This conversation between Shashi Tharoor and the father of a young CA who died due to ‘overwork’ will make you cry

New Delhi: 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil of Kerala died of a heart attack in July, allegedly due to work pressure. Anna was a chartered accountant (CA) and had been working at Ernst & Young (EY)’s office in Pune for the past four months. Her death has sparked a debate on working hours and pressure. In this case, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has suggested working 40 hours a week.

The mother of the deceased raised questions

Anna’s mother Anita Augustine has written a letter to EY India chairman Rajiv Memani raising questions about the glorification of long working hours in the company. Tharoor also spoke to Anna’s father Sibi Joseph and assured to raise the issue in Parliament. EY has expressed grief over the incident and said that it is in touch with the family.

Shashi Tharoor spoke to Anna’s father

MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Shashi Tharoor wrote on his/her official X account that Anna died of cardiac arrest. he/she suffered this heart attack after working 14 hours a day, seven days a week for four months in a big audit firm. Tharoor said that he/she had a very emotional and emotional conversation with Anna’s father.

Tharoor said, ‘he/she (Anna’s father) suggested and I agreed that a fixed calendar be made in Parliament for all workplaces, private or public, which should not exceed eight hours a day and five days a week. The Congress MP wrote, ‘Inhumanity at the workplace must be eradicated with strict punishment and fines for the offenders. Human rights do not end at the workplace.’ he/she also said that he/she would raise this issue in the next session of Parliament. The next Parliament session is expected to be held in December.

‘Daughter had to work till midnight’

Anna Sebastian Perayil’s father spoke to the media this week and said that his/her daughter had to work till 12:30 in the night. “We advised her to quit the job, but she insisted that it would give her experience in the profession,” Sibi Joseph said. he/she also claimed that the issue of excessive work pressure was raised with the senior officials of the company, but no action was taken. Anna complained to the manager, but he/she insisted on her working through the night as well.

The company also responded

The family alleged that the company reacted only after Anna’s mother’s letter went viral. Joseph said, “We are not planning to take any legal action, but we don’t want anyone else to face a similar situation. We don’t want new people joining such corporate companies to face similar situations.”

‘No one from the company attended the funeral’

Anna’s mother Augustine also said in the letter that no one from the company attended her funeral, which the family found very hurtful. As the issue escalated, the company issued a statement on Wednesday saying it was deeply saddened by the tragic and untimely demise of Anna Sebastian in July 2024.

The company said it employs about 1 lakh people in firms in India and Anna had worked for four months in one such firm, SR Batliboi. The accounting company said, ‘Since the death, the company has been in touch with the family, helping them, but now Anna’s family has written a letter to the company complaining about the ‘excessive workload’.