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Synopsis

Amid the ongoing uproar over the death of 26-year-old chartered accountant Anna Sebastian, who worked at Ernst & Young (EY) India and succumbed to work pressure, the Union Labour Ministry on Thursday, September 19, while expressing sorrow over the loss, officially announced an investigation into the matter. 

Shobha Karandlaje, a member of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Minister of State for Labour, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a post that said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil. A thorough investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway. We are committed to ensuring justice, and the Labour Ministry has officially taken up the complaint. @mansukhmandviya." 

Her post was in response to BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who in an X post stated, "Anna's death is unfortunate but also disturbing on many levels," and called for an immediate investigation into allegations of an exploitative work environment at EY India. 

This development follows a letter from Anna’s mother addressed to Ernst & Young’s Chairman, Rajiv Memani. In the letter, she detailed her plight, saying her daughter passed away within four months of joining EY. She urged the company’s leadership to transform the work culture which glorifies overwork while disregarding the human being behind the role.

"I am writing this letter as a grieving mother who has lost her precious child, Anna Sebastian Perayil. My heart is heavy, and my soul is shattered as I pen these words, but I believe it is necessary to share our story in the hope that no other family will have to endure the pain we are going through," the letter read. 

In her letter, Anna's mother recalled her daughter as vibrant, full of dreams, and excited about her new career at EY. However, she said her daughter’s tragic demise shattered her world altogether. She highlighted how the “backbreaking work,”, stress, and unrealistic expectations at EY took a severe toll on Anna’s mental and physical health. 

In conclusion, her mother emphasized the importance of a healthy work-life balance: “It is time to reflect on the work culture within your organization and take meaningful steps to prioritize the health and wellness of your employees. This means creating an environment where employees feel safe speaking up, are supported in managing their workload, and where productivity does not compromise mental and physical health." 

Ernst & Young's Official statement 

In response to Anna’s tragic death, EY also released an official statement stating,'' We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian's tragic and untimely passing in July 2024, and our deepest condolences go to the bereaved family. Anna was a part of the audit team at S R Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, in Pune for a brief period of four months, joining the firm on 18 March 2024. That her promising career was cut short in this tragic manner is an irreparable loss for all of us." 

EY said, "While no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have provided all the assistance we typically offer in such times of distress and will continue to do so." 

EY further stated that it would take the family's concerns with the utmost seriousness and ensure the well-being of its employees. 

'We place the highest importance on the well-being of all employees and will continue to find ways to improve and provide a healthy workplace for our 100,000 people across EY member firms in India," it added.