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

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.

Read More: EY India Head Confidential Letter on Stressful Workculture Leaked Online


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.

Who is Anna Sebastian Perayil?
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.

Read More: After Employee Death at EY, Employees from Other Big Fours Share Their Stressful Experience at Work

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.