The Maharashtra Labour Department conducted an inspection at the EY Pune office on Monday in connection with the death of 26-year-old Chartered Accountant Anna Sebastian Perayil, who reportedly died due to overwork. Senior officials from the department visited the premises to gather information and assess working conditions.
Pune Additional Labour Commissioner Shailendra Pol stated that they reviewed various documents related to Anna at the office and have requested EY to submit the same documents to the department within seven days. “We have checked the working conditions and current situations at the office. We sought information about the working rules, welfare policy of the company, and policies for extra working hours,” Pol said.
Furthermore, Pol mentioned that they reviewed the deceased’s appointment letter and the associated rules and regulations. “Once we receive all the requested information, we will submit a report to the Central government, after which they will take further action,” he added.
This inspection follows allegations from Anna’s mother, who claimed that her daughter’s death was caused by excessive workload and pressure at EY. The Union Labour Ministry has taken up the complaint, and a thorough investigation is underway.
Anna Sebastian Perayil, a young chartered accountant from Kerala, worked at EY’s Pune office for four months before her death on July 20, which was reportedly due to ‘overwork.’ Her passing has sparked a nationwide debate on work-life balance, mental health, and corporate accountability.
In response, EY issued a statement expressing deep sadness over Anna’s death. This statement followed a poignant letter from the victim’s mother that went viral on social media, alleging that EY’s work culture and excessive workload contributed to her daughter’s demise. The letter detailed Anna’s struggles with anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress due to her overwhelming workload, citing instances where her manager prioritized work over employee well-being.
EY acknowledged the victim’s brief tenure at the firm and expressed condolences to her family. Regarding the allegations, EY stated, “We are taking the family’s correspondence with the utmost seriousness and humility. We place the highest importance on the well-being of all employees and will continue to find ways to improve and provide a healthy workplace for our 100,000 people across EY member firms in India.” The firm assured that it has provided assistance to the family and will continue to do so.