The tragic death of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old employee at Ernst & Young (EY), due to alleged work pressure has sparked a heated debate about the toxic work culture prevalent in many Indian corporations. Aakash Venkatasubramanian, a techie, shared his wife’s experience at EY, highlighting the demanding work environment that ultimately led to her resignation.
In a LinkedIn post, Venkatasubramanian revealed that his wife left EY due to the “toxic work culture” where an 18-hour workday was not only the norm but also glorified and expected. He expressed his fear of what might have happened to his wife had she not left, underscoring the severity of the situation. “These same MNCs would not do that outside India. Indians are being seen as donkeys to offload work, and India is seen as a huge factory willing to operate 24x7x365,” he added, criticizing the blatant double standards employed by multinational corporations.
Venkatasubramanian’s post resonated with many, highlighting a wider problem of exploitative work practices in India. He called for the Indian government to intervene and ensure that such incidents are not repeated. “The Indian government is happy to take tax from us without ensuring the bare humane conditions to work. The government does not help taxpayers when they are laid off, but would happily collect the taxes from us when they aren’t even giving us the basic necessities,” he wrote, urging for stricter regulations and worker protections.
The debate surrounding Perayil’s death has brought to light the alarming reality of work pressure and its potential consequences. The public outcry has led to an investigation by the Indian labor ministry into EY, a move that could lead to significant changes in how corporations operate and treat their employees. While the investigation is ongoing, this incident serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address the issue of toxic work environments and ensure the well-being of all workers.
