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India Probes EY Over Employee's Death Amid Allegations of Stressful Work Environment
India is investigating EY following the death of a 26-year-old associate worker, whose mother blamed stress and overwork for her death. The tragic incident has sparked calls for a review of working conditions in high-pressure sectors.
ND
by News Desk
2024-09-19
India Probes EY Over Employee's Death Amid Allegations of Stressful Work Environment

Indian authorities are investigating the work environment at Big Four accounting firm EY (Ernst & Young) following the death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, an associate worker who passed away in July. Her mother, Anita Augustine, attributed her death to extreme stress and overwork in a viral letter addressed to EY’s India chairman.

The letter, although not verified independently by Reuters, has sparked outrage on social media, with growing calls for accountability regarding workplace conditions at the firm. Augustine alleged that her daughter’s "backbreaking" workload in her first few months at EY negatively impacted her physically, emotionally, and mentally.

India’s Labour Minister, Shobha Karandlaje, confirmed that an investigation is underway. “A thorough investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway,” Karandlaje posted on the social platform X (formerly Twitter).

EY’s Response:

In a statement, EY expressed its deep concern over the matter, emphasizing the importance of employee well-being. "We are taking the family’s correspondence with the utmost seriousness and humility," the company said. EY employs approximately 100,000 people across its member firms in India, and Perayil had been with the company for four months.

Broader Discussions on Workplace Stress:

This incident highlights the growing global conversation about the pressures of high-stress jobs, particularly in sectors such as IT and finance. The issue gained traction earlier this year after the death of a junior banker at Bank of America and the subsequent creation of a new role at JPMorgan to address concerns around employee well-being.

India's Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), a union representing IT workers, has since written to the ministries of labour and interior, demanding an independent investigation into Perayil’s death, which it alleges was a suicide. NITES is also calling for a broader review of workplace conditions across India’s IT and finance sectors.

Demand for Better Workplace Conditions:

NITES President Harpreet Singh Saluja urged authorities to ensure safe and humane working conditions in these high-pressure industries. "It is critical to address the rising concerns of employee burnout and stress-related deaths in India’s fast-paced corporate environment," he said.

Perayil worked in Pune, and local police have yet to provide a statement regarding the exact cause of her death. However, the case has raised pressing questions about the mental health and safety of employees working in demanding corporate roles across the country.
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