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, “Anna, you must stick around and change everyone’s opinion about our team.” Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI : Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, Developer and Lead Instructor View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.
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P. Gupta, Professor: Department of Finance and Business Economics, University of Delhi View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program “Burdening newcomers with such backbreaking work, making them work day and night, even on Sundays, has no justification whatsoever. She had just left her hometown and loved ones.
Everything was new to her—the organization, the place, the language—and she was trying very hard to adjust. You should show some consideration to new employees. Instead, the management took full advantage of the fact that she was new and overwhelmed her with both assigned and unassigned work,” Anita Augustine said in her letter to EY India chairman.
When to Consider Leaving Your Job: 6 Warning Signs If your job is tormenting you with sleepless nights, muscle aches, stomach aches, headaches, and other physical symptoms of stress, these are signs that your job is toxic, writes John Coleman, the author of the HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose said in a HBR article. He advises: "You need to ditch such a job to cope with it." Physical Stress: Sleepless nights, headaches, and constant fatigue are signs of a toxic job that is negatively affecting your health.
Feeling Undervalued: When you realize your contributions are not being fairly compensated, it may be time to leave, especially if there is a persistent pay gap. Lack of Aspiration for Senior Roles: If you no longer aspire to advance within the company and find yourself overwhelmed by work pressure, it may signal the need for a career change. Dreading Each Workday: If the mere thought of going to work fills you with dread, it’s a strong indication that your job is no longer fulfilling.
No Control Over Your Time: If deadlines and work commitments consistently override personal plans, it may be time to reconsider your job. Boredom and Lack of Growth: A job that no longer challenges or excites you can lead to stagnation, signaling it’s time to move on..
