New Delhi> Rajiv Memani, Chairperson of Ernst and Young India, expressed regret that no representatives from the company attended the funeral of Anna Sebastian Perayil, an employee who allegedly died due to excessive work pressure. He described this absence as 'alien to our culture' in a LinkedIn post, acknowledging the significant backlash he has received regarding claims of a toxic work environment.
Memani conveyed his condolences to Anna's family, stating, 'Nothing can fill the void in their lives. I truly regret that we missed being present at Anna's funeral. This has never happened before, and it will never happen again.' He reaffirmed his commitment to creating a harmonious workplace, emphasizing the well-being of employees as his top priority.
Anna joined E&Y in March and passed away on July 20. Her mother's open letter, which went viral, accused the company of neglecting its values by not attending Anna's funeral and alleged that she succumbed to 'work pressure.' In her letter, Anita Augustine expressed her disappointment, stating, 'After her funeral, I reached out to her managers, but received no response. How can a company that promotes values and human rights fail to support one of its own in their final moments?'
Memani faced criticism for denying the claim that 'work pressure' contributed to Anna's death, according to an Indian Express report. In light of the situation, the government has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Anna's death. Minister of State for Labour Shobha Karandlaje announced that a comprehensive investigation into claims of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is currently in progress.
