Employees expose 'harsh reality' even as EY denies 'work pressure' behind Anna's death

In the aftermath of allegations that excessive workload took the life of a Malayali Ernst & Young (EY) employee Anna Sebastian, the company has categorically denied these claims. Anna, who passed away on July 20, had only been with the firm for four months.

Rajiv Memani, chairman of EY India, stated, “We have around one lakh employees. While each one must work hard, we don’t believe that work pressure could have claimed her life.” He expressed his condolences, describing Anna’s passing as a tragic and irreparable loss, and mentioned he had responded to a letter from Anna's mother, Anita Augustine.

In a LinkedIn post addressing the situation, Memani expressed his sorrow over Anna’s death and shared his regret for not being present at her funeral, emphasising that this absence is “completely alien to our culture”. He affirmed the company’s commitment to creating a healthy workplace, stating that the well-being of employees is his top priority.

However, Memani’s remarks have been met with backlash from some employees, who voiced their support for Anna and raised concerns about the work environment at EY. One employee responded, questioning the lack of HR support in light of Anna’s passing and criticised the company's cultural disconnect: “Just imagine the plight of Anna's parents when they were unable to see a single soul from EY pay their last respects.”

Another former employee, Luv Solanki, recounted harrowing experiences of working excessive hours, including 17-18 hour days, and described a workplace culture where concerns were often dismissed. 

"During my time there, my Director asked me to work 17-18 hours a day. When I reported this to HR, she suggested it might be due to client demands. Even when trying to voice my concerns, my colleagues often mocked me during team meetings… I spent almost six months onsite in Africa, which was a terrible experience. My engagement manager made us work from 9 am until at least 7 pm, including weekends, for nearly two months straight. Meetings were often scheduled during Hindu festivals," he added.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation worsened. I received calls starting at 8:30 am and sometimes as late as midnight,” Solanki wrote, highlighting the high attrition rate and lack of support for employees.

Further criticism emerged from a message shared by a current EY employee in South Africa, who stated that the ethics hotline suggested by Memani was ineffective. “This hotline is used to identify employees who EY believes should be silenced,” she claimed, alleging that those who reported issues faced severe consequences.

The controversy arose on Tuesday following a heartfelt letter from Anna's mother, Anita Augustine, who alleged that her daughter was “burdened with backbreaking work” that ultimately contributed to her death.