Kerala woman dies from 'work stress' at EY; mother’s heartfelt letter to firm's head goes viral

A 26-year-old woman from Kerala, Anna Sebastian Perayil, who worked at EY (Ernst & Young) in Pune, tragically lost her life, which her family attributes to extreme work stress. 

In a heartfelt letter addressed to EY's India head, Rajiv Memani, Anna's mother, Anita Augustine, alleged that Anna was "burdened with backbreaking work" that ultimately led to her demise.

Anna had joined EY just four months prior to her passing on July 20, 2024. Her mother described Anna as someone who excelled academically and in extracurricular activities. However, the letter claims that she faced overwhelming pressure in her new role, working late into the night and on weekends, returning to her accommodation utterly exhausted.

“Anna was a school topper, and a college topper, excelled in extracurricular activities, and passed her CA exams with distinction. She worked tirelessly at EY, giving her all to meet the demands placed on her. However, the workload, new environment, and long hours took a toll on her physically, emotionally, and mentally,” says Augustine in the letter.

Augustine says that her team at EY was one where several employees had already resigned due to excessive workload. “The team manager told her, ‘Anna, you must stick around and change everyone's opinion about our team.’ My child didn't realize she would pay for that with her life,” her mother stated, adding that the company and her manager showed no consideration for a new employee who had moved away from her hometown and was struggling to adjust to a new city where she did not know the people or the language." She claimed that the manager often assigns her daughter work during the end of her shift, forcing her to work overtime. 

“Anna confided in us about the overwhelming workload, especially the additional tasks assigned verbally, beyond the official work. I would tell her not to take on such tasks, but the managers were relentless. She worked late into the night, even on weekends, with no opportunity to catch her breath,” her mother said.

As a result, she would often reach her PG “utterly exhausted” and collapse into bed without even changing her clothes. “We told her to quit, but she wanted to learn and gain new exposure. However, the overwhelming pressure proved too much even for her.”

She claimed that her managers and coworkers did not even bother to attend her funeral.

“No one from EY attended Anna's 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?” her mother asked.

She said that her daughter’s death should serve as a wake-up call for EY.  “Becoming a Chartered Accountant involves years of toil, hardship, and sacrifice-not only for the student but also for the parents. Years of my child's hard work have been snuffed out by just four months of EY's callous attitude. I hope this letter reaches you with the gravity it deserves. I don't know if anyone can truly understand a mother's emotions when she lays to rest her child-the child she held in her arms, watched grow, play, cry, and shared dreams with-unless they have experienced the same pain. I hope my child's experience leads to real change so that no other family has to endure the grief and trauma we are going through. My Anna is no longer with us, but her story can still make a difference,” she concluded.