In the wake of the tragic death of 26 year old Anna Sebastian, a employee of Ernst & Young (EY) India, shocking details of the firm’s toxic work culture have surfaced. Anna’s death has sparked conversations around excessive work demands at EY, with both former and current employees voicing their concerns.
Tragic Death of Anna Sebastian
Anna Sebastian joined EY India’s audit and assurance team in March and passed away just four months later. In a heart-wrenching letter to Rajiv Memani, Anna’s mother, Anita Augustine, shed light on the overwhelming work pressures her daughter endured. She revealed that Anna was burdened with “backbreaking work,” often working late into the night and even weekends, with little time to rest.
Anita stated that Anna received relentless calls from her managers, which left her utterly exhausted. Many nights, Anna collapsed into bed, too tired. Despite the grueling schedule, there seemed to be no respite.
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Former Employees Speak Out
After Rajiv Memani addressed the incident on LinkedIn, expressing his sadness over the loss, former employees flooded the post with their own stories of toxic work conditions at EY.
One ex-employee recounted being forced to work 17 to 18 hours daily. When he approached HR for help, his concerns were dismissed, with HR suggesting it was due to “client demands.” He added that his complaints were met with mockery from colleagues during team meetings, highlighting the lack of support.
Pandemic Worsens Conditions
The COVID-19 pandemic further intensified the toxic work culture at EY. One former staff member shared that during this period, work hours became even more unreasonable. “I started receiving calls as early as 8:30 AM, with some calls continuing until midnight,” the ex-employee revealed. This unrelenting pressure led to severe mental health issues, eventually causing him to resign without securing another job.
This individual also mentioned that the company’s attrition rate skyrocketed due to the hostile working environment, with many employees opting to leave without other job offers lined up, just to escape the pressure.
Government to Investigate
The public outcry following Anna Sebastian’s death has caught the attention of Union minister of state Shobha Karandlaje, who has promised an investigation by the labour ministry. The ministry aims to assess the working conditions at EY and determine if labor laws were violated.
The incident has opened the door for important conversations around workplace culture, mental health, and labor laws in India’s corporate world. It highlights the need for better employee support systems and stricter regulations to ensure that no one has to endure such extreme working conditions.
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Conclusion
The tragic story of Anna Sebastian and the workplace horror stories shared by former EY employees paint a disturbing picture of a high-pressure corporate environment that prioritizes client demands over employee well-being. As the government steps in to investigate, the hope is that this will bring about change, not only at EY but across similar high-stress workplaces.
