‘Regret missing her funeral’: EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani on Anna Sebastian Perayil’s death

He also acknowledged social media posts on EY’s work culture and said that the Big Four company attached “the highest importance to the well-being of our people”.

“I would like to affirm that the well-being of our people is my top-most priority and I will personally champion this objective. I am absolutely committed to nurturing a harmonious workplace, and I will not rest until that objective is accomplished,” Memani said.

Memani’s post came hours after Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said an investigation into alleged toxic workplace environment has been launched by the ministry.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil. A thorough investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway. We are committed to ensuring justice & @LabourMinistry has officially taken up the complaint,” Karandlaje posted on X (formerly Twitter). The Labour Ministry officials did not response to queries on the action taken.

The deceased 26-year-old EY employee Perayil’s mother had alleged in a letter to Memani that her daughter died due to “work pressure” at the firm. On Thursday, Anna’s family said she had collapsed after reaching home from office on July 20, and was declared “dead on arrival” at the hospital.

“On July 20, Anna returned home from the office late in the evening and suddenly collapsed. She was taken to the hospital where the doctors declared her dead… Before that she had no  health issues,” the family told The Indian Express. She also said that nobody from EY had attended Anna’s funeral. “No one from EY attended Anna’s funeral. This absence at such a critical moment, for an employee who gave her all to your organization until her last breath, is deeply hurtful. Anna deserved better, and so do all the employees who continue to work under these conditions…”

“The workload, new environment, and long hours took a toll on her physically, emotionally, and mentally. She began experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress soon after joining, but she kept pushing herself, believing that hard work and perseverance were the keys to success…,” Anna’s mother had said in the letter to Memani and other in EY.