India is investigating the work environment at the Big Four accounting firm EY after the death of a 26-year-old associate worker, Anna Sebastian Perayil, whose mother has accused the company of contributing to her death through excessive work stress.
Perayil passed away in July, and her mother, Anita Augustine, claimed in a letter to EY’s India chairman that her daughter endured an extremely demanding workload that severely impacted her physical, emotional, and mental health. The letter, which went viral on social media, has sparked widespread concern.
Labour Minister Shobha Karandlaje announced on X that a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway.
EY stated that it prioritizes employee well-being and is taking the family’s concerns with “the utmost seriousness and humility.” The firm noted that Perayil had been employed at one of its member firms in India for just four months, part of its workforce of about 100,000 people.
The call for better protection for employees in high-pressure jobs has gained traction following recent incidents, including the death of a junior banker at Bank of America and JPMorgan’s creation of a new role to address such concerns.
The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), a union representing IT employees, has requested an independent investigation into Perayil’s death and a broader review of working conditions in India’s IT and finance sectors.
The police in Pune, where Perayil worked, have not yet commented on the cause of her death.
