National Desk, 19th September: In the wake of the tragic death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian, EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani has responded to growing concerns about workplace culture in a company-wide email. The email, initially marked “do not forward,” has since leaked and is being widely shared on social media, intensifying scrutiny on the incident.
Anna Sebastian, who joined EY’s audit and assurance team in Pune in March 2024, died on July 20, reportedly due to work-related stress. Her mother, Anita Augustine, had previously reached out to Memani, expressing distress over her daughter’s overwhelming workload and the company’s work culture, which she criticized for promoting overwork at the expense of employee well-being.
In his email, Memani acknowledged receiving Augustine’s “anguished e-mail,” expressing deep regret and condolences for the loss. He assured that the company had been in regular contact with the family during the difficult period and provided all possible assistance while respecting their privacy.
Memani stressed EY’s commitment to enhancing employee well-being, vowing to foster a supportive and balanced work environment. He outlined plans for creating ongoing dialogue to address workplace practices, encouraging the use of existing well-being programs, and establishing new feedback mechanisms. Memani urged employees to voice their concerns and assured that their feedback would be met with empathy and understanding.
The chairman’s address reflects EY’s attempt to address workplace culture issues and improve support systems in response to the tragic event.
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