EY India Chairman Refutes Work Pressure Claims In 26-Year-Old Employee’s Death: Report

Rajiv Memani, Chairman of Ernst & Young India, refuted allegations that the death of 26-year-old employee Anna Sebastian Perayil in July was due to "work pressure."

The controversy erupted after Anna's mother penned a heart-wrenching letter to Memani, which went viral on social media and triggered widespread outrage.

In response, Memani stated that Anna was assigned tasks comparable to those of any other employee and dismissed the notion that work pressure could have led to her death.

"We have around 100,000 employees, and while hard work is expected from everyone, Anna was with us for only four months and was given the same workload as her peers. We do not believe that work pressure was a factor in her passing," Memani told The Indian Express.

Memani expressed condolences, calling Anna's death an irreparable loss to Ernst & Young India and its employees.

"Anna was part of the Audit team at S R Batliboi, an EY Global member firm in Pune, where she joined on March 18, 2024. Her untimely passing is a profound loss for all of us. Although no action can truly compensate for this loss, we have provided, and will continue to provide, support during this distressing time," Memani stated in a press release on Wednesday.

Additionally, Memani revealed that he has responded to the letter from Anna's mother, Anita Augustine, assuring continued support and commitment to improving workplace conditions.

"We are addressing the family's concerns with the highest seriousness and respect. The well-being of our employees is paramount, and we remain dedicated to enhancing and maintaining a supportive work environment for our 100,000 employees across EY member firms in India," he added.

Anna's mother had shared that EY was her daughter's first job and described Anna as a "fighter" who excelled academically and was eager to face the challenges of her new role. She noted that Anna worked diligently at EY, fully committing to her responsibilities.