How ‘backbreaking workload’ left a young CA physically, mentally drained.
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Anita, the mother of Anna, expressed her deep sorrow in a letter to EY chairman Rajeev Memani, lamenting the absence of any representatives from the organization at her daughter’s funeral. Anna had passed away in a Pune hospital due to complications stemming from severe exhaustion.
Workplace-related fatalities have suddenly emerged as alarming headlines. Following the death of a young chartered accountant at Ernst & Young’s Pune office in July, social media has been inundated with outrage and disbelief. This tragic incident was attributed to a toxic work culture perpetuated by a monstrous superior who never intervened to prevent such an environment from becoming “normal.” The story of 26-year-old chartered accountant Anna Sebastian Perayil might have remained untold had her mother, Anita Augustine, not recently penned a poignant letter to Rajeev Memani, the Chairman of EY India. In her correspondence, she detailed how her daughter’s demise was a consequence of an overwhelming workload that left her physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted each day. Anna passed away in July, merely four months after securing her dream job. Anita expressed her profound sorrow to Memani regarding this tragic loss.
The collective indifference towards the employee’s death has profoundly shaken everyone and sparked intense criticism on social media. In a post on LinkedIn, Memani expressed deep regret for not being able to attend the young employee’s funeral, conveying a sense of remorse. “I truly regret that we were unable to participate in Anna’s funeral.
This is entirely contrary to our culture. Such a situation has never occurred before, and it will not happen again,” Memani stated. “I am fully committed to fostering a harmonious workplace, and I will not rest until this objective is achieved,” Memani added. “I have conveyed my heartfelt condolences to the family, although no one can fill the void left in their lives.”
In a distinct statement, EY remarked
In a distinct statement, EY remarked, “We are approaching the family’s correspondence with the highest level of seriousness and humility.” “Genuine change, rather than mere condolences, is essential,” countered Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises, who proposed several strategies to address the crisis. “Cease the glorification of excessive work; prioritize efficiency over prolonged hours,” Goenka asserted, a sentiment likely to resonate with young professionals striving to achieve a work-life balance amidst the challenges of the corporate landscape.
In response to the escalating situation, the government has initiated an investigation into the workplace conditions at EY. “A comprehensive inquiry into the claims of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is currently in progress,” Union Labour Minister Shobha Karandlaje announced on X. “This matter has recently come to our attention. The mother of the deceased employee has submitted a letter.
Our labour department is actively investigating. A status report is expected to be released within the next two to three days,” stated Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Law and Justice, during an event hosted by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce in Calcutta on Friday. Industry experts maintain that Anna’s case is an isolated incident and assert that the situation is not as dire as some critics of EY suggest.
According to sources from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), it is anticipated that work schedules of 15 to 16 hours may occur during specific periods of the year, particularly in the lead-up to income tax audits. Nevertheless, they noted that the intensity of work-related stress tends to diminish during the remainder of the year at most chartered accountancy firms. “Excessive working hours constitute a labor issue; the relevant ministry addresses these concerns,” remarked a member of the ICAI.
In contrast, Anna’s father, Sibi Joseph, stated that the family had not disseminated the private letter they had addressed to Memani. He suggested that it was likely someone from EY’s Pune office who leaked the letter, potentially to highlight the struggles faced by others dealing with the pressures of an overwhelming workload. A former employee of EY recounted his experiences on X, stating, “This is not an isolated incident. As an ex-EY employee, I have witnessed numerous similar occurrences. EY has gained a reputation as a controversial employer, notorious for its toxic work environment.”
I would like to share the recent experience of my colleague Urmi from EY Bangalore, who faced an extraordinarily challenging period of harassment during her pregnancy, primarily due to project demands. Furthermore, it is disheartening to note that EY appeared intent on pushing her out without any sense of accountability. Others have voiced their concerns regarding the demanding work environment at various Big Four firms. Jayesh Jain expressed on X that he resigned from Deloitte due to the overwhelming workload he experienced. “We often worked approximately 20 hours, yet we were restricted to charging only 15 hours.
I can fully empathize with what Anna must have endured. It is essential to remember that you are merely an employee number to them, while to your family, you are everything. The corporate world is indeed challenging. I am relieved to have exited that environment in a timely manner,” he remarked. In response to Jain’s post, an X user named Rikky expressed surprise at the allowance to charge 15 hours. “At KPMG, we frequently work 16 hours during peak season, extending for six months, and we are permitted to charge no more than 8 hours. If we charge even one hour less than 8 hours on any given day, we are required to provide explanations.” Some believe that the harsh realities of demanding work schedules are gradually infiltrating other sectors of the industry.
Aakash Venkatasubramanian shares his wife’s experience at EY
A technical expert has shared insights regarding his wife’s experience at Ernst & Young (EY), following discussions surrounding the tragic death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, which was allegedly linked to the pressures of working at the same accounting firm. In a post on LinkedIn, Akash Venkatasubramanian revealed that his wife felt compelled to leave EY due to a toxic work culture, where working 18 hours a day was considered the norm.
