’s mother described the toxic work culture at EY, citing that newcomers were burdened with "backbreaking" tasks. Anna soon experienced anxiety, sleeplessness, and immense stress. Even on her convocation day, after being taken to a doctor for chest pain, Anna insisted on returning to work.

"Her ECG was normal, and the cardiologist reassured us that she was not getting enough sleep and was eating very late," her mother explained.

Anna's mother also mentioned that her manager rescheduled meetings during cricket matches and assigned work at the end of the day. Despite voicing her concerns, Anna was told that working late at night was expected.

“Anna would return to her room utterly exhausted, sometimes collapsing on the bed without even changing her clothes, only to be bombarded with messages asking for more reports. She was putting in her best efforts, working very hard to meet the deadlines. She was a fighter to the core, not someone to give up easily. We told her to quit, but she wanted to learn and gain new exposure. However, the overwhelming pressure proved too much even for her,” the letter read.

Lack of Empathy from the Company

Additionally, Anna's mother expressed her disappointment that no one from the company attended her 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. Anna deserved better, and so do all the employees who continue to work under these conditions. My heart aches not just for the loss of my child but also for the lack of empathy shown by those who were supposed to guide and support her. After her funeral, I reached out to her managers, but I received no reply. How can a company that speaks of values and human rights fail to show up for one of its own in their final moments?”

Strong Reactions on the Internet

The letter has elicited strong reactions online. Manisha Yadav, a CA finalist, commented, “Few managers really need to google the word HUMILITY and incorporate it into their lives. They are already destroying young Indian careers with toxicity, incompetence, and a lack of people management skills.”

HR professional Fathima Shahjahan wrote, “I hope people who did this to you get punished and shamed. I request everyone please take care of yourself, protect yourself. No job is worth exploiting your mental and physical health.”

Prabhdeep Singh Baweja, a senior employee at The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, added, “Very heart-breaking to see young professional Anna Sebastian Perayil leaving us! We live in a world where it is difficult to be mentally strong as some things can worry us, affect us, and hurt us.