Tragic death of a 26-year-old EY employee floods social media with toxic workplaces stories - 'Remember Narayan Murthy's 70 hour work week?'

The recent death of a 26-year-old Ernst & Young (EY) employee, Anna Sebastian Perayil , has sparked widespread discussions on social media about the toxic work environments in many corporations. Anna’s death on July 20, 2023, just months after joining the firm in Pune, was attributed by her mother, Anita Augustine, to overwhelming work pressure. This tragic event has led to a public outcry for better workplace reforms and sparked stories of toxic work experiences shared by thousands online.


EY employee Anna’s mother letter to company’s chairman

Anna Sebastian Perayil, a chartered accountant, joined Ernst & Young just four months before her untimely death. Her mother, Anita, wrote a letter to EY India’s chairman, Rajiv Memani, blaming Anna's extreme workload for her deteriorating health and eventual death. According to her mother, Anna was subjected to constant late-night work and weekend tasks, leaving her physically, emotionally, and mentally drained. Anita’s letter expressed sorrow over the fact that none of Anna’s colleagues, including her manager, attended her funeral, further intensifying the conversation about corporate culture .

https://www.instagram.com/p/DABloMAzXGK/?igsh=bWlwd24xbW1hdWg1 https://www.instagram.com/p/DABloMAzXGK/?igsh=bWlwd24xbW1hdWg1

Social media response

The letter prompted an explosive reaction on social media, where thousands of individuals shared their own experiences of working in toxic environments. Many echoed Anita’s call for reform in workplaces where overwork is normalised and even glorified.

One X user, Radhika Roy, described the work culture in India as exploitative, highlighting how underpayment and overworking are often seen as commendable.

This is so heartbreaking. Work culture in India is horrid. Pay is dismal, exploitation is max. There are zero repercussions & no remorse on the part of employers who routinely harass workers. Worst part? Overworking & underpaying are lauded. We are an unhappy nation for a reason. https://t.co/hwf9j6Uhvd

— Radhika Roy (@royradhika7) September 17, 2024

Another user, Hussain Haidry, pointed out that the Big Four accounting firms—Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC—have been infamous for poor work-life balance and long working hours for over a decade.

The conversation highlighted how toxic work culture is widespread across corporate sectors. Chartered accountant Rishika Gupta noted how the “late sitting” culture is not unique to EY but prevalent in many companies.

While EY is being shamed it should be said that “late sitting” culture and overworking has been glorified or seen as the norm not only in the Big 4 but many corporates. Remember Narayan Murthy’s 70 hour work week?

— CA Rishika Gupta (@rishrox19) September 18, 2024

Singer Paushali Sahu shared her personal experience of working 14+ hours a day, underscoring the long-term impact of chronic overwork. She emphasised that the consequences of these stressful working conditions linger for years.

Heartbreaking! This is how the 70 hour work week mantras manifest into horrible workspaces. Getting a certain job is dream to many because that’s often our way out of the socioeconomic class we belong to. Hope we all get the courage someday to live life on our own terms. Prayers. https://t.co/R9hWABS9HZ

— Shridhar V (@iimcomic) September 17, 2024

Anna’s death and the subsequent social media movement have drawn attention to the need for a serious reassessment of workplace culture in India. Employees are calling for organisations to prioritise mental and physical well-being, implement healthier work-life balance policies, and actively address toxic work environments.

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