“Work Allotted Like Other Employees”: EY Chairman Dismisses Work Pressure Claim (image-twitter/rajivmemani)

Responding to the death of 26-year-old chartered accountant Anna Sebastian, EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani dismissed claims that work pressure was the cause of her death, stating that she had been assigned tasks similar to those of other employees.

“We have around one lakh employees. There is no doubt each one has to work hard. Anna worked with us only for four months. She was allotted work like any other employee. We don’t believe that work pressure could have claimed her life,” he said.

Read also: Centre To Probe Death Of EY India Executive Anna Sebastian Perayil

Ernst and Young faced severe social media backlash after Anna Sebastian Perayil died on July 20. Her mother had penned a letter to the EY Chairman appealing for a better working condition for the employees. The letter has gone viral on social media.

Her mother in the letter had said that her daughter had worked tirelessly at the company and workload.

Rajiv Memani also said that Anna Sebastian Perayil’s promising career was cut short in this tragic manner is an “irreparable loss” for the company. He said, “While no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have provided all the assistance as we always do in such times of distress and will continue to do so.”

He further said that he had addressed the letter sent by Anna’s mother by assuring her with full support. “In addition to providing immediate assistance, he is committed to implementing further measures aimed at bettering the existing systems,” he said.

Meanwhile, Union Labour Minister Shobha Karandlaje said that the government has taken up the complaint regarding the conditions that led to the death of Anna. She also added that a thorough investigation into the allegation of an unsafe and exploitive work environment is underway.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil. A thorough investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway. We are committed to ensuring justice and the Labour Ministry has officially taken up the complaint,” the minister said.

Read also: “We Have Provided All The Assistance…”: EY India Responds To CA Anna Sebastian Perayil’s Death

Anita’s letter, which went viral and was part of discourse online and offline for the last 24 hours, paints a heartbreaking picture of Anna’s last few months at the firm, describing her daughter as “full of life, dreams, and excitement” when she first joined EY.

Anna had recently passed her CA exams in November 2023, and EY was her first job.