Recent events have drawn attention to the severe impact of work-related stress in India following the tragic deaths of two female employees. The first incident involved a deputy vice-president at HDFC Bank’s Vibuti Khand branch in Lucknow, Sadaf Fatima, who collapsed at her workplace and was declared dead at a nearby hospital. Witnesses reported that Fatima had fainted suddenly after visiting her office cafeteria and taking a tablet.
In another distressing case, Anna Sebastian Perayil, an Ernst & Young (EY) India employee in Pune, also succumbed to the pressures of work. Anna had only joined EY four months prior, but her mother claimed that her death was due to the overwhelming workload and the “glorification of overwork.”
Anna Sebastian Perayil’s Story Highlights Overwork Culture
Anna Sebastian Perayil, a talented young professional who passed her Chartered Accountant exams in 2023, had just begun her career with EY India. Despite her potential, she found herself overburdened by the workload in the Audit team. Her mother’s letter revealed how Anna worked late into the night and over weekends, which ultimately exhausted her. The lack of support from the company was evident, as no representatives from EY attended her funeral. Anna’s story underscores the broader issues of excessive work culture that many employees face in corporate environments today.
Political Leaders Demand Action
The tragic deaths of Sadaf Fatima and Anna Perayil have elicited strong reactions from political leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party. Yadav expressed deep concern over the deteriorating working conditions across India, stating that employees are now worse off than bonded laborers, lacking even the basic right to voice their concerns. He criticized Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s response, which suggested stress management instead of addressing the root causes of the issue.
The Urgent Need for Workplace Reform
These heartbreaking incidents highlight the critical need for organizational and governmental intervention. Political leaders and employee advocates are calling for immediate workplace reforms to prioritize employee well-being. The deaths of these young professionals serve as a stark reminder that organizations must take steps to mitigate work-related stress and create healthier, more supportive work environments for all.
