The death of a 26-year-old chartered accountant sparked serious debates about toxic work culture in India. Anna Sebastian Perayil, who joined an accounting firm Ernest and Young (EY) in March 2024, died of a cardiac arrest after just four months into her tenure.
Anita Augustine, Anna’s mother, wrote a letter to the company urging it to take the well-being of its employees seriously. She shared harrowing details of work pressures her daughter had to face after joining the company. The letter, which went viral on social media, drew widespread attention to the unhealthy work culture prevailing in India.
Anna’s death is a wake-up call. The so-called ‘Hustle culture’ is gradually gaining acceptance in both the public and private sectors. However, its harmful effects on human well-being haven’t received much attention. It is all too easy to overlook them when working late hours or showing up on weekends is perceived as a sign of ‘good performance’.
Some countries have taken steps to protect employees from the dangers of toxic work environment. Canada, for example, introduced a ‘right to disconnect’ policy granting employees of non-small businesses the right to refuse contact from their employers outside of working hours. Many organizations’ have introduced programs that target physical, emotional and psychological well-being of staffs.
It’s high time we also took hustle work culture seriously. Employees rarely report about the bad work condition as they fear retribution. And it is also easy to escape our mind and sight. Organizations require proactive and careful investigation to uncover the truth.
Buddha