EY Responds Following Viral Letter from Anna Sebastian's Mother

Following significant criticism stemming from a letter written by the mother of a 26-year-old woman who passed away due to extreme work pressure, the accounting firm Ernst & Young (EY) announced its intention to improve the workplace environment.

"We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian's tragic and untimely passing in July 2024, and our deepest condolences go to the bereaved family," Ernst & Young said in a statement.

"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", the accounting firm further added in the statement.

In her letter, the mother expressed her daughter's excitement about starting her career at the firm, marking her first job.

The letter, addressed to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, gained widespread attention on social media.

The mother claimed that her daughter's death was a result of excessive workload and noted that no representatives from the company attended the funeral.

She also mentioned that this tragic event occurred just four months after her daughter began working at the firm.

"She was full of life, dreams, and excitement for the future. EY was her first job, and she was thrilled to be part of such a prestigious company. But four months later, on July 20th, 2024, my world collapsed when I received the devastating news that Anna had passed away. She was just 26 years old," she wrote in the letter.

Anna Sebastian completed her chartered accountancy exams on November 23, 2023, and started her position at EY on March 19 in Pune.