Anna Sebastian's father explains why wife wrote to EY chairman
Sibi Joseph, the father of 26-year-old Ernst and Young (EY) employee Anna Sebastian Perayil, who died due to alleged "work-related stress," has revealed that his daughter was "getting hardly any sleep and was unable to eat proper food." He stated that despite their advice for her to quit, she insisted on continuing due to the company's reputation. Perayil was part of an audit team at a Pune-based member firm of EY Global.
Perayil's work schedule and health concerns
Joseph further disclosed that Perayil, who was auditing Bajaj Auto, often worked past midnight and returned to her accommodation around 1:30am. "She used to complain about this often... it reached a point we told her to quit," he said. In July, they took her to a cardiologist who confirmed she was healthy but lacked proper sleep and nutrition.
Family's letter to EY India chairman
Joseph also clarified that his wife's letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani was intended to prevent such incidents from happening again. "We are not going to take legal steps against the company," he added. Memani has denied any suggestion that "work pressure" led to Perayil's death, stating that while EY's 100,000 employees across India undoubtedly work hard, he does not believe work pressure could have claimed her life.
EY India's response and government investigation
EY India, now under government scrutiny for a possible "unsafe and exploitative work environment," has expressed sorrow over Perayil's death and offered condolences to her family. The company also pledged to find ways to improve and provide a healthy workplace. On Thursday, Minister of State for Labour Shobha Karandlaje stated that the government was "deeply saddened by the tragic loss" and confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding Perayil's death.
Mother's letter sparks debate on work-life balance
Perayil's death made headlines after her mother, Anita Augustine, wrote a letter to Memani urging EY India to rethink its work environment. "EY was her first job, and she was thrilled to be part of such a prestigious company. But four months later...my world collapsed when I received the devastating news that Anna had passed away," Augustine wrote in the letter.
