"EY's Callous Attitude": Mother Of CA Anna Sebastian Perayil Who Died Allegedly Due To Work Pressure

Anita Augustine, the grieving mother of Anna Sebastian Perayil, has penned a powerful letter to Rajiv Memani, Chairman of EY India, holding the company accountable for the death of her daughter. Anna, a promising young Chartered Accountant, joined EY Pune in March 2024. After only four months with the firm, she tragically passed away at the age of 26, allegedly due to the relentless work pressure she endured.

In her letter, Augustine recalls the excitement her daughter felt when joining EY, describing it as her first job after passing her CA exams in November 2023. “Anna was full of life, dreams, and excitement for the future. EY was her first job, and she was thrilled to be part of such a prestigious company. But four months later, my world collapsed when I received the devastating news that Anna had passed away,” Augustine writes.

Anna, a top-performing student and achiever, worked tirelessly to meet the demands placed on her by EY. Augustine recounts how her daughter suffered from anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress shortly after joining the company. Despite these signs, Anna persevered, believing that hard work would lead to success. “She worked late into the night, even on weekends, with no opportunity to catch her breath,” Augustine states.

One of the most heart-wrenching moments for Augustine came during Anna’s CA Convocation in July. Augustine had travelled to Pune from Kochi with her husband to attend the ceremony, but even on that day, Anna was working from home until the afternoon. Augustine explains, “It was my daughter’s great dream to take her parents to her convocation with her own hard-earned money. She booked our flight tickets and took us. It breaks my heart to tell you that even during those two days, which were the last we would spend with our child, she couldn’t enjoy them because of the work pressure.”

Anna’s work environment only added to her stress. Augustine mentions that when Anna joined a specific team, she was informed that several employees had resigned due to the overwhelming workload. The team manager even said, “Anna, you must stick around and change everyone’s opinion about our team.” The mother reflects, “My child didn’t realize she would pay for that with her life.”

Describing the intense workload Anna faced, Augustine details how her daughter was often assigned additional tasks verbally, beyond her official duties. One incident involved her assistant manager calling her late at night with a task that had to be completed by the following morning. “She voiced her concerns, but was met with the dismissive response, ‘You can work at night; that’s what we all do,'” Augustine recalls.

Anna’s exhaustion was evident. She would often collapse on her bed after returning to her accommodation, sometimes without even changing her clothes, only to be bombarded with further requests for reports. Her mother poignantly remarks, “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.”

Despite her parents urging her to quit, Anna was determined to learn and gain experience. However, the weight of expectations and relentless demands became too much for her to bear. Augustine writes with regret, “Anna would never have blamed her managers. She was too kind for that. But I cannot remain silent. Burdening newcomers with such backbreaking work, making them work day and night, even on Sundays, has no justification whatsoever.”

The letter highlights systemic issues within EY’s work culture. Augustine describes it as a culture that “glorifies overwork while neglecting the very human beings behind the roles.” She questions how EY can reconcile its human rights statement, which bears Rajiv Memani’s signature, with the reality her daughter faced.

Adding to the family’s pain, Augustine notes that no one from EY attended Anna’s funeral. “This absence at such a critical moment, for an employee who gave her all to your organisation until her last breath, is deeply hurtful,” she writes. After the funeral, Augustine reached out to Anna’s managers but received no response. “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 asks.

Augustine concludes the letter by urging EY to reflect on its work culture and take meaningful steps to prioritise the health and well-being of its employees. “Anna’s death should serve as a wake-up call for EY. It is time to reflect on the work culture within your organisation and take meaningful steps to prioritise the health and wellness of your employees,” she writes.

She ends with a plea: “I hope my child’s experience leads to real change so that no other family has to endure the grief and trauma we are going through. My Anna is no longer with us, but her story can still make a difference.”

The letter casts a damning light on the corporate culture at EY and raises serious concerns about the pressure placed on young professionals in such environments.

(Timeline. has contacted EY India officials regarding the letter and the allegations. We will update the copy as we get a response)