Pune Employee Dies Allegedly Due To Work Pressure, Mother Writes Emotional Letter To Company

Ernst & Young Pune Employee Dies Due To 'Work Pressure'

A 26-year-old employee at Ernst & Young in Pune passed away due to what her mother described as an “excessive workload,” according to a heartbreaking letter she wrote to the firm, as per a report by India Today. Anna Sebastian Perayil, a chartered accountant from Kerala, started working at Ernst & Young in March. Her mother, Anita Augustine, criticised the company’s “callous attitude” over the past four months, attributing it to her daughter’s death. In her letter addressed to Ernst & Young Chairman Rajiv Memani, Augustine expressed her sorrow and frustration, noting that no company representatives attended her daughter’s funeral.

EY Pune Employee's Mother Writes Letter To Chairman

According to a letter shared by a user on 'X,' Anita Augustine, the grieving mother of Anna Sebastian Perayil, condemned Ernst & Young (EY) for “glorifying overwork” and highlighted the disparity between the company’s stated human rights values and the reality her daughter faced. Perayil, who passed away after joining EY Pune in March 2024, had cleared her CA exams in 2023 and was new to the workforce. Despite her dedication to meeting high expectations, she suffered significant physical, mental, and emotional strain.

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Augustine detailed how her daughter experienced anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress soon after starting her role. Perayil worked tirelessly, often late into the night and on weekends, despite the overwhelming workload and verbal tasks beyond her official duties. Augustine described how her daughter’s manager assigned her urgent tasks late at night, responding dismissively when she expressed concerns. This relentless pressure, coupled with the company's culture, took a severe toll on Perayil.

Heartbreaking news from EY Pune - a young CA succumbed to the work pressure and nobody from EY even attended her funeral - this is so appalling and nasty!!! pic.twitter.com/pt8ThUKiNR

— Malavika Rao (@kaay_rao) September 17, 2024

The letter also recounted how EY’s human rights values seemed to clash with her daughter’s experience. Augustine criticised the company for failing to provide support and for not attending her daughter's funeral, which she found deeply hurtful. She urged EY to reflect on its work culture and prioritise employee health and wellness, asserting that Perayil’s death should serve as a critical wake-up call for the organisation.

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While the precise cause of her death remains unclear, the email revealed that, in the weeks leading up to her passing, Anna Sebastian Perayil had been experiencing “chest constriction.” Her family took her to a hospital in Pune, where an ECG showed normal results. A cardiologist reassured them that her symptoms were likely due to inadequate sleep and late-night eating and prescribed antacids. The 26-year-old woman tragically passed away on July 20, 2024.

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Credits: Freepik