Ernst & Young (EY) has come under fire after a letter from a grieving mother went viral, alleging that her 26-year-old daughter died from "overwork" just four months after joining the consulting firm. In response, EY has committed to enhancing the health and well-being of its employees, promising efforts to create a healthier work environment.
"We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian's tragic and untimely passing in July 2024, and our deepest condolences go to the bereaved family," the firm said in a statement on Wednesday. EY, one of the Big 4 consulting firms, assured that it is providing support to the family while focusing on workplace improvements.
"While no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have provided all the assistance as we always do in such times of distress and will continue to do so," the company added.
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In response to the family's concerns, EY highlighted that they are taking the matter seriously. "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 incident gained widespread attention after a letter written by Anna’s mother to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani circulated on social media. In the letter, the grieving mother claimed that her daughter had died due to excessive workload, just four months after joining the company, and noted that no one from the organisation attended the funeral.
Describing her daughter's initial enthusiasm for the job, the mother wrote, "She was full of life, dreams, and excitement for the future. EY was her first job, and she was thrilled to be part of such a prestigious company. But four months later, on July 20th, 2024, my world collapsed when I received the devastating news that Anna had passed away. She was just 26 years old."
Anna Sebastian had recently completed her chartered accountancy (CA) exams in November 2023 and joined EY’s Pune office in March 2024.