Recently, a 26 year old woman named Anna Sebastian Perayil working at EY passed away. Her mother said she was suffering from extreme work stress. Ernst & Young Global Limited, trade name EY, is a multinational professional services partnership. EY is one of the largest professional services networks in the world. Along with Deloitte, KPMG and PwC, it is considered one of the Big Four accounting firms.
Now, a lot of people are coming forward and sharing their stories about work stress. In a recent LinkedIn post, a man named Aakash Venkatasubramanian shared a poignant story about his wife’s experience at Ernst & Young (EY), shedding light on the tragic death of Anna Sebastian Perayil. This incident has sparked a crucial conversation about the work culture in large multinational corporations (MNCs) in India.
Aakash revealed that his wife felt compelled to leave EY because of what he described as a “toxic work culture.” He explained that working 18 hours a day was not just normal, but almost expected. “If she had not quit, I don’t know what would have happened to her,” he expressed, highlighting the intense pressure employees face in such environments.
He pointed out an alarming disparity: while these MNCs impose grueling hours on their Indian employees, they do not maintain the same expectations for workers in other countries. “Indians are being seen as donkeys to offload work,” he wrote, emphasizing that India is treated as a factory operating non-stop, 24/7. Aakash didn’t stop at sharing his wife’s story. He called on the Indian government to take action. He criticized the government for collecting taxes from employees without ensuring their basic rights and welfare in the workplace. “Let this be the last death,” he urged, hoping that this incident would prompt the government to introduce new laws to protect corporate workers, especially in cases of layoffs.
A lot of people have shared their opinions on this post. People are sharing their ordeals at work place.
The Tragic Loss of Anna Sebastian
Anna Sebastian’s death came after she collapsed at home, and her mother later stated that the immense work pressure had severely affected her health—both mental and physical. This heartbreaking letter went viral, igniting discussions about the toxic work environments that many face in corporate India.
Following Anna’s death, the Indian labor ministry announced that it would investigate the practices at EY. The firm expressed deep sorrow over Anna’s untimely passing, offering condolences to her family. They acknowledged her brief time with the company and stated that her loss was felt deeply by all. EY emphasized their commitment to employee well-being and vowed to find ways to improve workplace conditions for their 100,000 employees across India.
Conclusion
The story of Aakash’s wife and Anna Sebastian serves as a stark reminder of the need for change in corporate work culture. As discussions continue, it is clear that both employees and the government must work together to ensure healthier and more humane working conditions. This incident should inspire action to prevent further tragedies and promote a healthier workplace environment for all.
