'Deeply saddened': EY chairperson apologizes for missing Anna Sebastian's funeral
Rajiv Memani, the chairperson of Ernst and Young (EY) India, has apologized for the company's absence at the funeral of an employee who allegedly died due to excessive work pressure. In a LinkedIn post, Memani expressed his deep sorrow over Anna Sebastian Perayil's death and regretted that no one from EY attended her funeral. He described this oversight as "completely alien to our culture" and assured it would not happen again.
Memani's commitment to a healthy workplace
Memani also emphasized his dedication to fostering a harmonious work environment, stating that he would not rest until this goal was achieved. "It has always been very important to us to create a healthy workplace, and we attach the highest importance to the well-being of our people," he said. He further affirmed that employee well-being is his top priority and vowed to personally champion this objective.
Mother's open letter reveals alleged work pressure
Perayil, who joined EY in March, died on July 20. The incident came to light earlier this week after her mother Anita Augustine's open letter to the company went viral. In the letter, Augustine claimed that no one from EY attended her daughter's funeral and alleged that Perayil succumbed to "work pressure." "How can a company that speaks of values and human rights fail to show up for one of its own in their final moments?" she wrote.
Government launches probe into Perayil's death
The Centre has launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to Perayil's death. Minister of State for Labour Shobha Karandlaje announced on Thursday that a thorough probe into allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment at EY is underway. The Union labor ministry has also taken up the complaint and will be investigating any potential connection between Perayil's death and her work at EY.
