Daughter, 26, Died Of Overwork At EY, No One Attended Funeral

In a deeply emotional and gut-wrenching letter to Rajiv Memani, Chairman of Ernst & Young (EY) India, Anita Augustine, the mother of Anna Sebastian Perayil, called for a change in the company’s work culture after her 26-year-old daughter died just four months after joining the firm.

A Mother’s Heartbreaking Letter to EY India

Anna, a promising young chartered accountant, succumbed to what her mother claims was the overwhelming workload and stress placed on her by the organization. Despite the magnitude of her loss, the family was further devastated by the fact that no one from EY attended Anna’s funeral. In her letter, Ms. Augustine implored the company to reflect on the work culture that “glorifies overwork” while neglecting the well-being of the employees. She hoped her daughter’s tragic passing would serve as a wake-up call to prevent other young professionals from suffering the same fate.

A Promising Life Cut Short

Anna Sebastian had passed her Chartered Accountancy (CA) exams with distinction in November 2023 and was thrilled to join EY Pune in March 2024. According to her mother, she was full of dreams and excitement for her first job at such a prestigious firm. However, within a few months of joining, the pressure, long hours, and work environment began to take a toll on her physical and mental health.

Ms. Augustine described Anna as a bright and driven individual who excelled in school and college and had always been a fighter. Despite her inner strength, the relentless demands placed upon her at EY proved too much. She began experiencing anxiety, stress, and sleeplessness shortly after joining but continued pushing herself, believing that hard work was the key to success.

Ms. Augustine recounted how, even during her CA convocation in July 2024, Anna could not fully enjoy the moment as she was still working from home, missing the significance of the event she had worked so hard to achieve. Just weeks later, on July 20, her family received the devastating news of Anna’s passing.

The Dangers of Overwork

In her letter, Ms. Augustine detailed the overwhelming workload Anna was subjected to, including late-night assignments and tasks verbally assigned beyond official work hours. She recalled how a senior leader had even joked about how difficult it would be to work under Anna’s manager. Despite the emotional and physical toll, Anna persisted, driven by her desire to learn and prove herself.

Her mother emphasized that Anna was new to the corporate world and lacked the experience to draw boundaries or push back against unreasonable demands. As a result, she was often working late into the night and over weekends, returning home utterly exhausted. Ms. Augustine believes this relentless work culture ultimately led to her daughter’s death.

A Call for Change

Ms. Augustine’s letter also appealed for systemic change within EY, urging the company to address its work culture and prioritize employee well-being. She argued that placing such burdens on newcomers is unjustifiable and called for the management to show more compassion for employees, especially those just starting their careers.

EY India issued a statement expressing deep sadness over Anna’s death and extending condolences to her family. The company assured that it is taking the family’s concerns seriously and remains committed to improving employee well-being across its member firms in India. Anna’s mother hopes that her daughter’s story will lead to meaningful change, ensuring no other family has to endure such a tragic loss.