In her letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, Anita Augustine highlighted how her daughter Anna Sebastian Perayil was forced to work even during late nights (out of office hours) leading to increased mental pressure and her subsequent death.
Published Sep 18, 2024 | 2:26 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 18, 2024 | 7:06 PM
Representative image of a workplace. (iStock)
A letter from a grieving mother to the Chairman of tech giant EY India is going viral on social media. Written by Kochi-based Anita Augustine, the letter described how her daughter Anna Sebastian Perayil succumbed to work pressure and the toxic work culture at EY’s office in Pune.
In her letter to Rajive Memani, Anita highlighted how the young girl was forced to work even during late nights (out of office hours) leading to increased mental pressure and her subsequent death.
“Anna passed her CA Exams in November [20]23 and joined EY Pune on March 19th, 2024, as an Executive. She was full of life, dreams, and excitement for the future. EY was her first job, and she was thrilled to be part of such a prestigious company. But four months later, on July 20th, 2024, my world collapsed when I received the devastating news that Anna had passed away. She was just 26 years old,” the mother said in her letter.
She said even after putting her through a lot of pressure which led to her weak health, no one from the company attended 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 organisation until her last breath, is deeply hurtful. Anna deserved better, and so do all the employees who continue to work under these conditions,” she said.
Anita said in her letter that her daughter’s death should be a wake up call for EY to reflect its work culture.
“I am writing to you now, Rajiv, because I believe EY has a profound responsibility to ensure the well-being of its employees. Anna’s experience sheds light on a work culture that seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human beings behind the roles. This is not just about my daughter; it’s about every young professional who joins EY filled with hopes and dreams, only to be crushed under the weight of unrealistic expectations, I took the time to read EY’s human rights statement, which bears your signature. I cannot reconcile the values expressed in that statement with the reality my daughter faced. How can EY begin to truly live by the values it professes?” she asked.
“Anna’s death should serve as a wake-up call for EY. It is time to reflect on the work culture within your organisation and take meaningful steps to prioritise the health and wellness of your employees. This means creating an environment where employees feel safe to speak up, where they are supported in managing their workload, and where their mental and physical well-being is not sacrificed for the sake of productivity,” she added.
The parent added that her daughter was even late for her convocation function on 6 July, due to the work she was assigned.
She was not getting sleep or was not able to have her meals on time which caused her stress, anxiety, chest constriction and other difficulties.
“Anna was always a fighter, from childhood through her academic years, where she excelled in everything she did. She 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. She began experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress soon after joining, but she kept pushing herself, believing that hard work and perseverance were the keys to success,” Anita wrote
“When Anna joined this specific team, she was told that many employees had resigned due to the excessive workload, and the team manager told to her, ‘Anna, you must stick around and change everyone’s opinion about our team’ My child didn’t realise she would pay for that with her life,” the mother wrote.
Anita claimed Anita’s manager would often reschedule meetings during cricket matches and assign her work at the end of the day, adding to her stress.
“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 assistant manager once called her at night with a task that needed to be completed by the next morning, leaving her with barely any time to rest or recover. When she voiced her concerns, she was met with the dismissive response, “You can work at night; that’s what we all do.”
“Anna would return to her room utterly exhausted, sometimes collapsing on the bed without even changing her clothes, only to be bombarded with messages asking for more reports. She was putting in her best efforts, working very hard to meet the deadlines. She was a fighter to the core, not someone to give up easily. 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 wrote.
Terming it a systemic issue that goes beyond individual managers or teams, she said the relentless demands and the pressure to meet unrealistic expectations were not sustainable and cost the life of a young woman with so much potential.
“Anna was a young professional, just starting her career. Like many in her position, she did not have the experience or the agency to draw boundaries or push back against unreasonable demands. She did not know how to say no. She was trying to prove herself in a new environment, and in doing so, she pushed herself beyond her limits. And now, she is no longer with us.”
“I wish I had been able to protect her, to tell her that her health and well-being mattered more than anything else. But it is too late for my Anna. 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?” she questioned.
“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 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 added.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
