Ernst & Young employee, 26, dies; mother blames work pressure.
Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old chartered accountant from Kerala, tragically passed away, with her family attributing the cause to work pressure at Ernst & Young (EY). Anna had joined EY in March, and her mother has openly criticized the company for what she described as “four months of EY’s callous attitude” leading to her daughter’s untimely death. In a heartfelt letter to the firm, Anna’s mother emphasized the intense workload and pressure Anna faced during her brief tenure at the company, sparking concerns about employee well-being and the impact of workplace stress.
Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old employee at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune, tragically lost her life, allegedly due to the pressures of an overwhelming workload. Her mother, Anita Augustine, expressed her grief and frustrations in a heart-wrenching letter addressed to Ernst & Young Chairman Rajiv Memani. In her letter, Anita blamed “four months of EY’s callous attitude” for her daughter’s death, criticizing the company for the stress and pressure Anna endured. Anita’s sorrow deepened when no one from the firm attended Anna’s funeral, adding to the family’s pain.
Anna, a chartered accountant from Kerala, had joined Ernst & Young in March, and it was her first job. According to her mother, Anna was “thrilled” to be part of such a prestigious company and had always been a fighter, excelling academically and working tirelessly to succeed. Anna was described as someone who gave her all to everything she did, and she approached her job at EY with the same passion. Throughout her school and college years, Anna had topped all her examinations, and her mother had always been proud of her achievements.
However, the excitement of joining EY quickly turned into an overwhelming burden as the excessive workload, long hours, and demanding environment began to take a toll on Anna. In her letter, Anita explained how the job soon became physically, emotionally, and mentally draining for her daughter. Anna began experiencing severe anxiety, sleepless nights, and unrelenting stress, but she remained determined to push herself, believing that hard work and perseverance would lead to success.
Anita recounted how her daughter’s health started to deteriorate significantly around the time of her convocation in Pune. Despite her growing health concerns, Anna refused to take time off from work, insisting that she had too many responsibilities and couldn’t afford to miss any deadlines. Her mother expressed how heartbreaking it was to see Anna, who had always been so strong and resilient, struggle under the immense pressure of her job.
“On Saturday, July 6, my husband and I traveled from Kochi to Pune to attend Anna’s CA Convocation,” Anita wrote. Concerned for her health, we took her to a hospital in Pune for a check-up. The doctors conducted an ECG, which came back normal. The cardiologist reassured us that she wasn’t getting enough sleep and had been eating very late, which could explain her symptoms. He prescribed some antacids, and we felt relieved that it wasn’t anything serious.”
Despite this health scare, Anna was determined to return to work immediately after the doctor’s visit. She said there was a lot of work to be done, and she wouldn’t be able to get leave,” Anita shared.
This was typical of Anna, who believed that her hard work would pay off in the long run. Her parents, although worried, supported her and hoped that her dedication would lead to a fulfilling career. But the demands of the job, combined with her deteriorating health, continued to weigh heavily on her.
Anna’s mother recounted the moments leading up to her daughter’s tragic death with a sense of helplessness. She described how the pressures of the job slowly consumed her once vibrant, hardworking daughter, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted. Anita wrote about the immense pain of watching her daughter struggle, yet feel compelled to keep going, believing that pushing through the difficulties was the only way to succeed.
In the letter, Anita also lamented the fact that, despite her daughter’s hard work and dedication to the company, no one from Ernst & Young attended her funeral. The lack of support from the company in her time of grief only added to her devastation. The letter expressed Anita’s deep disappointment in how the firm handled Anna’s situation and raised concerns about the well-being of other employees facing similar pressures.
Anita’s letter has shed light on the intense pressures that young professionals, particularly in high-stress environments like auditing and consulting firms, often face. Anna’s death serves as a stark reminder of the importance of mental and physical well-being in the workplace. Her mother’s words highlight the tragic consequences of excessive workloads and a culture that prioritizes output over the well-being of employees.
The tragedy of Anna’s death has sparked a broader conversation about work-life balance, employee mental health, and the responsibilities of employers in ensuring that their staff are not pushed beyond their limits. Anita’s letter is a powerful plea for change, not just at Ernst & Young but across industries that demand long hours and high levels of output from their employees.
As the family continues to mourn the loss of their beloved daughter, they hope that Anna’s story will raise awareness about the dangers of excessive work pressure and the need for companies to adopt more compassionate and supportive approaches to employee well-being. While nothing can bring Anna back, her mother’s letter serves as a call to action for better workplace practices, with the hope that no other family will have to endure such a heartbreaking loss due to preventable circumstances.