Was Anna Sebastian Perayil Paid Rs 28.5 Lakhs For 4 Months? CAs Curious
The death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, a former Ernst & Young (EY) India employee allegedly due to work pressure, created shockwaves across the country, especially among the corporate world. As several people came forward with their personal experiences in working with the Big4 and the toxic work culture, many political leaders spoke for implementing better working conditions for young professionals.
Amidst all this, many chartered accountants expressed their curiosity after report of Rs 28.50 lakh deposited in Anna’s account surfaced during her tenure at EY Pune, spanning four months.
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According to The Hindu, during an inspection conducted by labour department officials of the Maharashtra government, the team found that during her employment period from March 11, 2024, to July 19, 2024, Anna’s account received Rs 28.50 lakhs.
The company stated that they provided double remuneration for extra work and that employees are given comp offs for extra work hours they put in. “As per preliminary information, Anna was given comp off,” said Shailendra Pol, Additional Labour Commissioner, as quoted by The Hindu.
Several CA’s expressed their shock and doubt over the numbers. In a LinkedIn post, Vishant Mehra, a former EY employee, said that during his tenure, he has never come across comp off or additional compensation for extra hours.
Many CA’s pointed out that fresher CAs in the audit department usually have an annual fixed package of around Rs 10 lakhs, and receiving such a huge amount within the first four months is highly unlikely.
Some argued that the number might include a year-end bonus and reimbursements Anna might have claimed. Others remarked that even so, the number still appears to be quite high. Mehra also stated that EY usually gives a year-end bonus in September.
Others raised doubts on the accuracy of the data. “Either the data is inaccurate or the company has submitted false information,” said Mathew Binny in the LinkedIn post.
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Another LinkedIn user said, “Though the number looks absurd.. are they trying to claim they have priced her life with money?”
Since the untimely demise of Anna, several people have come forward with their past and current experiences at working at EY, Deloitte, and other major firms, corroborating Augustine’s claims of employees being pushed to the brink of exhaustion. Union Labour Minister Shobha Karandlaje said that the government has launched a probe on Anna’s death and the allegations raised by her parents against the company.
