A 26-year-old Ernst & Young (EY) employee in Pune, Anna Sebastian Perayil , tragically passed away due to what her mother described as "overwhelming workload." In a letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, her mother, Anita Augustine , claimed that Anna, who had joined the firm just four months earlier, succumbed to the relentless demands of her job. Anita explained that EY was Anna’s first job as a chartered accountant in Pune, and she was initially excited about her new role.
However, within a few months, the workload became unbearable. Anna often worked late nights and weekends, returning to her paying guest accommodation utterly exhausted. The excessive workload and backbreaking tasks placed on her as a newcomer became too much to handle.
In her letter, Anna’s mother emphasized that her daughter had always been a high achiever—she was a school and college topper and had passed her CA exams with distinction. Despite excelling in every area of her life, Anna struggled to cope with the pressure of her job, which had a profound impact on her physical, emotional, and mental health. In her LinkedIn profile, Anna Sebastian Perayil described herself as also being a national level debator besides being a chartered accountant.
Anita also highlighted that the team Anna had joined at EY had already seen several resignations due to excessive workload. The team manager’s expectations added even more pressure on Anna, with her mother recalling how the manager had told her, “A.