EY death case: Letter leaked from Pune office; it shows many were suffering like my daughter, says Anna's father

As the controversy erupts across country over working conditions at big firms, 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil's father has said that the letter which ignited conversations was leaked from the Pune unit of EY.

According to Joseph, the letter penned by his wife was sent as a personal email to the head of EY India immediately after their daughter's passing. He said neither he nor any other family member had disclosed the letter's content to the public.

"The letter was leaked from EY's Pune office, which means there are many people similarly suffering in the company who want the letter to be out in public," Joseph remarked.


Read More: Death of 26-year-old EY employee sparks social media debate on toxic work culture; company responds by saying....

Joseph clarified that the letter's purpose was to raise awareness among the company's top executives to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

He also mentioned that the family has no intention of pursuing legal action against the company.

Recently, the officials of Ernst and Young (EY) visited the home of late Anna Sebastian Perayil in Kangarapady, Kochi. In the meeting held on Wednesday, Sebastian's parents made an appeal to the company to terminate the employees who were responsible for their daughter's untimely demise.

Sibi Joseph, Sebastian's father, said, "Four EY officials had come here, and we reiterated our concerns to them."

Read more: EY employee death: Govt investigates allegations of unsafe, exploitative work environment at audit firm

Govt probes EY 'death' case:

The Minister of State for Labour Ministry Shobha Karandlaje on Thursday announced that an official complaint has been filed with the investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment underway.

"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 & @LabourMinistry has officially taken up the complaint," said the MoS.

The case pertains to 26-year-old employee at the audit major EY who dead allegedly due to extreme work pressure at the firm, went viral on social media and turned the spotlight on work-related stress. "We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian's tragic and untimely passing in July 2024," EY said in a statement.

EY said it would continue to improve and provide a healthy workplace in its offices throughout the country.

What was the viral letter?

Anna Sebastian Perayil, who passed her CA exams in 2023, worked at EY Pune office for four months before she succumbed.

The deceased's mother wrote an emotional letter to the EY Chairman, one of the Big Four accounting firms, alleging that her daughter's demanding work schedule contributed to her death. She expressed concerns over the intense workload placed on her daughter, a newcomer to the company, highlighting the toll of working long hours without breaks, including on Sundays. This case has raised questions about employee welfare and the pressures faced by young professionals.

In the letter, the mother said "“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.”

“Anna was always a fighter, from childhood through her academic years, where she excelled in everything she did. She was a school topper, and a college topper, excelled in extracurricular activities, and passed her CA exams with distinction. She worked tirelessly at EY, giving her all to meet the demands placed on her,” the mother said in the letter further.