Kerala IT collective highlights intense pressure in industry after EY worker’s death

Prathidhwani, a prominent state-level IT employees’ welfare organisation in Kerala, took to social media on Thursday to address the death of Malayali CA Anna Sebastian Perayil at Ernst & Young, Pune, due to alleged work pressure. According to the collective, the tragic passing of the 26-year-old, just four months into her role, “serves as a stark reminder of the intense pressures present within our industry.”

The collective noted that the incident “underscores the critical need to prioritise mental health and well-being in the workplace.”

Prathidhwani emphasised the need to address work-related stress and transform workplaces into safe spaces for open conversations about mental health. “All companies must actively foster support systems that place employee welfare above all else, as no project, deadline, or promotion is worth sacrificing one’s health,” it stated.

The incident gained considerable attention when Anna's mother, Anita Augustine, sent a letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, attributing her daughter's death to an overwhelming workload. In her letter, she shared that just two weeks before Anna's passing, she had been hospitalized with chest pain, which doctors linked to sleep deprivation and poor eating habits. Anna had been working diligently in preparation for her Chartered Accountant (CA) graduation ceremony in Pune, where her parents had come to celebrate with her. However, due to her demanding work schedule, Anna struggled to find time to be with her family and arrived late to the ceremony, as her mother recounted.