EY employee death: Anna's father breaks silence after mother's letter goes viral | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Sibi Joseph, father of Anna Sebastian Perayil, the 26-year-old EY employee who died due to ‘work-related stress‘, said that his daughter was “hardly getting any sleep and was unable to eat proper food”, during an interview with news agency IANS.
He further said that despite their advice to resign from her job, Anna insisted on continuing to work at the “reputed firm”.
Joseph mentioned that his daughter, who was involved in an audit of Bajaj Auto, would often work past midnight and return to her paying guest accommodation around 1.30 am. She frequently complained about her work situation, and her parents even took her to a cardiologist in July. The doctor confirmed that while she was healthy, she lacked adequate sleep and proper nutrition.
Additionally, Joseph said that the letter written by his wife to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani was intended to prevent similar incidents from happening to others in the future, even though their daughter had died. The family has decided not to pursue legal action against the company.
The Union labour ministry ordered a probe to look into the circumstances surrounding Anna’s death.
Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday said an investigation is underway. “Based on the findings of the probe, necessary action will be taken,” Mandaviya told reporters.
His deputy Shobha Karandlaje said on microblogging platform X that a thorough probe into the allegations “of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway.”
“We are committed to ensuring justice & the labour ministry has officially taken up the complaint,” she said while responding to a post by former minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who had reposted TOI’s post on Anna’s mother Anita Augustine’s letter to EY chairman Rajiv Memani that alleged workplace stress.
Meanwhile, in response to the incident, Memani denied claims that “work pressure” was the cause of Anna Perayil’s death, highlighting that EY has approximately 100,000 employees across India.
“There is no doubt each one has to work hard (but) we don’t believe work pressure could have claimed her life,” he said.
EY’s India office released a statement on Thursday expressing their sorrow over Ms. Perayil’s passing and extending their deepest condolences to her family.
The company, which is currently under government investigation for potentially fostering an “unsafe and exploitative work environment”, has pledged to identify methods to enhance and maintain a healthy workplace.
The letter written by Perayil’s mother to Memani has stirred outrage and intense discussions, both online and in the media, regarding the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The letter urged EY India to reassess a work culture that “seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human beings behind the role”.
“She was full of life, dreams, and excitement for the future. EY was her first job, and she was thrilled to be part of such a prestigious company. But four months later, on July 20th, 2024, my world collapsed when I received the devastating news that Anna had passed away. She was just 26 years old,” her mother, Anita Augustine, wrote.
He further said that despite their advice to resign from her job, Anna insisted on continuing to work at the “reputed firm”.
Joseph mentioned that his daughter, who was involved in an audit of Bajaj Auto, would often work past midnight and return to her paying guest accommodation around 1.30 am. She frequently complained about her work situation, and her parents even took her to a cardiologist in July. The doctor confirmed that while she was healthy, she lacked adequate sleep and proper nutrition.
Additionally, Joseph said that the letter written by his wife to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani was intended to prevent similar incidents from happening to others in the future, even though their daughter had died. The family has decided not to pursue legal action against the company.
The Union labour ministry ordered a probe to look into the circumstances surrounding Anna’s death.
Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday said an investigation is underway. “Based on the findings of the probe, necessary action will be taken,” Mandaviya told reporters.
His deputy Shobha Karandlaje said on microblogging platform X that a thorough probe into the allegations “of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway.”
“We are committed to ensuring justice & the labour ministry has officially taken up the complaint,” she said while responding to a post by former minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who had reposted TOI’s post on Anna’s mother Anita Augustine’s letter to EY chairman Rajiv Memani that alleged workplace stress.
Meanwhile, in response to the incident, Memani denied claims that “work pressure” was the cause of Anna Perayil’s death, highlighting that EY has approximately 100,000 employees across India.
“There is no doubt each one has to work hard (but) we don’t believe work pressure could have claimed her life,” he said.
EY’s India office released a statement on Thursday expressing their sorrow over Ms. Perayil’s passing and extending their deepest condolences to her family.
The company, which is currently under government investigation for potentially fostering an “unsafe and exploitative work environment”, has pledged to identify methods to enhance and maintain a healthy workplace.
The letter written by Perayil’s mother to Memani has stirred outrage and intense discussions, both online and in the media, regarding the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The letter urged EY India to reassess a work culture that “seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human beings behind the role”.
“She was full of life, dreams, and excitement for the future. EY was her first job, and she was thrilled to be part of such a prestigious company. But four months later, on July 20th, 2024, my world collapsed when I received the devastating news that Anna had passed away. She was just 26 years old,” her mother, Anita Augustine, wrote.
