Maharashtra Labour Dept inspects EY's Pune office over CA's death due to alleged 'overwork'

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], September 23 : The Maharashtra Labour Department on Monday conducted an inspection at the EY Pune office in connection with the death of a 26-year-old woman, Chartered Accountant Anna Sebastian Perayil. She reportedly died due to overwork.
Senior officials from the Maharashtra Labour Department visited the premises to gather information and assess working conditions.
Pune Additional Labour Commissioner, Shailendra Pol, said that they have reviewed various documents related to Anna at the office and have requested EY to submit the same documents to the department within seven days.
"We have checked the working conditions and current situations at the office. We sought information about the working rules, welfare policy of the company, and policies for extra working hours," Pol said.
"We have also reviewed the appointment letter of the deceased and the rules and regulations mentioned in it. Once we receive all the requested information, we will submit a report to the Central government, after which they will take further action," Pol added.
This inspection comes after Anna's mother alleged that her daughter's death was caused by the excessive workload and pressure at EY, The Union Labour Ministry has taken up the complaint, and a thorough investigation is underway.
Anna Sebastian Perayil, a young chartered accountant (CA) from Kerala who worked at EY's Pune office for four months, died on July 20, reportedly due to 'overwork'. Her death sparked a nationwide debate on work-life balance, mental health, and corporate accountability.
The tax consultancy major issued a statement expressing deep sadness over the death.
The statement came 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.