Anna Sebastian Perayil, a Keralite who passed her CA exams in 2023, worked at EY Pune office for four months before she succumbed on July 21.
The Ministry of Labour & Employment is investigating alleged "unsafe and exploitative work environment" days after the tragic demise of Anna Sebastian Perayil who worked with S R Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global. Perayil was a 26-year-old chartered accountant (CA) who died allegedly due to extreme work pressure at the firm. "Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil.
The Pune office of Ernst & Young (EY), in news after the death of a woman CA, was functioning since 2007 without a license under the Shops Act, which stipulates employees' welfare among other conditions, an official said on Wednesday. This is a violation of norms. A notice will be issued to the firm and based on its response, further action will be initiated, the official from the Maharashtra labour department said.
The Leader of Opposition assured the parents of raising the issue in Parliament.
EY said it would continue to improve and provide a healthy workplace in its offices throughout the country.
Amid a social media storm over the death of a young employee at tax consultancy major EY allegedly due to work pressure, Deloitte has formed a three-member external committee, which includes former revenue secretary Tarun Bajaj, to look into practices, policies and processes concerning employees, its South Asia CEO Romal Shetty said on Friday. Shetty said to manage the work pressure within the organisation and have an open work culture, Deloitte has a chief happiness officer and takes strictest action for any bad behaviour within the organisation. Deloitte is one of the four major global tax consultancy firms.
EY India chairman Rajiv Memani has expressed regret at not attending the funeral of a 26-year-old employee whose death was blamed on stress by her mother, and said he will not rest till achieving the goal of harmonious workplace. Anna Sebastian Perayil, who passed her CA exams in 2023 and worked at EY Pune office for four months, died in July. According to a letter her mother wrote to Memani, she was overworked with a "backbreaking" load as a new employee that affected her "physically, emotionally, and mentally".
The death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil -- who worked on the audit and assurance team at EY Pune, due to 'overwork' her heartbroken mother noted in a letter to EY India chairman Rajiv Memani provoked best-selling author Rashmi Bansal to pen a poem on the perils of overwork in Corporate India.
A scientist working at a government research institute funded by the University Grants Commission shares his experience.
'Filing a workplace harassment case against a well-known company or professional can bring risks like retaliation, harm to your career and emotional stress,' warns Smita Shetty Kapoor.
"There is a limit when it comes to tolerating abusive behaviour or working styles. Many (employees) find ways to quit," says career coach and rediffGURU Pradeep Pramanik.
'The abuse got so ugly and toxic that I became depressed and had to seek therapy.'
"If HR isn't responsive, it's critical to keep records of all interactions -- e-mails, dates and any conversations you had. If HR fails to help, escalate the matter to higher management or the internal complaints committee," says Smita Shetty Kapoor.
Micromanagers feel the need to be involved in every decision, hence they will avoid delegating tasks and spend a lot of time focusing on minor details rather than the bigger picture, says Sonica Aron, founder of the HR consultancy firm, Marching Sheep.
Delhi-based Shubham Chakraborty, 32, a management graduate from XLRI, Jamshedpur, tells us how he fought anxiety and stress due to poor workplace management.
'Alongside economic growth and the Asian century, stress has become an Asian caravan.' 'But stress doesn't arrive in one's country as invitation to taste exhaustion. It comes dressed as a challenge.' 'Its evangelists ask: Are you man enough to shoulder stress?' points out Shyam G Menon.
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