The Ernst & Young (EY) office in Pune is facing government scrutiny after the death of 26-year-old audit executive Anna Sebastian Perayil, who allegedly succumbed to a high workload. Her mother, Anita Augustine, blamed the “backbreaking” demands of her job in a letter addressed to EY India’s chairman.
A senior government official revealed that EY’s Pune office has been operating without a state permit that regulates working hours since 2007, further intensifying the investigation. Maharashtra’s additional labour commissioner, Shailendra Pol, disclosed that EY only applied for mandatory registration under the state’s Shops and Establishments Act in February 2024—17 years after opening the office.
The Shops and Establishments Act mandates that employees cannot work more than nine hours a day or 48 hours a week. The law requires companies to comply with strict guidelines to protect employees’ physical and mental health, which Pol’s team is investigating. If found guilty of non-compliance resulting in serious injury or death, EY could face penalties, including up to six months in prison or a fine of ₹500,000.
Perayil’s death has triggered widespread conversation about work-related stress and the need for companies to prioritize employee well-being, with recent incidents at major firms like Bank of America and JPMorgan highlighting similar issues.
Anna Perayil’s mother’s viral letter alleged that her daughter worked late into the night, including weekends, with little respite. EY had previously stated its commitment to employee welfare and said it was taking the family’s concerns “with the utmost seriousness and humility.”
Investigators have requested additional information from EY, including the company’s log book tracking employee hours and policies on employee welfare. They are also seeking to determine if Perayil was forced to work excessively during her brief four-month tenure as an associate at the accounting firm.
Anna Perayil’s family reported that she died of cardiac arrest, which has raised further questions about the impact of workplace stress on her health. Central government authorities are now investigating the broader work culture at EY’s Pune office, with possible repercussions for how similar cases are handled across India’s corporate landscape.
Sources By Agencies
