EY employee's death: "Don't make work your life", advises psychiatrist
Sep 21, 2024
New Delhi [India], September 21 : Following the death of an EY Employee allegedly due to "overwork", a psychiatrist of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital emphasized the serious symptoms associated with work stress and advised employees to "not make work their life".
Rajiv Mehta, a psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, while speaking to ANI said, " All the stress that is occurring due to professional reasons or work reasons that is called work stress...the symptoms are decreased interest, sadness, irritability, decreased focus, forgetfulness, helplessness, hopelessness, death wishes...suicidal attempt...sometimes there are anxiety symptoms also associated with it".
The doctor further elaborated on the potential consequences of unchecked work-related pressures and urged the people to occupy themselves with things that they enjoy and hobbies other than work.
"Occupy yourself with many things that you enjoy. Don't make work your only life. Life requires family, friends, vacation. Work stress can also happen because of your ambitions. Be ambitious but don't be too much quick for it. Have some patience".
Calling for a change in employer attitudes, Dr Mehta stressed the need for a more humane approach to work and said, "Employers must understand that workers are human beings, not machines. It's essential to be assertive about these demands."
Earlier Ernst & Young (EY) issued a statement expressing deep sadness over the tragic passing of a 26-year-old chartered accountant, who died on July 20 due to allegedly work-related stress.
The statement comes after a heart-wrenching letter written by the victim's mother went viral on social media, alleging that EY's work culture and excessive workload contributed to her daughter's demise.
In the letter, her mother detailed the victim's struggles with anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress due to an overwhelming workload, citing instances where her manager prioritised work over employee well-being.
EY's response acknowledged the victim's brief tenure at the firm and expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
Regarding the allegations, EY stated, "We are taking the family's correspondence with the utmost seriousness and humility. 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 firm assured that it has provided assistance to the family and will continue to do so.
The incident has sparked a nationwide debate on work-life balance, mental health, and corporate accountability.
