EY employee death: Pune office operating without required permits
Ernst & Young (EY) India is under scrutiny following the death of an employee, Anna Sebastian Perayil, due to alleged overwork. Investigations have revealed that the company's Pune office has been operating without a state permit regulating work hours since 2007. This mandatory permit falls under Maharashtra's "Shops and Establishments Act," which stipulates a maximum of nine working hours per day and 48 hours per week for adults.
EY India's permit application rejected in 2024
Shailendra Pol, Maharashtra's additional labor commissioner, confirmed that EY India had only applied for registration with the labor department in February 2024. "The company applied for a registration with the labor department only in February 2024 and we rejected it because it had not applied since 2007 when it started this office," Pol told Reuters. The firm has now been given seven days to explain this oversight.
Anna's mother alleges 'overwhelming workload' led to death
Perayil's mother had written a letter to EY India's Chairman Rajiv Memani, alleging that her daughter died due to an "overwhelming workload" at the Pune office. The family claimed that Perayil died of cardiac arrest. "She worked late into the night, even on weekends, with no opportunity to catch her breath," Perayil's mother stated in the letter. This letter sparked a conversation about the impact of high-pressure jobs on employees' physical and mental health and went viral on social media.
NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of the case
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also taken suo motu cognizance of Perayil's case, stating that if reports are true, overworking people excessively is a grave violation of their rights. The human rights body issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment and has sought a detailed report on the matter.
EY India's response
EY India had earlier said that the well-being of all employees is of utmost importance and they are addressing the family's concerns with seriousness and humility. However, the company has yet to issue a statement on the lack of permit, reports said. Pol and his team will further investigate EY's log book for employee hours, welfare policies, and whether Perayil had been overworked excessively during her four months of work at the company.
