An Ernst & Young (EY) office in Pune, western India, has come under scrutiny following the death of 26-year-old audit executive Anna Sebastian Perayil, whose family alleges that her death was linked to an excessive workload. This incident has prompted a federal government investigation, revealing that the office operated without a necessary state permit regulating work hours since its establishment in 2007.
The senior government official stated that EY’s office did not comply with the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, which limits working hours to a maximum of nine hours per day and 48 hours per week. Maharashtra’s additional labour commissioner, Shailendra Pol, noted that the company applied for registration only in February 2024, which was rejected due to the long-standing lack of compliance. EY has been given a week to respond to this lapse.
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Perayil’s mother, Anita Augustine, expressed her concerns in a letter addressed to EY India’s chairman, describing her daughter’s workload as “backbreaking.” The letter gained widespread attention on social media, highlighting issues of mental and physical health for employees in high-pressure environments. Augustine stated that her daughter often worked late into the night and on weekends, leaving her with no time to recuperate.
In response to the situation, EY confirmed that its global member firm, SRBC & Co. LLP, is cooperating fully with the Ministry of Labour’s investigation. However, the firm declined to provide further comments. EY has previously emphasized its commitment to employee well-being and stated that it takes the family’s concerns seriously.
Perayil reportedly died from cardiac arrest, and the labour commissioner has requested records from EY, including employee hours, welfare policies, and specific details about Perayil’s work conditions during her four-month tenure as an associate.
The broader conversation around employee welfare in high-stress jobs has gained momentum in recent months, particularly following the death of a junior banker at Bank of America in May and JPMorgan’s recent initiatives to address mental health concerns among its employees. EY employs approximately 100,000 individuals at its member firms across India.
