Explained: Why a 26-Year-Old EY CA's Tragic Death Has Sparked a Conversation on Toxic Work Culture

In a heart-wrenching incident, a 26-year-old Chartered Accountant, Anna Sebastian Perayil, tragically lost her life, with her family pointing to overwhelming work pressure at her job as the cause. Perayil, who had recently started her career at EY Pune, one of the Big Four accounting firms, had been battling intense stress and exhaustion just four months into her role. Her family believes the crushing workload took a devastating toll on her mental and physical health, ultimately leading to her untimely death.

Perayil, a bright young professional from Kerala , cleared her Chartered Accountancy exams in 2023 and joined EY Pune as an executive in March 2024. Like many fresh graduates, she was eager to prove herself in her first job, working tirelessly to meet the demands of the role. However, her mother, Anita Augustine, has now shared a heart-wrenching account of the grueling work conditions her daughter endured. In a letter addressed to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, Augustine condemned the company for "glorifying overwork" and creating a toxic environment that left her daughter overwhelmed and exhausted.

“She began experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress soon after joining, but continued to push herself, believing hard work and perseverance were the path to success,” Augustine wrote in her emotional letter.

Excessive Workload and Unreasonable Demands

According to Augustine, many employees at EY Pune had resigned due to the excessive workload, leaving fewer hands to manage a growing pile of tasks. Perayil’s boss reportedly urged her to “stick around and change everyone’s opinion about the team,” placing immense pressure on the young woman. Augustine described how her daughter worked late into the night and on weekends, leaving little time to rest or recover.

"Her manager would often reschedule meetings during cricket matches and assign her work at the end of the day, adding to her stress," Augustine wrote. At an office party, a senior leader even joked about Perayil having a hard time working under her manager, a comment that proved to be all too true.

One particularly distressing incident recounted by Augustine involved Perayil receiving a task late at night with a deadline the next morning. When she expressed concern about the unreasonable demand, her assistant manager’s response was dismissive: “You can work at night; that’s what we all do.” Augustine said this kind of relentless pressure was the norm for her daughter, who was frequently assigned verbal tasks beyond her official responsibilities.

A Deteriorating Condition

As the workload increased, so did the toll on Perayil’s health. She frequently returned home completely drained, collapsing on her bed without even changing her clothes. Despite these signs of physical and emotional exhaustion, the demands for reports and tasks kept coming.

“She was putting in her best efforts, working very hard to meet the deadlines. She was a fighter to the core, not someone to give up easily,” Augustine shared. Despite her family’s pleas to quit the job, Perayil continued to push herself, eager to gain new skills and exposure.

In the weeks leading up to her death, Perayil began experiencing severe chest discomfort, prompting her family to take her to the hospital. An ECG showed normal results, and the cardiologist assured the family that the issue was likely due to lack of sleep and irregular eating habits. The doctor prescribed antacids, and her family was reassured that the situation was not serious. Tragically, Perayil passed away on July 20, leaving her family devastated.

EY’s Silence and Absence at the Funeral

Adding to the family’s grief was the fact that no representatives from EY Pune attended Perayil’s funeral. Despite her dedicated service to the company, her managers and colleagues failed to show up to pay their respects, an absence that Augustine described as deeply hurtful.

“This absence at such a critical moment, for an employee who gave her all to your organization until her last breath, is deeply hurtful,” Augustine wrote in her letter. After the funeral, she reached out to her daughter’s managers, only to be met with silence. “How can a company that speaks of values and human rights fail to show up for one of its own in their final moments?”

In her letter to EY’s leadership, Augustine questioned how the company could claim to uphold human rights values while fostering a work culture that glorifies overwork. “Anna was a young professional. Like many in her position, she did not have the experience or the agency to draw boundaries or push back against unreasonable demands,” Augustine wrote. “She did not know how to say no. She was trying to prove herself in a new environment, and in doing so, she pushed herself beyond limits. And now, she is no longer with us.”

A Call for Change

Augustine’s letter serves as a wake-up call to EY and the broader corporate world to reflect on their work culture and the importance of employee well-being. “It is time to reflect on the work culture within your organization and take meaningful steps to prioritize the health and wellness of your employees,” Augustine urged in her emotional plea.

Perayil’s tragic death has sparked conversations about the high-pressure environments that many young professionals face. Many social media users have suggested that if India had a genuine left-wing party, instead of parties that merely demonize Indian culture, young professionals wouldn't feel so voiceless. 

“You work hard & crack one of the toughest exams in the country & then are expected to make huge sacrifices & severe alterations to your lifestyle thereby impacting your health & relationships - all this & no one from your team attends your funeral. Grim,” wrote a X user named Malvika Rao. Malvika Rao has also shared Augestine's full letter to Chairman of EY, India. “Read this entire thing, found it really very scary, as i am also starting my corporate journey soon,” wrote Dhimahi Jain. 

“It's not EY. It's the overall work culture that we have which is pathetic.  A  cousin of mine works for one of the Big 4. She moved out of country ,  the same company has a peaceful work culture in Aus office. Here she was under immense stress & overloaded,” wrote Krithika Sivawasmy, an entrepreneur from Chennai. ""No one from EY attended Anna's funeral". This particular line stuck out from the email Anna's mother has written to @rajivmemani  (Chairman of EY, India) after Anna's death," wrote Ravi Handa.  

As more details emerge, her family hopes that her story will lead to changes that prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.

While the exact cause of Perayil’s death remains unclear, her family firmly believes that the overwhelming stress she experienced at work played a significant role in her decline. Her mother’s letter stands as a poignant reminder of the human cost of overwork, and the urgent need for corporate accountability in creating healthier work environments.