Anna Sebastian’s life – A promising career cut short by workplace pressure

 

 

Who is Anna Sebastian?

Anna Sebastian Perayil was a 26-year-old chartered accountant from Kerala, India, who tragically passed away in July 2024, just four months after starting her job at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune. Anna had joined the company as an audit and assurance executive. Her death has been linked to the extreme workload and high-pressure environment she faced at the firm. According to her mother, Anita Augustine, Anna was physically, emotionally, and mentally drained due to the long hours and overwhelming expectations placed on her, which eventually led to her collapse and death. Anita’s open letter to EY’s leadership has sparked widespread outrage, with many criticizing the toxic work culture in large corporations like EY.

The case has prompted a significant conversation about workplace conditions in the corporate world, especially in high-demand roles such as those at the “Big Four” accounting firms. EY has expressed deep sorrow and assured that they are committed to improving the work environment for their employees, though many continue to call for broader systemic changes to prevent such tragedies in the future​

What was the viral letter?

Anna Sebastian Perayil, who passed her CA exams in 2023, worked at EY Pune office for four months before she succumbed.

Anna Sebastian Perayil’s mother, Anita Augustine, wrote a deeply emotional and critical letter to Rajiv Memani, the Chairman of EY India, after the death of her daughter. Anna, a 26-year-old chartered accountant, had been working at EY for only four months before she passed away in July 2024 due to extreme work pressure. In the letter, Anita highlighted the immense stress and exhaustion Anna faced daily, which contributed to her physical and mental decline. The letter brought attention to the firm’s work culture, criticizing the excessive demands placed on young employees, and lamented that no one from EY attended Anna’s funeral.

The letter has since gone viral, drawing widespread attention to the issue of overwork and toxic corporate environments. It has sparked a broader conversation about the mental and physical toll of such work conditions on employees, especially at large firms like EY

Govt probes EY ‘death’ case of Anna Sebastian  

The Indian government has launched an official probe into the tragic death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian, an EY (Ernst & Young) employee, who allegedly succumbed to work-related stress. The investigation, initiated by the Union Labour Ministry, follows widespread outrage over Anna’s death in July 2024. Anna had been employed for just four months as an audit and assurance executive at EY in Pune.

Her mother, Anita Augustine, penned a public letter accusing the company of fostering a toxic work environment that led to Anna’s overwhelming stress, anxiety, and eventual health complications. After the letter went viral, Minister of State for Labour Shobha Karandlaje announced on social media that the ministry would thoroughly investigate the allegations of an unsafe workplace. Several political figures, including Rajeev Chandrasekhar, also called for accountability, citing concerns over exploitative working conditions.

This case has brought renewed attention to the mental health impacts of high-pressure corporate jobs, sparking a wider discussion on employee well-being across India