EY officials visit home of deceased staff Anna Sebastian amid overwork allegations

Kochi (Kerala): In the wake of allegations that excessive workload led to the death of Ernst & Young (EY) employee Anna Sebastian, company officials visited her family home in Kochi. The visit comes amid growing criticism of the company's work culture following Anna's sudden collapse and death.

A delegation from EY, including partners, senior managers, and HR personnel, met with Anna’s family, but according to her father, Sibi Joseph, they did not receive a clear response regarding the circumstances leading to her death. Despite a request for a thorough investigation, the company failed to provide any assurances. “It was only after the issue gained widespread attention that they came to our home,” said Joseph, adding that EY officials assured them such issues would not repeat in the future.

The incident gained significant traction after Anna's mother, Anita Augustine, wrote a letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, blaming her daughter’s death on excessive workload. In the letter, she recounted how two weeks before Anna’s death, she was admitted to the hospital with chest pain, which doctors attributed to lack of sleep and irregular eating habits.

Anna had been working tirelessly ahead of her Chartered Accountant (CA) graduation ceremony in Pune, where her parents had traveled to celebrate with her. However, due to her hectic work schedule, Anna barely had time to spend with her family and arrived late for the ceremony, her mother detailed in the letter.